The Eagle Ascending

[Dosjetka]

An update would indeed be appreciated ;)

 

Ludovic

[Walter Payton]

An update would indeed be appreciated :P

 

Ludovic

 

I'll try to write something soon :)

[Walter Payton]

Dude! This is awesome! This story is as engaging as some of the Horus Heresy novels. You are one very talented writer!

 

It has been a couple months since your last post, when is the next update? I can't wait for more.

 

Sun Reaver

 

Wow. Thank you Sun Reaver! There are no words. :)

 

 

Here we are: You think I'd let you guys down?

 

“Sir, we have multiple warp disturbances beneath the defense grid,” called Midshipman Horatio, a callow youth who held the post of signals officer.

“Mr Horatio, signal Flight Leader Sicarius if you please, inform him I require his aircraft back here now,” replied Agemann, trying to keep his voice calm and measured. Horatio turned back to his vox array, and began to recite the correct signals code, which was a feat in itself, given that the Admiralty of Macragge had over a thousand different code phrases and words.

.

“Oh, and Midshipman,” added Agemmann, “tell him that he is to follow my orders at all times. We might wish to exercise caution. Make sure that is impressed upon him. You know what he’s like.”

 

* * *

 

Ithildenesh, flight captain of Biel-Tan, was jubilant. His blood was always up when he went on a hunt. Through the long-range scopes of his spacecraft, he could see the blocky, concrete grey Mon-Keigh vessels. He reached down, disengaging the locks on his payload of torpedoes. He licked his lips and fired. The first missile shot away, its gaseous trail cutting the starlit vastness.

 

A second spear of light, from above him, hit it mere seconds later, and blew it apart. He didn’t even look up; but slammed his joystick into the wraithbone siding of his cockpit, rolling his fighter out of the path of his unseen assailant. Then, once he thought he was clear, he looked up, only to see a Mon-Keigh fighter craft less than a hundred yards from his own, easily visible because of the matt red paint. His keen, hawk’s eyesight picked out the details of its pilot; brown-haired, handsome, with a glint in his eyes that belied an easy confidence that Ithildanesh didn't like. The Mon-Keigh was focused on the heads-up display of his vessel, reflected poison-green in the cockpit windows. A rotary cannon began to spin, the kill markings painted on its side coalescing into a single colourful whole.

 

* * *

 

Navaius Sicarius, flight captain of the Scylla’s combat space patrol, had expected the xenos to jink right. He was rarely wrong in a dogfight. Even as he ordered Gemina and Fulminata flights back to defend the fleet, he fired a quick burst from his cannon. Ithildanesh’s fighter broke apart.

 

* * *

 

“Sir, message from Admiral Cunningham on Iron Consul. The fleet’s to form four lines of battle. The Admiral will lead the centre on Iron Consul. We’re to join Vice-Admiral Vian’s Emperor of Illyria in the leeward column.”

 

“Thank you ensign,” said Agemmann. The doubts were there now, as they always were. Was Cunnigham doing the right thing. Of course. He always did. Putting the four newest battleships of the fleet at the front of four columns. The overlapping shield bubbles and fighter screens would make the Macraggeii fleet one huge warship, as no adversary could engage one ship without exposing themselves to counterattack from the other. Was he, Agemmann, doing the right thing? He hoped so. The hardest part of his job was to appear unconcerned and calm. A question, any damn question, to ask his crew, to appear as though this was all some interesting simulation. “Who leads the other two lines?”

 

“Vice-Admiral Collingwood in Navarch Benbow and Vice-Admiral Livre in Malbrook.”

 

Two competent leaders, thought Agemmann, though neither was as good as Vian or Cunnigham. He looked at his chart tables. The Eldar fleet was translating from their webway now, space blurring and cracking as lithe, fast ships translated from the warp. His first impression was of a small raiding force, then the great Eldar ships began to appear. The huge red blocks on his radar shuddered and burst into swarms of small contact arrows.

 

“Is Sicarius on his way back?”

 

“Yes sir,” replied the midshipman, “he says that he can come withing missile range of the enemy flagship.” Agemmann sighed. He did not get on with his flight captain. Was the man determined to die. It irritated him, really. Sicarius might be an ace, but he, Agemmann, was a professional. Easy-going in some things, perhaps, merciful in discipline, but strict in drill.

 

“Sir, Navarch Benbow has engaged!” called Lieutenant Corynaeus. The assembled men looked from the bridge windows. All had seen a large battleship firing before, in exercises or salute, but the sight never got old. The battleship’s forward turrets, each the length of a chariot track, swung round with dreadful slowness. Then the entire front of the massive ship disappeared in cloud of burning gases, which dissipated rapidly in the vacuum.

 

“A hit, enemy shields holding.” It would be at least another twenty seconds before the battleship could fire again, though Agemmann could pick out torpedo launchers opening down its flanks. Behind it, the carriers Sceptre, Severus and Scutum were launching fighters, and the smaller frigates, sleek and fast, were streaming ahead of the ships like sharks.

 

“Very good,” said Agemmann, “Mr Horatio, look to your station, there is a message coming through.”

 

The young midshipman, blushing at the public censure, darted towards his console.

 

“We’re to tack in succession, sir, and present our leeward shields to the Eldar. Our column is to take the fight to them.”

 

Agemmann scowled The strategy was typically Vian. Attack and decimate the enemy before they could call reinforcements and, if the reinforcements arrived, destroy them too. Sicarius would be thrilled.

 

* * *

[Dosjetka]

Oh yes! I've waited for this for such a long time :D

 

Great stuff Alecto!

 

Ludovic

[Legio Draconis]

;) Well done brother.