The Adventures of Tim Bodge
This story has been amended with Adult content.
Edited by Steve (2
nd
pass)
By T Hodge
Chapter 28
Tim sat down at the TOC table and monitored the situation. He wanted to see how the forces of the United Federation performed, and he knew different tactical officers would alter the plans based on their reading of the opponents. Knowing Pauline could handle this fight gave him the time to observe, and he was sitting at the end of the same table if she needed him.
At first, he thought there was a problem with how Targkeleax's forces fought. There were missile ships, but the only missiles came from the Dreadnoughts. In addition, they had carriers, but he hadn't seen a single fighter launched.
Some of those destroyers were sitting there as if they were expecting reinforcements. Tim began to watch the battle in its entirety.
Some corvettes only fired once and waited long before shooting again. Most sat on the front line and remained where they were.
"Shanae, can you give me a minute?" asked Tim.
"Sure, Tim, what is it?"
"Does this battle feel different, or is it just me?"
"No, I was under the impression that something was not right. I don't think they're in a combative mood."
"Shanae, give me a minute; I'll talk with Commander Jackson."
"OK."
"Commander, why aren't the Targkeleax fighting?"
"If I were to guess. These are the other members of the invasion force, and they're probably at a low level of ammunition; some could be completely out."
"Thank you."
"Pauline, I need to count the enemy ships."
"Tim, I shall have it in a moment."
Tim thought that if that were the case, perhaps those who remained would stop fighting. This could end with no more casualties.
"Tim, out of the hundred ninety-eight, they began with. Only seventy of them are left."
Tim turned to Pauline and said, "Stop firing. Now! Open a channel to all vessels."
"Sir, the channels are open."
"All ships, cease firing at once. To every single one of the Targkeleax ships, you have 70 ships left and barely any ammunition. I'll give you thirty minutes to surrender."
"Why are you calling off this battle? We could finish now and not worry about them later." Commander Jackson protested.
"This is not a battle; it's a massacre. I will not allow that to happen. If any of your ships fire another shot, we will take them out. I hope I make myself clear?"
"Yes, Sir. What shall become of the Targkeleaxs if they surrender?"
"We will wait and see whether they surrender. Then it's up to them to make that decision."
"To whoever offers to end this fight. We have no commanding officer, and we only have ship captains, and we want to talk and not fight."
"Lower your shields and have the top three ship captains meet our corvette. We will bring them aboard our ship to talk. Again you will have thirty minutes to be on our ship." Tim now smiled, hoping to end this quickly and quietly.
"Commander Jackson, I need your ships to return to their previous locations and wait." Tim snapped with a voice of authority.
"What the hell is going on? I need to know!"
"Commander, you are in our system without our permission. If you wish to continue with this kind of action, I will consider it impolite."
"We will return to our previous positions, but I would like to be kept abreast of what is happening."
"We will inform you when the time comes."
Tim turned to Pauline, "I want a scan of each vessel; I also wish to have cloaked mines moved into place near each of the ship's engines."
"Shanae, have twenty of your soldiers moved to your ship. You will move forward and pick up their captains. Scan them for weapons, then MTS them to me."
***
"Teams one and two, report to the MTS for transfer to Corvette 3," Shanae said.
Teams one and two were on deck ten bay 50. When Shanae called them, they moved inside the shuttle and MTS to Corvette 3.
Coming out, they saw Shanae standing there pointing to the right side of the bay and moving quickly so as not to block the MTS exit.