Start with Episode 01 of Kaylynn Five

Alendar raced back from the mountains. His search had failed to find Kar-Al-Lynn. About two Kilometers away from the cavern system, his mission timer read two hours and eight minutes.

“I still have plenty to get back to the research station,” he thought.

On the edge of the horizon, an overwhelming glow filled the sky. Alendar’s visor darkened to dim the bright light as he froze in place. The glow pulsed and flashed as it rose from the ground and into space.

Even though he knew the answer, Alendar called the station and asked, “Alendar to station, What is your status?”

“Hal-Ax-Ti heard the transmission as his team raced from the surface. He simply didn’t reply and kept focusing on the trajectory laid out on the screen in front of him.”

“We have the team captain,” Kaylanna 39 actual reported.

“Excellent. Get your Mackerel in the middle of our formation and provide long range anti-fighter support,” Mali-Lon ordered, “Transmit the orbital escape trajectory to rest of the squadron.”

The Tiger Shark’s computer chirped four times and pointed out several sensor contacts closing in the on the fleet.

“Another Surakari wave inbound. Four Draco Frigates inbound,” her sensor officer reported.

“If we drive these ships backs, we should be home free,” Mali-Lon opened her Comm to Kaylanna 18.

“Yes Captain,” Kaylanna 18 actual responded.

“We need your Pale Fox’s firepower in the back of the fleet.”

“Copy that Captain, my ship will be there shortly.”

Mali-Lon glanced at the main sensor screen. Circles wrapped each friendly ship, indicating the maximum effective range of their weapons. The four Surakari Frigates approached the orange dashed border of her weapons. Kaylanna 18 was still about two minutes from weapon’s range.

“We need more time before engaging the Surakari,” Mali-Lon stated,”64% of active armor won’t hold up against all that firepower.”

The captain scanned her fleet roster. Three hammerheads remained, but Kaylanna 52’s weapons were heavily damaged.

“All Javelin Missiles in our fleet fire!” Mali-Lon broadcasted, “Kaylanna 39, lay down arc cannon fire in the direction of those Surakari. If there are any Interceptors in position to shoot down our missiles, I want them disrupted.”

Kaylanna 39 poured arc cannon shells down range into the darkness of space, using only their sensors to pick out targets. The Javelin missiles closed in on the Surakari as the Hergaul spat out another round of missiles. Multiple explosions blossomed on the Surakari, but the frigates kept closing.

“The Pale Fox is still thirty seconds away, but we are out of time. Brace for impact. Fire the torpedo!” Mali-Lon ordered.

Eight plasma pulse beams cut across the Tiger Shark. The Heragul warship shook as explosions tossed it about.

“Multiple reaction chambers on the starboard engine have been destroyed. I don’t even recommend using it. If we fire it, it might just separate off,” the helmsmen stated.

“Are we on the escape trajectory,” the Capatain asked.

“Yes Sir.”

“Then hopefully we won’t have to use it,” Mali-Lon replied.

“Turret Fire cannons are essentially jammed. If we want to target with them, we need to rotate the ship,” the weapon officer reported.

“What about the Surakari?” Mali-Lon asked.

“We couldn’t have got a better hit on the lead Draco. Its Beam cannons are destroyed and its falling back. Hold on, Kaylanna 18 has engaged one of the Frigates.”

Captain Mali-Lon watched the attack on the sensor screen. Projectiles traced towards the Surakari warship. Two Torpedoes and four cannon shells found their mark.

“The Frigate appears to be disabled! An explosion has thrown it into a spin about its center axis.”

Two more plasma shells struck the Tiger Shark. Its sensor screen flickered off and returned to life.

“We lost our infrared scanners, Running off visual cameras and laser radar systems only. We can’t predict enemy velocity corrections nearly as well.”

“And we can’t take too many more hits,” Mali-Lon added, “We need our Hammerheads to give us cover. Kaylanna 43 and 58, get between us and the Surakari.”

“Yes Sir,” answered Kaylanna 43 actual.

“We will be there in 18 seconds,” responded Kaylanna 58 actual.

Both Hammerheads overtook the Tiger Shark on the Sensor screen as Mali-Lon had her ship burn her thrusters to add distance between her wounded ship and the enemy battle line. Plasma beams lashed at the Heragul Frigates. Fire Cannons and Javelins answered back.

“Does Our Torpedo still work?” Mali-Lon asked.

“Yes Captain. Targeting the least damaged Draco,” The weapon officer answered, “It missed.”

“Keep up the attackas soon as it is reloaded.”

“Captain,” and electronic voice crackled over Mali-Lon’s comm, “We have casualties.”

“Where and how many?” the captain asked her Krylan servant Calphara.

“Two in the starboard engine room. We lost atmosphere in here.”

“Can you identify them?”

“Not from my current position. I will try to get closer. Its really bad shape down here.”

“Thanks Calphara.”

The frigates continued their battle as the Pale Fox destroyed threw another volley at the Surakari. Kaylanna 58’s port side Javelin magazines exploded, erupting armor like a volcano. The ship twisted to the port side and started drifting off the escape trajectory.

“Kaylanna 58, do you still have engine control? I cannot see your status.” Mali-Lon transmitted.

No response came, but the ship’s thrusters fired in an orchestrated sequence to being the Frigate back on course.”

“I guessing their communications and data transmission systems have been hit Captain.”

“You are probably right. At least they will know to jump when we all disappear.”

The Surakari Frigate icons on the sensor screen switched from red to yellow as they fell back out of the fleet’s weapon ranges.

“The enemies are falling back and no other Surakari warships are on an attack vector.”

“It looks like we are clear,” Mali-Lon commented, “activate the jump engines the moment we are at a safe distance from the planet.”

Continue with Episode 4

Join the Battle for the Kalidasia Universe.