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Since my timeline became the full version there's been little opportunity for one of these standalone stories

A snippet from my timeline written by marauder648 on the BT forum it tell's the story of the LCS Barcelona's last service to the Lyran Commonwealth.

LCS Barcelona (Hyperion-class Heavy Cruiser)
Freedom, Isle of Skye
Lyran Commonwealth
24th February 3097

   Patrol duty was not always the most exciting mission but the crew of the LCS Barcelona performed it as was expected of any sailor in the Lyran Navy.  The Hyperion Class Cruiser was on the 3rd week of her patrol after spending six weeks in dock being repaired and resupplied whilst letting the crew have plenty of shore leave at Alarion.  Now the ship was back on duty, patrolling the worlds round the Isle of Skye, three weeks per system, jump, patrol, jump, dull and often uneventful but vital for security and sometimes a cause for excitement such as helping a damaged dropship or as they were now, heading towards a known Pirate point ‘just in case’ to check for Pirates or someone trying to stay off the beaten track.

   â€œSir, I’ve got our fuel consumption details for you, we’ve also got all recycling systems active and we’re processing the water in C and D tanks.”  The Warrent Officer reported

   â€œExcellent, let Mr Sojorn know that he’s earned his pay for this month.”

   â€œAye aye, Kommodore.” The Warrent Officer said, saluting smartly before drifting away with the lope of a low-G expert. The small amount of thrust provided some gravity but not enough, it was more like walking on the moon.

   â€œOkay Sensors, what have we got?”  He asked glancing at the screens beside him seeing very little.

   â€œZero readings at the Jump Point Sir, nothing on thermals, LADAR is picking nothing and we’re getting nothing on active or passive.”

   â€œCAG?”  He asked the aerospace fighter air group commander.

   â€œWe’ve got six birds out on patrol, another dozen ready to go and the rest at five minutes standby, the first patrol still has two hours of fuel before being bingo and needing to return to base.  We’ve also got a Stork with on-board tanks if they need a top up on standby to launch if needs be.”  The Hauptmann reported glancing at the status of the fighters, a pilot himself he hated being stuck deep inside the Heavy Cruiser.

   â€œUnderstood, helm bring us to a halt, slow port rotation please.”

   â€œAye Sir!  We will be….600 km from the Pirate Point when we are halted.”

   The deep and constant rumble of the Barcelona’s engines started to lessen as thrust was cancelled now being countered by the forwards thrusters and maneuvering jets firing in short bursts to reduce the ships interia fed speed.  “STATUS CHANGE!” One of the ratings at the sensor station barked out “Sir we’ve detected pre-emergence neutrinos!   Emergence in five, four, three, two, one!”  There was no view screen in the CIC of the Barcelona buried as it was in the hull of the heavy cruiser, but dozens of long distance cameras relayed the image as the sensors picked up the ship that blinked into existence in a burst of radiation.

   â€œMonolith class JumpShip! She’s not squawking a friendly IFF, reading her as the CWS Tundra Walker!”

   â€œSet Condition Two throughout the ship, order the CAP to not approach, CAG, I want everything we’ve got in the void now!  Weapons wake up your guns but do not fire unless they detach!”

   Half a dozen voices barked out “Aye Sir!”

   â€œCom’s hail those Wolves and demand to know what the hell they are doing here!”

   â€œSir, I’m picking up an energy flux from the Tundra’s KF drive, they seem to be in difficulty.”  The Warrent officer replied looking at the screens "difficulty" was an exaggeration it was surprising the ship hadn't exploded given the current readings.

   â€œSir I have them on comms, their Commander wants to speak with you.”

   â€œOn speakers.”

   â€œThis is the Clan Wolf JumpShip Tundra Walker we have suffered a malfunction with our Jumpdrive, we are carrying non-military supplies and will not launch our DropShips but be warned we have three Isegrim Assault DropShips docked and if your fighters come within 1000km of us they will be launched and you will have a fight on your hands.”  The commander replied from the sound of her voice she sounded like she was a civilian.

   â€œTundra Walker this is the LCS Barcelona, you will explain why you are in Lyran Space and your threats are meaningless, three Assault ships against my cruiser and wing of fighters, it would not be a fight it would be slaughter.”  He promised her.

   â€œBarcelona, we do not have to tell you where we are going only that we do not intend to stay here.  Do not approach and there will be no conflict between us and no one need die here today.”

   â€œI can’t accept that Walker, you’re a long way from home and you’re here uninvited at a Pirate Point.  I am going to send a shuttle across and they will take an itinerary of what you are carrying.”

   â€œNeg, Barcelona, we will not allow ourselves to be boarded.”  The clansmen reported to him

   â€œI have two Heavy Naval PPC’s that say otherwise Walker.  Barcelona Actual out.  Let Hauptmann Walker know that her marines will be needed non-lethal means if we can, CAG, I want a dozen of your best guarding the shuttle and sensors the moment they launch so much as a EVA suit I want to know it!”

   â€œSir, I’m reading five Mule’s or what look like them, three Isegrim’s and one Overlord-C on her docking ports, none of them have powered their weapons at the moment. “  The sensor crewmen reported as the Heavy Cruiser's powerful sensors penetrated the JumpShip's hull.

   â€œEnergy spike! Damn that was a lot of power…Sir they just did something with their KF drive..”

   â€œYou don’t sound too sure.”

   â€œSorry Sir, still running the numbers..they just fed a lot of power through their KF drive.”

   â€œPossibly attempting to kick start it?”

   â€œPossibly Sir, but damn that was a lot of power, if only for a moment.”  The drive was already unstable following its erratic entry into the system.

   â€œUnderstood, keep an eye on her.”

   â€œSir, we’ll have three shuttles with the Marines ready to go in ten minutes, I’ve got all our birds out we’ll provide escort for the shuttle.”

   â€œTen minutes?”

   â€œGotta get suited up Sir, no one was expecting to have a Clanner JumpShip land on our lap all we have is a squad of ready men.”  The space round the Barcelona was thick with fighters the larger assault and heavy fighters sticking close whilst the eighteen light and mediums, the interceptors of the group arced out wider, closer to the Clan JumpShip that still made no hostile moves.

   â€œSir we’ve been looking at that power surge and..”

   â€œStatus change!  Pre-emergence neutrinos, holy crap they are right on top of us!”

   â€œKommodore, the Walker’s launching her Isegrim’s!”

   â€œDamn, range to target?”

   â€œ8091 km Sir!”  The Kommodore bit back a curse, that was well outside the range of his weapons.

   â€œEmergence in 3..2..1!”  Less than a thousand kilometres away, just on the boundaries of what was safe in special terms for Jump Drives two star going behemoths blazed into existence, their weapons already starting to train and elevate.

   â€œSir I’ve got two ships…CWS Jerome Winston an Anne Rosse class ship and…and..CRS Mountbatten..Texas class!”

   â€œWeapons free, engage the Winston, she’s the weaker of the t...”  As alarms started blaring the Barcelona rocked as if kicked as the first weapons fired by the Clan Battleship and Battle-cruiser arrived, coherent bolts of light and energy raking the old heavy cruiser’s flanks and bow even as her own guns started hammering back shattering armur plate along the side of the Jerome Winston as the Clan vessel began to launch several aerospace fighters surprisingly there were no DropShips being launched from the WarShips.

   â€œSir enemy are launching fighters" one of the sensor techs yelled out as the ship rocked again, a volley of naval lasers scoring white hot gouges across the hull the Barcelona could not take this for long the Heavy Cruiser was already outgunned having aerospace fighters added to the mix did not help.

   â€œComms can we report this?”

   â€œWe’re being heavily jammed I can get a radio transmission out but it will take hours to reach the nearest receiving station.”

   â€œDo it! Guns report!”

   â€œWe’ve lost one of the bays for the port PPC’s but we’re still firing Sir!”  The space round the three WarShips was filled with explosions and bolts of light.  At this range it was near impossible to miss but the Clan’s had the advantage in throw weight as well as numbers.  There had been no Batchall, no challenge or discourse, they had just opened fire, flooding space with OmniFighters as their guns hammered silently in the void.

   â€œSir there’s a fire on the port side near the magazine for the AR-10 requesting permission to vent.”

   â€œVent it, seal bulkheads and vent now!”

   â€œSir we’ve got a dozen missiles inbound from the Isegrims, AMS are engaging but there's way too much to take them all out.”

   â€œCoolant leak in secondary reactor!”  Another station reported.  The reports came in thick and fast as the cruiser shook, the blows crumbling her flanks, her bow a blazing ruin.

   The Kommodore knew his command was dying, even in an open battle there was no way they could fight a battle-cruiser and a battleship, and today their surprise had been total.  “Alright..all hands get to the life-pods,  helm angle us down 45 degrees at whatever thrust you can do, get us out of their guns arcs.”  The battered, burning Barcelona commenced her dive, her weapons fire coming to a halt, the cruiser rolling tumbling slowly forwards and to port as the two Clan WarShips came about.  Escape pods and lifeboats shot from where they were still intact but there was precious few.  Of a crew of over three hundred there was eighty-seven survivors, the lifeboats and saviour pods were ignored by the Clan ships as was the wreck of the Barcelona’s as she continued to roll into deep space a burning hulk until the pockets of air ran out.  The crew were recovered eighteen hours later when a DropShip from Freedom picked up the distress transmission from the vanquished cruiser.