Storm' Fury: The Shenkar War by Seth Libby Page B

out to be , how could this get any worse? Then he remembered the Shenkar fleet.
                  “Mr. Dow, what is the status of the Shenkar fleet?”
                  “The Shenkar fleet has withdrawn to the edge of the system. They appear to be just sitting……”
                  Ensign Dow stopped speaking at this point and squinted at the screen in front of him.
                  “Mr. Dow? Is there a problem?” asked Captain Donaldson.
                  “Sir, the Shenkar fleet just folded away.”
                  “What? Why would they do that?”
                  The Earth fleet had suffered heavy losses. One battlecruiser, one heavy cruiser, two light cruisers, two destroyers and sixty two fighters lost. Another three times that number were so heavily damaged that they would be unable to perform a fold without first making repairs. Of the remaining ships only a handful had made it through the encounter unscathed.
                  Realization dawned on him as he thought over this new turn of events. If Captain Donaldson were to bet he would say the Shenkar had attacked Outpost 238 to draw out the Earth fleet. The only reason that he could think of was the Shenkar planned to attack Earth again. Without the fleet to help defend, Earth could fall.
                  “What squadrons are available right now?”
                  “ Ghostrider squadron fully fueled and intact,” answered Lieutenant Fredricks.
                  “Have them move immediately to Outpost 238, let’s see if anyone is still alive in there. If there are survivors then send in the Omega shuttles with any help we can render.”
                  Now all he could do is sit and wait for news of the outpost. If those of the outpost were still alive then he could safely leave those ships unable to fold and return to Earth.
                  Minutes ticked by as he waited for news of the outpost. After what seemed an eternity word came back.
                  “Captain, I have Lieutenant Jefferson from Ghost squadron on fleet net.”
                  “Put him on the overhead,” commanded Captain Donaldson.
                  The communications officer typed at his console for a few seconds before he nodded to the captain.
                  “Lieutenant Jefferson, tell me what you have found of the outpost.”
                  “Sir, the outpost has taken heavy damage but is otherwise intact. Of the men and woman stationed there they only suffered minor injuries.”
                  “Is the engineering bays intact?” asked Captain Donaldson.
                  “Yes sir, most of the damage the base took was to the communications array and their CIC.”
                  “Excellent, inform the commander we will need the immediate assistance of his engineers, we have several ships in need of repairs. After this you are to take your squadron and patrol on the edge of the system in case the Shenkar return.”
                  “Yes sir.”
                  Captain Donaldson turned back to the holographic display of the fleet and thought for a moment.
                  “Inform all ships capable of folding we are leaving. As soon as all capable ships have checked in initiate the fold immediately. We must return to Earth before it is too late.”
                  Sitting back in his chair he rubbed his eyes as he prayed they wouldn’t be too late.
     
     
                                                       
     
     
    December 26 th , 2013 2:25am
                                                  EDF Ronald Reagan, Terran system
     
                  Fleet Admiral Derek Saunders sipped