Chapter 3: The Battle of The Ascarian Corridor

50 years earlier... May 11th, 2234. Time: 18:45.  Location: The Ascarian Corridor, 5.3 light-years away from the Earth Solar System.

It has been nearly 20 years since the beginning of the First Galactic Civil War, both sides, the United Federation of Free Democratic Planets and the Galactic Confederate Systems, have become exhausted to near breaking points. The Confederation are beginning their final, desperate assault on Federation territory. The Confederation's Second Star Fleet, their best, most experienced fleet combined with the remnants of 9 other fleets, build a rather imposing fleet consisting of 450,000 ships of varying sizes and classes. Within these ships, a force of 250 million ground troops lay waiting patiently, ready to engage in one of the largest military invasions in Galactic History, these 250 million troops and 450,000 ships' main target is one of the main Federation home worlds of Ascaria. Leading this massive fleet, is the Exuberant-class battle-freighter ship Jordan, the single largest ship in the whole Confederation fleet.

"A large Confederate star-fleet incoming!" Shouted out one of the staff members of a small monitor ship sent out to keep a watchful eye for an approaching enemy fleet. The commander of the small ship and looked at the man and nodded. The uniform of this small crew was that of the Federation's Star Navy. A black brimmed cap, with an olive drab overcoat with black trousers and boots. The commander then sent out a coded emergency message to the waiting Federation fleet. Waiting a distance of 25 light-seconds away, the combined force of the United Federations First and Third fleets waited to respond. The total number of ships in this combined combat force is 875,000 ships, They were ready and waiting for the Confederacy to make this attack. 

Meanwhile... on board the Centurion-class flagship Archimedes, the flagship of the United Federation's First Fleet and the now designated command ship for the Defense Fleet, the two main admirals stand at it's helm, starring out towards the stars. The mechanical whirring of automatic doors open and closing behind them made them turn and look behind them. The two admirals, wore a uniform similar to the standard space sailor uniform, but upon their shoulders were golden epaulets, a collar fitted with a winged golden star and a olive drab peaked officer's cap with the symbol of the United Federation Star Fleet logo. Admiral Joseph Vehnhausen, was a human admiral, a man of 50 years, with slightly grey hair and a beard. His body was of a rather stocky, built frame, an experienced admiral of this war and of the group of conflicts collectively called "the Pirate Wars". Next to him was a being, who was much taller and lankier than Vehnhausen, with stone-grey skin and no hair to be found. His eyes were small and white, but reptile-like in nature. His face was deep and wrinkly, with deep cheekbones and eyepits. This was Admiral Zeferrian Hilork, a 200 year old space-sailor from the race of spacefaring beings known as the "Armnokrauns", known for their elite skill in spacefaring and naval combat and long lifespans going up to 300 years. Coming from that door was a young communications officer, who stood at attention and saluted, speaking with vitality and discipline.

"Sirs! I have received a report from one of our scouting ships, sirs!"

"Oh, really?" Admiral Hilork responded in a deep voice. "What is this report?

"A massive fleet of Confederate ships are coming this way! And they don't look like they want to strike up peace deals..."

"Just how massive is this fleet, boy? And how far away are they? When do you think engagement will occur?" Admiral Vehnhausen asked.

"Uhm... Intel states it's fleet several hundred thousand strong. Estimates are at 400,000 ships, could be more, could be less. We don't know, as communications went dead as soon as this message was sent out. 25 light-seconds, sir. Engagement at our current speed should occur in approximately three and a half hours." answered the communications officer.

"400,000 ships, huh? And in three and a half hours? So it seems that the spy craft we sent out was right. The Confederacy is mounting a counteroffensive. They must be pretty desperate, eh Hilork?" Vehnhausen asked Hilork with a sly tone in his voice.

"You're right, it seems. The 200 Day Offensive at the Kyukin System was a success both on ground and in the stars. The Confederate Army and Navy must nearly be in shambles by now after that! Well, it matters not right now! Let us finish these fools off! Men! Ready your battle-stations!"

The communications officer saluted and turned heel, leaving the helm to his outpost. The helm of the ship was flooded with the excited roar of "sir, yes sir!" As all men on the helm sat down on their battle-computers, meant to maneuver the ship, fire weapons, etc. Hilork approached a small communications screen on the front of the ship and turned it on. The face on the screen was that of Admiral Glenn Fourson, a man 10 years younger than Vehnhausen, but with just as much experience. He lead the 3rd Fleet, it's flagship the Centurion-class Excelsior. A head of light blonde hair, deep blue eyes, with sharp, defined facial features. He saluted to Hilork and Hilork saluted back. Fourson smiled and removed his cap, speaking.

"If you're messaging me about the approaching fleet, I've already got that bombshell. What else could be happening?"

"Just calling you to remember about the plan, form a inward curving wall with small breeches in it, so we can capture any overly confident ships in a gauntlet of ours." Hilork replied, with a slight grin. Admiral Fourson nodded and turned off the screen to go command his group of ships. Hilrok stood from the console and look at the nearby battlescreen Vahnhausen was looking intently at. The blue dots on the screen, representing Federation ships, was slowly forming into a crescent shape, with small empty pockets hither and thither. Meanwhile, on board the Confederate flagship Jordan, the admiral of the entire Confederate Star Fleet, Admiral Jameson Stoneburg, he was a man who too was in his 50's, dark brown hair and a rounder face, with a more rounder stature than any of the Federation admirals, wearing a grey uniform, a long, light grey coat with gold buttons, blue trousers, with a grey-blue cap. He stood at the helm of the ship and stared at the battlescreen, slightly confused at the small, seemingly purposely made holes in the wall. His face twisted into a confused, and suspicious look. He turned to face the main battle-station of the ship and shouted out.

"Alright, men! It seems like the Feddies are entering a sort of battle formation! Get ready for battle and be wary of those breeches! They might be setting up a trap!" 

In total unison all men on the helm shouted out "Yes sir!" and readied themselves for combat.

May 11th, 2234. Time: 22:14.  Location: The Ascarian Corridor.

Both fleets are now nearly within firing range. The admirals of the respective sides wait patiently for the right time. The clock strikes the 15 minute mark. he fleets are now close enough to each other to begin battle. Admiral Hilork, Vahnhausen, Fourson and Stoneburg all raise up their arm in the air and threw it down, shouting out the order almost in unison.

"Alright, men! They're in range! Ready, aim, open fire!"

Large beams of light seemed to have erupted from both sides, with the explosion of felled ships on either side occasionally. Vahnhausen slams his hand on a button of the main console and barks out an order.

"Send out all Lancasters and re-purposed civilian starcraft! Let's keep the Confederates at bay!"

The leader of the Archimedes's starfighter force, Captain James Redbridge, dressed in his blue combat flight suit, helmet in hand, ran into the main starfighter pilot quarters as an alarm was blaring, a red light flashing.He motioned his arm in a fast beckoning motion and shouted out.

"Alright, it's time to rock! Put on your suits and get your fighters- Stat!"

All men in the quarters obliged and ran to their lockers, putting on their flight suits and running to the Archimedes's space port, filed with the main starfighter of the United Federation, the Lancaster SF-92, a long and thin craft a triangular body and two wings in the center, angled pointing to the front of the ships, with two thrusters attached right behind the wings and plasma torpedoes attached right below the wings, and several small civilian craft repainted with the Federation colors, blue and white, and logo and fitted with weapons. Captain Redbridge hopped inside of his Lancaster, which he dubbed the Hermes with a shoe and wingers painted on the side. Meanwhile, a group of three men, Joseph Marston, Henry Nansun, and Patrick Halsey, ran to a refitted civilian ship, an ex-courier ship now fitted with missiles and a twin barrel laser turret. this ship was the Pegasus Zion, the ship that is destined for greatness in only but a few moments. All craft opened up their comms stations and the face of Captain Redbridge's face appeared, begin to give orders.

"Men! Are you all ready?"

"Orion standing by!"

"Gladion standing by!"

"Greyhound standing by!"

"Phoenix standing by!"

"Pegasus standing by!"

After the rest of the ships gave their call-sign and showed that they were ready to go, the entire space-port shook. Redbridge grunted and cried out

"Damn! We're hit! Let's go, come on!"

"Yes sir!"

All the Lancasters and other craft lifted off and flew out of the ship, seeing how the Confederacy sent out their fighters, black, cylindrical ships known as "Hound-Dogs". An unfortunate few fighters were hit as soon as they left the port of the Archimedes, but luckily enough, the Pegasus was fast enough to out-maneuver these Hound-Dogs. Joseph, the main pilot of the Pegasus, turned to see the Archimedes, it was still standing and in very stable condition, only with a small smoking crater on it's starboard side. It was only nicked by a laser blast, it's hull thick enough to have resisted it. Other Federation ships then sent out their fighters, the space between the two battling fleets filled with the craft of both Federation and Confederation, the explosions of unfortunate ships made the darkness of space flash with a brief brightness before going back out again, and the massive spears of hostile light hurled from the battleships and destroyers, with some bursting into massive, brief balls of light or simply turning into a massive, empty metal case. The Pegasus Zion, with it's superior speed and impressive maneuverability danced around the awe-inspiring and terrifying show of power both fleets was displaying in this massive cosmic slugfest. But it was also shying away from the battle formation set up and being led by Captain Redbridge. A buzz and crackle was heard from the communications screen on the Pegasus and the displeased face of Captain Redbridge showed up, scolding them.

"Hey! What do you think you're doing!? Get back into formation now an-"

The message was cut off suddenly by a powerful beam of light being fired from a Confederate Long Range Anti Starfighter Cannon, the Captain's Lancaster, and the Captain himself, becoming totally evaporated in a bright beam of light. 

"D****t! We lost Cap'n Redbridge!" cried out Halsey, who was manning the Pegasus's turret. "And besides, where the hell are we even going!?"

"You'll see." remarked Marston, with confidence in his voice. "Henry! Ready the missiles! I see the goal up ahead."

"And just what possibly could that goal be?" asked Henry, turning to face Joseph curiously. 

Joseph stretched out his arm and pointed forward. Right in front of them and getting closer with every second was the Confederacy's flagship, the Jordan.

"There. That's our goal."

"Are you mad!?" cried out Henry.

"May be I am, but this little tub is faster than anything those Confeds got."

Henry sighed and readied the missiles, the Pegasus soared past all the on-coming Hound-Dog, fighters, Patrick shooting some down as they approached closer and closer to their goal. To keep the Pegasus away from it, the Jordan deployed it's missiles and anti-starfighter beams. The Pegasus easily seemed to dodge everything that the Jordan was throwing at it. Now, nearly in range was the target Joseph wanted to hit on the Jordan, the massive window where stood the main part of the ship, where Admiral Stoneburg was. A grin came across Joseph's face and gave out the orders needed.

"Alright, on my mark! Concentrate all beam and missile fire to one section of that window!"

"Uh, y-yes, sir!" said Henry.

"Yes, sir..." groaned Patrick.

The Pegasus neared closer and closer to the Jordan, close enough to see those inside the ship. Admiral Stoneurg cried out "Look out!" and dived onto the ground, covering his face, but it was too late. The Pegasus was in the range Joseph wanted with the grin on his face seeming to have grown larger, he shouted out.

"Now... Fire everything you got!"

A massive flurry of lasers and missiles concentrated hit a spot on the Jordan's viewing window. The screen began to crack and then shattered, opening a massive hole creating a vacuum of death. Admiral Stoneburg had about died instantly when the window was shattered, his lifeless body, along with a stream of more bodies and pieces of machinery spewed out from the crack on the window of the ship like a hose of unfortunate souls. The sudden and violent decrease in pressure on the ship caused it to shake extremely violently and then ruptured into a massive fireball, engulfing several ships surrounding it, taking them into the abyss with it. With it's primary command gone, thus shattering the chain of command, and 250,000 of the ships of the Confederacy either totally destroyed or totally disabled, thus preventing it from combat or even movement, the remaining Confederate ships thought it best to attempt to make a retreat, but while the main battle was happening, the Federation sent out parts of their fleet to start a flanking operation from the Confederacy's back, totally surrounding them in and beginning another total onslaught, thus beginning to totally crush the Confederate fleet. Meanwhile, on the helm of the Archimedes, Admiral Vehnhausen and Admiral Hilork stood there, joyous at the fact that the Jordan was just destroyed and the remaining Confederate fleet was surrounded and being slowly picked apart. The sound of the mechanical door opening up once again turned their attention to the same communications officer as from before stood there saluting.

"Oh? What is it, boy?" Vehnhausen asked.

"It's a message from the Confederate fleet! From a surviving vice admiral, he wants to request surrender!"

"Oh, really? Hmmm. Let me see that message, will you?"

"Yes, sir." The communications officer approached Vehnhausen and saluted, handing him the letter, standing at attention.

"Thank you. You may go, now." Vehnhausen motioned the officer away, he nodded and returned to his post. The message reads as follows:

"To whomever is reading this.

Your forces have successfully destroyed our flagship and now have us entirely surrounded, blocking our means of escape and pounding all surviving ships. To end this bloodshed, so that these men may be able to return to their families whole again, I request you to accept this formal statement of surrender. Signed Vice Admiral Georges Issacson."

Vehnhausen looks up from the note. a smile ran across his face.

"It seems like we have won. Alright, men! Get ready to board Confederate ships."

After Federation ships connected to the still functioning Confederate ships, the Archimedes connected to the barely functioning Apache-class battleship Cavalier, where the message of surrender was sent. Both Hilork and Vehnhhausen boarded the ship and looked around. Limping towards them was the man who sent the message, Vice Admiral Georges Issacson, holding onto his right side as blood was dripping down it. He leaned against a wall and was breathing heavily. He gave a small smile and salute before sliding down against the wall, trailing blood against the wall. Admiral Vehnhhausen ran up to him and held on to him and called out for a medic. Although they were enemies, there was a sense of brotherly honor between admirals, even those who are in combat. A medical officer ran to the scene and began to take care of the wounded vice admiral. A few days after rounding up all the surrendered space sailors and the still functioning ship, the High Admiralty of the United Federation gave citations to the men who bravely fought in the battle. The crew of the Pegasus received the biggest citations, all three men being paraded through Ascarian Square, they were awarded the highest military medal in the whole Federation military, the Shield of Valiance, given to them by Admiral Hilork, Vehnhausen and Fourson. 

A month later, the entire First Federation Star Fleet, a force consisting of a combined fleet of the first 10 standard fleets,  5.3 million strong. With a ground combat force of 3.5 billion troops were sent to the Rembinian System, where the Galactic Confederacy was first formed, totally surrounding it. Come August of 2234, a small ship was sent from the capital planet of Rembinia, with all the highest ranking officals in the Confederate government, landing on the massive Olympian-class Augustus Grand Federal Flagship, only one of two in existence, each leading the massive Federation Star Fleets. They signed a letter of surrender in front of the Grand Federation Admiral Jacob Grunson Uffnher. Although the surrender was signed August 23rd, the official treaty was not signed until January 5th, 2235. Afterwards, all main leaders of the Confederacy were arrested and sent to the prison moon of Xorngral. The majority of all civilian ships were put away into storage systems, the Pegasus was put into a storage facility on an undisclosed planet for 5 years, until it was rediscovered by one of the original crew of the ship, Henry Nansun.

Tune in next time for another exciting chapter of Pegasus Zion!

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