Operation Phoenix:  A Call to Arms

Jupiter Base (Stardock)
Sol System

    Fleet Admiral Davis was in his quarters, studying a report from a 
reconnaissance probe stationed in another star system, when the intercom 
buzzed.  Somewhat annoyed at the interruption, he pressed a button on 
the keypad on his desk and said, "Davis here.  What is it?"
    "Sir, we've received a signal from Captain Janos coming from the 
direction of Earth on an emegerncy channel," replied Spacedock's 
communications officer.
    The admiral immediately forgot about the report.  "Patch it through 
to me, and standby for further orders," he said.  The computer's 
switched to the transmission.  The admiral watched the recording 
intently as Janos described the attack they faced at Betelgeuse, and the 
invasion fleet orbitting Earth.  Then the transmission was abruptly cut 
off.  Davis pressed the intercom control again.  "Have you been able to 
reestablish contact with Captain Janos?" he asked.
    The comm officer noted that the admiral's face seemed to be several 
shades paler now.  "No sir, we haven't heard anything from him since the 
transmission was cut off," he answered.
    "Keep trying to make contact with him, or anyone else in the area," 
he ordered.  He pressed another control on his console, activating the 
base-wide intercom.
    "This is Admiral Davis.  All hands to battlestations!  Repeat, all 
hands to battlestations!  All fighter pilots and ship captains, report 
to your briefing rooms immediately!"  The red alert klaxon sounded 
immediately after he shut off the intercom, and Davis headed for the 
main briefing room.

    Admiral Davis began his briefing in the main briefing room on 
Spacedock.  The briefing was being transmitted to all of the other 
briefing rooms in the base and on the ships docked there.
    "A few minutes ago, we received an emergency communication from 
Captain Janos, commanding officer of the _Hercules_ battle group.  He 
ran into heavy resistance while returning from his patrol in 
Betelgeuse.  Upon returning to Earth, he found a large invasion force in 
orbit.  We've been unable to determine the current strength of the 
fleet, or the damage they've been able to do at this time, but one 
thing's sure:  they mean business.  It's our job to stop them from 
getting any further."
    "Therefore, as of now, all Blood Jihad Space Fleet starships are 
ordered to launch immediately.  The majority of them are to head for 
Earth and engage the enemy fleet.  The rest will stay here to defend 
Spacedock.  In addition, a defensive patrol of 450 fighters will be 
launched immediately to patrol the area around the base.  300 more are 
to be prepped for Alert Five at all times.  If anything comes, and it 
isn't ours, shoot it down now, and ask questions later."
    "All hands, report to launch stations immediately," the admiral 
finished.  He left the podium, and headed for the TCS _Lexington_'s 
docking port.

TCS _Lexington_
Sol System

    Admiral Davis looked out of the windows of the _Lexington_'s 
bridge.  The offensive strike fleet consisted of 5 _Phoenix_-class 
blockade runners, 2 _Pegasus_-class cruisers, the _Black Widow_ 
battleship, the BJSF's newest carrier (the _Andromeda_), the 
battlecruiser _Pasiphae_, and the five TCN-ABD ships.  The _Pasiphae_'s 
sister ship, the _Defiance_, had already headed to Earth to determine 
the strength of the enemy fleet, and to clear the way for the rest of 
the force.  EGfaBT's two new battlecruisers, the _Aslan_ and the _Sir
Reepicheep_, were going to meet the battle fleet en route to Earth, 
as well.  The rest of the BJSF ships waited at Spacedock, ready to 
defend it against any threat.
    This was one of the strongest space fleets assembled in Jihad 
history, Davis knew.  But he could only pray that it would be enough to 
beat the invaders back to wherever they came from.
    "Admiral Davis to all strike fleet ships.  Set course for Earth, 
best possible speed."

To be continued....

--
   ___      +--------------------------------------------------+      ___
 /'\|/`\    |Admiral Michael Davis -- Terran Confederation Navy|    /'\|/`\
|-==*==-|   |    Fleet Admiral  --  Blood Jihad Space Fleet    |   |-==*==-|
 \ /|\ /    |            E-mail:  hyperion@cris.com            |    \ /|\ /
  `~~~'     +--------------------------------------------------+     `~~~'