Chapter 7: The Iron Fist Pursuit


The Iron Fist.



            The TA space battle cruiser Iron Fist sat majestically at the Kuat Drive shipyard, in high earth orbit. This was Kuats first ever-developed Battle Cruiser. At a total cost of 168 billion, the Iron fist had the latest and most modern equipment ever installed on a warship. Equipped with 2 deep space class Apollo Nuclear Fusion reactors, the ship was the fastest in its class. Able to reach top speed in only 2 minutes it could intercept just about any other ship in the EAP fleet. Constructed of lunar alloy, the hull is covered in 1 to 2 meter think battle ship grade armor. It also boasts a magnetic field generator installed on top of the command bridge. The generator can create an intense field wherever the ship my get hit, to block out any energy based weapon.




            Armed with 4 Super Mega Particle Nuclear Fusion beam cannons, three facing forward and one aft, each with a total power output of 35 megatons, it is capable of engaging and destroying even Heavy Battle Cruisers and Dreadnaughts. Across its hull it has a total of 16 heavy laser cannons, 6 high-speed 52 mm machineguns. As for guided weapons it carries 10 missile silos, each capable of launching 12 missiles at once, and 2 24 barrel high maneuverability missile launchers designed to intercept and destroy high speed targets be it other missiles or MF, or Fighters.





            With all its weapons the Iron Fist contained an even deadlier cargo. In its hanger it carried the dreaded OZ-054d NFD, Marcus own MF its armaments consisted of the deadly Nuclear Fusion Cannon, capable of a total 12.3megaton beam. A walking WMD, wholesale slaughter was its only purpose.

            Measuring a total 675 meters the Iron fist is 100 meters shy of being in the Heavy Battle Cruiser Class. With a minimum crew of 500, which must be stationed at all times, in the ship. However after being assigned to the 181st its captain decided to dismiss the crew and instead rig all ship controls to slave circuits and give the ships pilot full control of all ship functions. The ship has a total manpower of 45 officers. Most of these are the maintenance and repair crews for both the MF’s on board as well as the ship itself.

            The Iron Fist has 4 MF pilots, Drake, Vladimir, Robert and Marcus. The ship’s main and only medical officer, as well as chief surgeon is Natasha Sullivan. The ship’s pilot is Arturo Jimenez, a rough man who only answered to Marcus orders. His skills at handling the ship are second to none. Just recently Marcus received a new transfer officer fresh of the academy, Krista Summers is a top graduate from the TA Naval officers school in Washington. Daughter of Vice Admiral Von Schuler, the man in direct command of the 3d Naval fleet as well as the 181st ISF. She had been placed there even though Marcus had extremely objected to it. In the end he had to reluctantly allow her in, sense the Vice Admiral was in charge of the 181st budget. They both had reached a compromise after Marcus vowed to protect her with his life in return for an extra 23 million added to his budget.

            The 181st Independent Special Forces unit also known as the 181 ISF was conceived by Marcus Falden but eventually approved and implemented by Vice Admiral Von Schuler. The Vice Admiral saw the value of a covert ops squad that would work from the shadows, to carry out all the dirty work of the TA.



            In its bridge Marcus sat looking out the main view port with Arturo his ships pilot, sitting at the Helm. He watched the moon as it shined away in the distance. The Kuat shipyard is stationed 145 miles above Earth in a geo-synchronous orbit above North America.

            Suddenly on the main monitor a priority message alert was shown. Automatically the ships computer began the decryption subroutines and in seconds a live feed video message appeared. Saluting an old mans face appeared before Marcus, his uniformed revealed him to be an intelligence officer.

            “This is an emergency, lunar command has just reported a massive revolt at our Lunar Base. It seems almost half the garrison and what looks like their families escaped and are headed for Mars. They took all 7 of the new Y-Light frigates.” The man wore glasses and was clearly sweating from having to deal with the whole situation.

            “WHAT THE FUCK, How the hell do you let 7 brand spanking new frigates all get stolen by a bunch of traitors. What the hell are you dumb Asses doing in intelligence?" Marcus shook his arms in the air as he screamed at the man, knowing that on the recipient’s side his image would be from his torso up. His anger was clearly visible, for he always disliked the Intelligence department, and now this fiasco had only solidified his view of the whole Intelligence division.

            “We gave chance but the MF leader decided to brake up the engagement sense his MF did not have the sufficient firepower to deal with the ships. Also the Death Heads and the Vengeance are both in dry dock on lunar orbit, being refitted and upgraded. All other ships are at their assigned sectors patrolling for EAP squadrons.” Taking off his glasses the man wiped the sweat of his face with a small white handkerchief.

            “You excuse for a man, I don’t want to hear Excuse I want results, is high command aware of the situation. What the Hell are they doing about it.” Two things shined in most TA officers when someone mentions the name of Marcus Falden. One an excellent MF pilot, and two the worst person when he got upset. His anger was as legendary as his piloting skills, sometimes even more so.

            “Yes that’s why I have contacted you, I have direct orders from President Luscious Malum, for you to be deployed immediately and force the revel fleet to return, he wishes to have the ships returned intact, as well as the civilians onboard. I am sending you all necessary data on both the Y-Lights as well as a list of suspects. We have already made several arrests some perpetrators were left behind. We are interrogating them now.” The man shifted his glasses again as he read through a list of papers.

            “Execute anyone that has had a part in this, we must show that we will not tolerate any traitorous activities. Are you torturing the prisoners you apprehended.”? A cold and wagered look played across Marcus Face, as he spoke to the man. He rested in his captain’s chair, with his feet on top of a control panel.
            “No, not yet, but we will if we must. However your orders are to intercept the enemy fleet, all available data has been given to you, if you look at….” Suddenly the screen shot off. Arturo turned around in his pilot’s chair and looked puzzled at Marcus.

            ”I hit the off button by mistake.” Marcus looked at Arturo and gave a small smile.

            “Typical Intelligence always drags it ass. They can’t ever do a single thing right.” Turning around again he quickly typed away at his controls and began shifting through the data. “By the way Marcus we need to install a Thermo Nuclear booster if we ever hope to catch them in any reasonable time?” He talked while reading the data on holographic display screen to his right side.

            “Fine, I’ll contact shipyard control, and let them know.” As Marcus was about to dial in the line for shipyard control another to priority message came through.

            “Ah shit what else you want you…” Marcus quickly stood as he realized it was none other then Vice Admiral Von Schuler. The man was seated at a large wooden desk, behind him many old frame photographs hung on the walls. As well as a TA flag in a corner.

            “Is that how you address a superior officer, Commander Falden?” he was incensed if there was ever a man with an even bigger temper problem then Falden it was Von Schuler, he was known for ordering executions of suspects if they happened to have upset him in the slightest of ways.

            “No, sir, I thought you where the pathetic excuse for a soldier from Intelligence that contacted me earlier.” Marcus stood in front of the Vice Admirals Display.

            “Enough, I wish to hear no excuses, I called to tell you to forget about capturing the Y-lights, destroy them all instead. I will do all the necessary arrangements so that you don’t get any heat. I detest the man that built those things and now that he has conveniently turned traitor and is one of those ships I want you to go and crush him and all who are onboard, no survivors. We stand to gain a lot from this. With Michael dead I will take full command of the lunar research facility and all its assets. This will further my goals of producing more ships like yours, with even more powerful weapons. What the TA navy needs is more and bigger firepower, not high-speed ships.” The old Vice Admiral shifted in his chair is gray small hair shined in the light.

            “Yeah, I was thinking along the same lines, fuck capturing them, I rather take them all out. Show the might of the Iron Fist.” Pacing the bridge Marcus ran his fingers through his hair, as he spoke to the Vice Admiral. “Do not worry preparations are underway we leave port as soon as we are ready.”

            The old Vice admiral nodded his head in approval. “That’s why I trust you so much, you have the Balls, and the Cojones like me, to do all that is necessary to protect our beloved Trinity Alliance.” He then took a closer look at the image of Marcus displayed on his desk. “You should really cut that, it looks like a mane more then hair. A respectable TA officer should always be properly groomed, and also why do you always wear that combat gear and pilots space suit. Wear a proper military uniform. You are a captain for gods sake, dress like one.” He let some frustration edge out through his voice as he studied Marcus closer.

            “Why, so that I can look like you. I don’t think so; I think I will stay with this outfit, for now. Well if there is nothing else, I will begin preparations for departure.


            Suddenly the old man began laughing hysterically. “Oh this is why I made you leader, you are extremely one of a kind soldier, listen Marcus seriously, take my daughters hand in marriage, I need you to be my son in law that way I can not only secure your future but mine as well. What you say be part of my family, create new memories with my daughter, can never approve of anyone else, for her to marry.” The old Admiral then suddenly noticed the sad and pale expression to take hold of Falden. His eyes suddenly seemed tired and distant. “Listen, I will have you as a son in law one way or another, I refuse to see someone like you go to waste.”

            “Listen I live only for one thing and that is war, war against my enemies, I understand all this killing all the killing I yet haven’t done, all of it will never ever bring her back, but it will make this war end that much quicker, then by all means. The only place I wish to die in is in Battle. Not on some hospital bed. Old man I will take care of the situation, count on it. Marcus Falden 181st ISF signing off.” Having said this Marcus cut off the transmission.

            Seated in his lavish Washington office the Vice Admiral contemplated the words uttered by Marcus. He then thought of the possible future of truly having Marcus join his own large family, he detested all of them always found them nagging and weak, but Marcus, to him Marcus was a priced Lion a soldier of the highest caliber fueled by an obsessive hatred and vengeance, he would stop at nothing to kill his enemy, this Von Schuler admired most. To him Falden represented what he could never have become. His own family, he often saw with discontent as nothing but weak and frail humans who hid behind their nobility and wealth.



            “Port Control we are sending you a priority 3 request. Alpha clearance.” Arturo spoke through the inbuilt radio in his pilots suit. “ Roger, we confirmed your clearance, booster installation shall be complete in t-minus 5 minutes.” An almost robotic tone responded Arturo’s request order.

            In order for the Iron Fist to catch the now fleeing lunar space Y-Light frigates of Michael Lythe, it needed 4 nuclear fusion powered, single use boosters. These boosters where designed for cruiser class ships and above as a means of providing extra trust; when situations demanded a rapid deployment. However they did not come cheap and where designed as a onetime use only. After 12 hours their fusion fuel ran out and would have to be jettisoned.

            Outside the Iron Fist, giant cranes moved the massive boosters into position, for attachment to the ships main engines. Engineers in full space work suits floated all around the boosters as they began to manually attach the boosters into the locking pins situated on the ships engines.

            Watching from a holographic monitor displayed across his captains chair, Marcus keyed in on, his chairs left arm control panel for the ships internal COM system. “All crews prepare to leave port. We shall commence a booster jump 2 hours after departure. So get your asses moving.” As always he added his own verbal flare.

            All across the Iron Fist crewmembers ran to their designated stations. Most of the non-combat class crewmembers went to the ships engine compartment or MF deck.

            “Iron Fist this is Port Control, preparations are complete, you are cleared for sail, good luck, and god speed.”

            “Acknowledged, Iron Fist launching now.” Having said this Arturo keyed in the ships engine controls.
            Immediately the ship sailed smoothly out of the Kuat Drive shipyard. The course was set for three complete orbits around the earth in two hours and then on the end of the third orbit the external boosters would be fired and the Iron fist would be freed of the earths gravity well and set course for the moon.

            The ship quickly reached top speed on its own engine power. The time was 1500 hours, they where already 1 hour and 59 minutes away from booster ignition. “All hands prepare for booster ignition, on my mark in…3, 2, 1, Execute,” Arturo immediately pressed the red flashing button marked the auxiliary booster ignition switch.

            The fusion drive boosters uttered a noticeable whine as they powered up, followed by a thunderous roar, resonating all across the ships hull.

            “Ok I locked the course in we should be within attack range in exactly 56 hours, give or take a few minutes.” Arturo spoke to Marcus as he rotated his chair to face him.

            “Well I am going to sleep, if anything I will be in my quarters.” Releasing his seat harness Marcus stepped down from his chair and walked out of the Command Bridge.