64.Battle Begins

The battle with the Others begins in earnest as Bill and the Bobs execute their multi-pronged attack strategy. However, a second super-pulse from the Others—faster than anticipated—compromises the surprise attack from the Jokers team and raises concerns about whether the defense plan can succeed.

Riker receives orders from Bill to activate the Jokers, a strike team positioned five light-hours away and traveling at 95% of light speed, timed to arrive after the Others' anticipated first super-pulse. The initial attack group engages the Others' formation with lasers, plasma spikes, and particle weapons, forcing the enemy to scatter. Cloaked fusion bombs are deployed via dreadnoughts using rail guns. The Others launch their insanely fast torpedoes in response, and the Bobs lose approximately half of the first attack group, though they continue their assault. Unexpectedly, the Others unleash a second super-pulse far sooner than Bill's models predicted—likely because they installed extra power cores in their cargo ships to recharge faster, trading drone capacity for power. This super-pulse catches the Jokers within range, compromising their surprise attack. Hannibal confirms the team has been detected. Bill considers their options limited but decides to continue the assault and advance their schedule, making it appear they still have additional surprises planned. The cloaked nukes begin evasive maneuvers as enemy drones and death asteroids with electromagnetic grids attempt to intercept them. About half the initial bomb wave is destroyed, but roughly twenty nukes reach their targets and detonate, destroying approximately one-third of the Others' fleet. However, the Bobs recognize from their previous experience at Delta Pavonis that most damage occurs early in battle before the Others adapt, and they would need to inflict twice the current damage to achieve victory—an outcome that seems unlikely. Bill directs Riker to check on the evacuation status of humanity, suggesting it may be humanity's only hope for survival.