Chapter 427: Larkspur Patrol Ship 2

The journey back to Helion was slower than Aurelian would have liked, but there was no reason to push Caelira’s damaged engines any harder.

Black Crown remained ahead of the arsenal cruiser while the Larkspur patrol ship followed behind.

Astra kept a close watch on Caelira’s engine readings, and Eirenne adjusted their route whenever the old cruiser showed signs of struggling.

Fortunately, the starboard engine did not get any worse.

Caelira still complained about it.

"The vibration is increasing," she reported during their second hour of travel.

Astra checked the readings. "It has increased by less than one percent."

"That is still an increase."

"We’re reducing acceleration during the next course adjustment."

Caelira considered that before nodding. "Acceptable."

Aurelian looked at Astra after the channel closed.

"She’s going to get along with Meridian."

"Or argue with her."

"Probably both."

With several hours before reaching Helion, Aurelian decided to finish reviewing Caelira’s weapon systems.

The arsenal cruiser was useful even without its missiles, but he wanted to understand exactly what kind of ship he had recovered before deciding how much money to spend restoring her.

He called Caelira again.

This time, she appeared much more interested.

"Commander, have you decided on my ammunition allocation?"

"Not yet."

Her expression fell.

"I want to understand your heavy missiles first."

That improved her mood immediately.

Caelira opened a detailed model of the forward launch compartments.

Unlike the medium missile arrays, which occupied large sections along both sides of the hull, the heavy launchers were concentrated near the front.

Four reinforced launch tubes sat behind thick armored doors, with a separate magazine and handling system farther inside.

Each missile was enormous.

Aurelian checked the measurements twice.

"These are almost the size of small spacecraft."

"They are spacecraft, in a way," Caelira answered. "They simply don’t carry people."

The heavy missiles had their own engines, navigation systems, defensive electronics, and a compact one-use jump drive.

Their purpose was to attack targets beyond the normal range of a fleet’s main weapons.

Aurelian studied the propulsion system.

"How far?"

"Under ideal conditions, a few light-years. Actual range depends on the route, target movement, and how much fuel the missile needs after leaving its jump."

That was much farther than he expected.

"Can you attack a ship in another system?"

"Only if I have reliable targeting information."

Caelira enlarged the navigation section.

"The missile needs an accurate destination and a recent target position. Once it completes its jump, it uses its own sensors and guidance systems for the final approach. If the target has moved too far, it may never find it."

Eirenne appeared beside Aurelian’s display.

"That would make the weapon more effective against fixed installations."

"Correct," Caelira said. "Stations, repair docks, fuel depots, and ships that remain in predictable positions are easier targets."

Aurelian immediately thought of Orison.

Its repair yard was a large, fixed target.

That did not mean he intended to attack it.

Tens of thousands of Humans lived around that facility, and the seven-day ceasefire had only just begun.

Still, knowing the capability existed was useful.

"How do the missiles avoid interception?" he asked.

Caelira highlighted several components.

"They have reduced sensor signatures during approach, electronic countermeasures, and limited evasive control. They can also receive updated instructions from a friendly coordination vessel."

Eirenne examined the data.

"Seraphiel could potentially provide those updates."

"Yes," Caelira answered. "Her class was designed to support this kind of engagement."

That was interesting.

Aurelian had recovered two ships that could work together without knowing it beforehand.

Seraphiel could coordinate the fleet and improve targeting.

Caelira could deliver missiles from a safe distance.

Vaelith could handle enemies that came close enough for direct combat.

It was a useful combination, provided all three were repaired and supplied.

"How many heavy missiles can you carry?" Aurelian asked.

"Twelve in the main magazine, with four ready in the launch tubes."

"And the reload time?"

"Approximately one hour for a complete four-missile reload under normal conditions."

Aurelian looked at the numbers.

"So you can’t fire them continuously."

"No. They’re meant for important targets."

"How expensive?"

Caelira hesitated.

That was not encouraging.

Eirenne calculated the cost using Helion’s current production capacity.

The result appeared on the ordinary tactical display.

Aurelian stared at it.

"Four missiles cost that much?"

Caelira looked away.

"They are very good missiles."

"That’s not what I asked."

"They are also very expensive missiles."

Astra checked the manufacturing requirements.

"The jump-drive components are the main problem. Helion can produce most of the warhead and guidance systems, but the compact drives would require a separate production line."

Aurelian rubbed his forehead.

He had just found a ship capable of launching attacks across enormous distances.

Unfortunately, using that ability regularly would consume resources that could otherwise repair several patrol vessels.

"How many usable heavy missiles do you still have?" he asked.

"Two."

"Only two?"

"The others degraded during storage."

Caelira sounded personally offended by that fact.

Aurelian considered the situation.

"Preserve them for now. No testing with live heavy missiles."

Caelira opened her mouth.

"No."

She closed it again.

Astra looked amused.

The medium missile arrays were much more practical.

They lacked independent jump drives and could not strike across star systems, but they carried powerful conventional warheads and could be produced using existing Helion manufacturing equipment.

Caelira could launch hundreds in a coordinated attack, reload automatically, and continue firing until her magazines were empty.

That was where the real expense lay.

Aurelian studied the ammunition consumption estimates.

At maximum output, Caelira could spend an entire patrol group’s normal missile reserve in minutes.

"You’re going to bankrupt Neris."

Caelira looked confused.

"Who is Neris?"

"Our logistics commander."

"Then I should meet her."

"I’m not sure she’ll agree."

"I need ammunition."

"That’s exactly why she might refuse."

Caelira considered that, then gave him a serious nod.

"Then I should make a good impression."

Aurelian almost laughed.

He was looking forward to that meeting.

The cruiser also had a large number of smaller missiles for close defense. Those were comparatively cheap and could be produced in large quantities, so he approved replenishing them once Caelira reached Helion.

The heavy missiles would have to wait.

The medium missiles would receive a limited initial allocation.

Anything beyond that would require a proper operational plan.

Caelira was disappointed, but she understood the reasoning once Aurelian showed her the March’s current production figures.

She had spent centuries asleep.

Helion had spent centuries abandoned.

Neither of them could expect the old Directorate’s industrial network to reappear simply because they wanted it.

By the time they finished discussing ammunition, the convoy was approaching the final route toward Helion.

Aurelian checked the navigation display.

"How are your engines?"

Caelira looked toward her own readings.

"Still making that noise."

"Anything worse?"

"No."

"Then we’re almost there."

"Good. I want an engineer."

Aurelian smiled.

"You’ll get several."

Helion Bastion Twelve appeared on their sensors a little over an hour later.

The industrial station looked busier than when Aurelian had left.

Cargo ships moved between its outer docks, patrol vessels departed on scheduled routes, and several captured Compact hulls remained attached to repair platforms.

Caelira became quiet as the station came into view.

Aurelian noticed.

"Something wrong?"

"No."

She studied the image for a while before continuing.

"It looks different."

"It has been rebuilt."

"Yes."

Her voice softened slightly.

"But it’s still Helion."

Aurelian let her look.

For someone who had spent centuries waiting on an empty moon, seeing the old bastion alive again probably mattered more than another explanation about the Directorate’s collapse.

Meridian contacted them as they approached.

"I’ve reviewed Caelira’s damage report."

Aurelian smiled.

"Good morning to you too."

"Her starboard engine needs work."

Caelira immediately joined the channel.

"I told them."

Meridian looked toward her.

"The vibration is caused by a damaged stabilizer assembly."

"Can you repair it?"

"Yes."

"How quickly?"

"After the ship is docked and inspected."

Caelira frowned.

"That is not a time."

Meridian looked at Aurelian.

"Where do you keep finding them?"

He laughed.

Helion assigned Caelira a temporary berth beside the older military repair docks.

Her cruiser was too large for several of the smaller platforms, but the bastion had enough space to accommodate her without delaying Seraphiel or Vaelith.

That was fortunate.

Aurelian did not want another argument over dock assignments.

The cruiser settled into position without difficulty.

Once the docking clamps were secured, Meridian’s engineering teams began their inspection.

Caelira remained aboard to supervise.

Aurelian suspected the engineers would either appreciate her detailed knowledge or become very tired of her within the first hour.

Possibly both.

Neris arrived shortly afterward.

Her own refit was still underway, and she had been working from a temporary logistics office while the first stage of the modifications continued.

She looked at Caelira’s specifications.

Then she looked at Aurelian.

"You found a mobile arsenal."

"Yes."

"With six thousand missile capacity."

"Approximately."

"And you want me to supply it."

Aurelian smiled.

"Eventually."

Neris stared at him.

"I hate that word."

"You’re going to hear it often."

She continued reading.

The longer she studied the cruiser, the more her expression changed.

Caelira’s missile consumption was terrible.

Her fuel-transfer systems, repair workshops, automated cargo handling, and drone capacity were another matter.

Neris enlarged the logistics specifications.