Free Carinae Sector: 01 - Traders' Scourge - Part 1 - Alien Flight by David Buck

Both helicopter and frigate began jamming on commercial radar frequencies. After ten minutes the Seahawk flown down to twenty meters above the waves in the evening darkness, and after switching on only the navigational lights had slowly flown due north.
    Later, on the darkened HMAS Perth some fifteen kilometers east, the radar operator on the bridge of the frigate stiffened at his station before calmly announcing.
    ‘Captain, there are eight unlit contacts at nineteen kilometers moving due south from one of the northern islands towards the Seahawk at forty knots.’
    Steve considered the attacking boats, ‘Well they had made the choice to attack’ he reflected as gave his orders.
    ‘Lieutenant, get the latest data to the Seahawk, he is to get to the agreed altitude before starting that searchlight again. Also I want to know if the missile targeting system can indentify the targets.’
    Steve that the electronics data indicated the high levels of electronic interference as he continued to place orders.
    ‘Weapons, take out the two boats closest to the coast first if you please. They will be in contact with that radio transmitter. We will then take out the adjacent boats, as I don’t want them too interested in the Seahawk.’
    The forward mounted 125mm rapid fire gun spat a series of sharp reports every ten seconds as the auto loader fed the high explosive shells in the gun. After eight shots in less than a minute and a half, the naval gun momentarily stopped firing as it altered targets. Within a minute, it again lashed out with continuous shots, as it attempted to hit the remaining boats that were now zigzagging randomly as they closed to engage the frigate.
    On the bridge of HMAS Perth, the weapons officer reported the outcome.
    ‘Sir, we destroyed those two shoreward boats with our first eight shots, and I think two of the remaining six boats are damaged. We still cannot target the boats with our missiles.’
    As the muffled gun reports continued, Steve again turned to the communications officer.
    ‘Advise Lieutenant White to attack that southernmost boat. That should keep them on the boil.’
    The Seahawk angled across to the closest militant boat from the south. Once it reached altitude several hundred meters from the boat the helicopter again lit the powerful searchlight. The militant boat now turned to engage the new threat from the Seahawk, but the Gatling gun in the front of the helicopter quickly found the range of the boat, and riddled it with 32mm armor piecing rounds in two short ten second bursts. The boat slowed before a large explosion lit the night sky, as the RPG rounds onboard exploded and ignited the boat’s fuel. Steve was aware of a brief flash to the south even as the gunnery officer confirmed that the main gun had taken down another boat. ‘That leaves four boats to worry about.’ he considered, as he did the tactical calculations in his head and gave further orders.
    ‘Navigation, take us to a course due north, thirty degrees starboard should do it, and take us down to 20 knots.’
    ‘Weapons, you have five minutes to take down additional targets then we extend range, as I will not let them get too close.’
    The attacking boats were stuck badly from a tactical standpoint as the frigate was now crossing their escape route, as the Seahawk helicopter strafed another boat from extreme range. An attempt by the boat crew to fire RPG’s at the helicopter proved futile, as it easily evaded the incoming grenades and light machine gun fire by circling out to a kilometer from the militant boat. The remaining boats closed to within two kilometers of the frigate, and the big forward gun again hit and destroyed another boat as the frigate changed course. The forty foot former pleasure cruiser was hit solidly amidships and disintegrated as the naval round exploded.
    The three remaining boats continued to press home the attack on the frigate, as it changed course again to starboard and increased speed