Danvers' Flight

The rumbling of cannon-fire could be heard as she walked a loop around her craft. The heavy artillery of the big capital ships was lighting up the void outside, but in the safety of the LWS Resceau II's hanger, under its shields and armor plating that all seemed like a non issue.

The Red Glare was still new to her. Orange paint, sleeker design. Guns she didn't recognize, thrusters she didn't understand, couldn't take apart. Made her uncomfortable. Silhouette was familiar though, two wings, long nose, engines near cockpit, guns on wingtips, those moved, but silhouette held. She wished she could still be flying her Lathuitha Rocket, it was familiar, she'd seen many battles with it... they were close.

The Com officer's voice came on, "All Squadrons, prepare for launch." She hoisted herself up into the craft. It wasn't her Rocket, but it would do, it had better shields, better armor, better guns, her rocket wouldn't survive out there... She closed the canopy, flipped switches, watched and listened as the starfighter powered up... but the Red Glare just might.

Repulsers came online and she began to retract landing gear. The com system came online and she heard the commander's voice as she strapped on her O2, checked the tube, connected to a tank on her hip by a three way valve, then also connected to the fighter itself, to a larger tank she couldn't see. She put on her helmet, sealed her goggles, and the commander said "All clear Lethorn, looks like none of you exploded this time." Seekan Tor laughed, (his engine had exploded during early trials) the commander continued "We're out first, form up."

She followed the commander into the center of the hanger, the doors were now open, she could look up and see the void. It was seconds for everyone to come together, and not even so long to leave. Quiet Squadron was behind them, she expected.

The void was bright with fire as great ships traded blows across greater distances. She saw the swarms incoming as her squadron joined a growing screen. NEA Eagle's drifted by, drift was the wrong word. They were in full control, engines active, but they moved at angles relative to where they faced.

It wasn't long again before the swarm was close, more infestation fighters than she could count, they'd be in range in seconds, she read her readoubts again.

Hull: 98% as if that had meaning, it was an amalgamation, and average of a dozen little reports and readouts. It could be a gun lagging its returns, it could be a thruster running a bit hot, she might actually have a loose plate somewhere

Shields: 0/0% two numbers, different meanings one was a simple measure, how hot was the generator? How close to melting? The other was an average, last 30 seconds, how hard was the coolant system working? How close to being overcome?

Scanner: Fine, it was fine. Red encroached from afar. She watched them. Finally smaller shots rung by "Lethorn! We're clear to engage." The commander was loud. She rotated, picked a target, and a swarm unit died under fire. There were a million more.

Hull: 98%

Shields: 0/0%

The swarm parted, she thought to go through, to flank, but was too cautious... lucky her. A great Green ball came out of the gap, two of Quiet squadron were clipped by it. Their shields failed, they were gone before she could do anything. Three more swarmers died under her fire in revenge... she was close with Quiet.

Her targeting computer chimed as she pulled a hard left past some fire, she flipped a switch, and four missiles set out from her wings. They made sharp turners and four Swarmers were soon dead... she assumed.

Hull: 98%

Shields: 0/42%

She was flying perpendicular to the fleet, now, a swarmer trying to stay out of her sights... it wouldn't succee-