The Dekmár Roads: The Factions of Natorna

Chapter 30: Unexpected Victory

        The Stosheavor shields for their ships went down and the Norpeal fighters across the solar system scrambled to engage them. They found quickly that despite the shields being down, the ships were too strong. No matter what they did, the fighters were no able to make any significant damage to them or limit the Stosheavor ship's war fighting capability. It rapidly devolved for the Norpeala found themselves as if flying insects that were being swatted at.

        Commander Drescznor was at Glecta struggling to with his Liscznata troops to make a difference. He had the reinforcements from the addition of the new fighters, but the numbers were quickly dwindling. He had not many options as far as a means to attack the Stosheavor ships. The fighters had both bombs and missiles yet neither were effective. He took it upon himself to hopefully change their outcome. He did something drastic. He directed the pilot of his aerospace transport and load it up with whatever he had at his disposal---bombs, thermal cannons, a bunch of crates of rocks.

        Drescznor was at the rear of the transport by the loading door. He stood next to the transport's internal intercom that was attached to the back wall. He hit transmit and spoke to the pilot, "Tell me when we are in range. I can tell that you do not agree with this plan. You do not have to say it. I know. But this outsider's ship is currently sitting on the ground. I do not believe we would be able to get another opportunity like this again."

        "It may not come again. I can see that. It is risky. We have no shields on board that could come anywhere near the effectiveness of just the armor of these ships. I will give you one shot, one pass. After that, I will be flying as fast as I can get this transport to go, far away from that ship."

        "That is all I will need." Drescznor said confidently despite his reservations.

        Drescznor hastily prepared the cargo. He rigged up the straps to a quick release rope. Everything was intended to be ejected out of the back of the transport at the same time. The pilot soon came over the intercom. He said, "We are almost at the ship. Get in position now. We have less then a minute before we are directly above it. I will give you a count down at ten seconds." The time continued to tik, and the pilot gave his count down and then told him, "Release. Release. Release."

        Drescznor threw the lever and the loading door fell opened. He then pulled the rope. Nothing happened. He pulled it again but this time a bit harder. Still nothing. Drescznor put his back into it and gave all he had. The rope gave and some of the cargo slide out of the back. Drescznor swore that not more was released. He ran to the loading door and grabbed the rope handle to look out of the transport. The cargo almost completely missed the ship. It ended up striking the engines. Due to the location and the fact that the thermal cannons exploded, he saw shrapnel from the engines scatter across the land. It almost shredded the transport in the process. Drescznor, hit the door closing switch which slowly began to retract it and then hit the intercom button. "Swing around. One more pass. I need to see this. It is not a debate."

        The pilot begrudgingly complied. Drescznor peered out of the closing door. The transport passed back over the ship just in time for him to see before the door closed all the way. The ship was missing a ginormous chunk at the rear. Drescznor immediately sprinted to the control room and relay a message about the weakness of the engines to the rest of the forces.

        As the troops received word, they slowly implemented the new strategy. It took some time before everyone had been made aware. Because of that, certain elements were worse off than others. Laoenfer received the message from Drescznor. At that time, he had arrived at a supply station under the direction of an individual from Noravena. The station had several thermal cannons prepositioned there. There was a Stosheavor ship that was causing them trouble in the vicinity. Laoenfer quickly had the thermal cannons set up for next time the ship comes into view.