An endless cacophony of large cannon shots rang out across the vast skies above Gersanto, huge balls of orange fire were sent crashing into the great city.
Entire districts engulfed in a plasma flame that tore huge lumbering skyscrapers in two, flinging the discarded corpses half way across the stretching metropolis.
That fleet of the Last Stand rained hell fire. An unending waterfall of glowing plasma orbs.
Galzion. As it was named.
Yet. As with any storm, slowly the rain slowed.
Soaring high above the smoldering city, the Orion-Class Ferolder Dreadnought sat.
A 30 kilometer long warship that effortlessly dwarfed the city below it, its form simply watching as it contemplated the land below as it burned.
The Orion-Class Ferolder.
The largest warship the Navy had ever designed.
There were countless in service throughout the galaxy. Yet this one.
Was special.
Ferolders, are a complex shape to explain. But their form loosly resembles a kite with a square section in the middle where the four primary Orion-Cannons sat (along with the central command bridge.)
Huge kilometer long turreted super cannons.
The Ferolder was a grand affair.
Strong, smooth, and masculine.
At it's very front, it split in two, where the exit of it's Ferolder Beam sat.
A weapon that spanned from one side to the other.
Its barrel glowing a faint orange, as energy sparked within the coiled interior.
Doubtless it's employment was nearly unleashed on this poor city...
In the very center of the beast, was a large triangular command-bridge, positioned as to give a view of the world on all sides.
Within.
Stood a man.
Superior-Captain Cornelius Redforest, poised at the center of the massive ship's bridge, arms crossed, eyes dark, surveying the scene below.
He signalled to the Head Gunners at his left and right to halt their fire. Quickly, the officers relayed their commands to all the weapons officers under their lead.
"It's done." He coughed.
Regret bit him in the neck, disgust leaving the sourest of tastes lingering on his tongue.
His face now a mask of control. Hiding guilt and anguish.
You could hear the screams of the burning metropolis from here. Impossible, but clear.
Every crew member felt the cold run up their spines the moment the bombardment had began.
Clearing his throat, Redforest held his whole body in a solid stance. Saying with a voice as hoarse as gravel,
"Marten, open up comunications with Superior Admiral Revanna."
"Emel captain." Was the swift respectful response.
Redforest turned right to the Comunications Officer and with a dark and fierce expression arms crossed said,
"Emel is not what I expect at these times.
There is no Glory To Me with these commands."
"Emel sir... emel..."
Was all the officer could respond with.
"Link acquired sir."
A holographic, full colour picture, formed front and center of the bridge, over a small, low standing projector tripod fused to the floor. Superior Admiral Revanna appeared on the projection. Her face masked by shadows, emotionless,
She began, voice nearly as deep as a man,
"Greetings Cornelius. Have you commenced purgatorial operations?"
The blood veins upon Redforests forehead began to show, the skin of his face tightening with the raw power of unseen rage.
"Gersanto, the first city burns. I can see the scorched earth from here."
He shuddered as he finished.
"Excellent captain! I'm very pleased."
A grin, just visible in the shadows began to take form,
"Please finish your operation swiftly and file your reports as soon as possible so we can get the paperwork out of the way, and I can report to Regional-Command."
He replied, "I. I. I will." he said with a final gulp, forcing the words through a stutter of fury.
"Viri Var Indi captain." she said, forming a salute just visible in the shadowed image.
"Viri. Var."
He took a deep breath of confined rage.
"Indi."
The screen flashed to a still image of 'CONNECTION TERMINATED'. The comunicationss officer flipped a switch and the projector switched off.
The Officers all around the bridge, turned in their seats to look at Redforest, each with an expression as grave as his.
"Forever. We are. Victorious."
He repeated to himself in Neo-Terran, holding back an undefendable urge to yell in disgust.
"Until the children begin to call the shots."
Unanimously the whole staff muttered, "Emel." in agreed confirmation.
Redforest slowly lowered himself to his seat. But, as he placed his arms upon his arm rest, the rage within him finally reached a critical mass.
A boiling point that even full blown war had not brought him to before.
He smashed his fists down and threw himself to attention.
"DAMN YOU ALL!" Was the loud ear splitting cry of this one livid captain as he howled, twisting left and right to meet the eyes of every last officer around the bridge,
"THIS IS SADISTIC!"
He sharply brought a hand to his forehead, visibly in pain.
"I. Have never in all my years had to execute as wretched a command as this."
Silence.
First-Superior Roven Orsentev raised from his seat, and gave a slight bow to his commander, "We're sorry sir. You know they would have had it done anyway. If not by us, then by..."
"Anyone." said the captain,
"Yes I know... Rather us than. Alternatives... at least we aren't being that thorough with our purging."
"Captain!" The Tertiary Radar officer perked up, "Inbound light air forces. Mark all directions."
"Range?"
"42 kilometers and closing. There are an approximate 34 targets."
Redforest clenched his fist.
He turned his eyes to an array of screens that ran around him.
Long-Range flak was already targeting them.
"Hold fire! I want a chance to negotiate. Intensify magnetic field projection on vulnerable assets.
Affirmations echoed around him, one reply from the head 'All-Gunner,' "Powering down all batteries."
The Superior-Captain turned to glare at the Head All-Gunner. He thought something over in his mind and said,
"Lancaster any other day of the week your initiative would generate a misdemeanour, however you have an acceptable plan. Although there is no chance our primary weapons could hit them, they may take ut as a sign of good will."
"Agreed cap." Lancaster said adding "But how that will work with a smouldering city I dont know." as his hands sped across a vast array of buttons and lights.
Redforest straightened up slightly, and commanded with his hand forward.
"Roven, broadcast dearm protocols to the rest of the fleet and prepare a Localised NoID Comunication link for me.
Let's have a chat with the locals."
YOU ARE READING
World In Turmoil
Science FictionAmongst the empires of the galaxy. Between the factions and the territories. On a rustic world left to itself. A young man had heros once... They were a force sworn to protect. They were a navy of saviours. In a time of need. ...
