Last Call

Firing The Big Gun

The Starfuries and Thunderbolts flew in small squads, taking turns to divide the Raiders, not allowing them to do the same. It took numerous rounds of fire to disable a single Raider; standard weapons no match for hull technology much like that of the Excalibur’s. The energy dispersed in ripples over the adapted hull until it began to weaken, opening up a site for targeting. The primary mission had been to run interference so that the Excalibur could target the larger Cruisers.

Out numbering the enemy helped. Few shots had been taken on the Excalibur itself, and those that did make it through the interceptors refracted on the hull’s energy matrix. To the untrained eye, the view through the main console looked like complete chaos as the Earthforce ships swarmed about the larger enemy crafts, firing with abandon.

Matheson didn’t want to risk the chance for casualties and greater damage done to his own fleet. Glancing over his shoulder, he looked at the display again. Few of the ‘Furies had been hit critically, leaving them to drift disabled away from the rest. Of the Raiders, only three were still completely functional.

“Send out maintenance ‘Furies to pick up the disabled fighters and ejected pods. Remaining fighters, drive the Raiders away from them and provide cover.” Matheson watched the display as it tracked the increased movement, the two fleets of ships trying to break through the opposite defense. The maintenance ships launched from the bay and zipped through the disorder, homing in on the distress beacons from the downed ‘Furies and ‘Bolts. Thick grapple arms caught the crafts or jettisoned pods before racing back, quickly dropping off the load before making another trip. The four-ship squad made short work of the task.

The Lieutenant’s eyes lost focus as he concentrated on the flurry of messages coming through his com, deciphering pilot chatter from information he needed. He deftly heard through the buzz a message from a maintenance ‘Fury pilot. All disabled were finally aboard.

“Recall the fleet and get jump engines online.” Matheson had no intention to wait around until the Drakh cracked the jamming signal and called in reinforcements. His duty was to the Excalibur and the safety of her crew first and foremost.

“Fighters are coming in. Engines ready, sir.”

Another flash of energy dispersed on the hull near the command deck, bathing the area in a brief glow. Following closely behind was the impact of the pulse slamming against the Excalibur. John lurched and struggled to remain standing, shifting his feet to cushion the blow.

“Sir, the last Cruiser is targeting us and interceptors are running hot. Down to sixty percent effective.” An officer looked up from her sensor display, her eyes widening at the alert flashing across her console.

“Are all the fighter’s aboard?” An uneasy fist balled at his side as Matheson waited for the reply.

“No, sir. Estimate two minutes until we’re set up to jump.”

“Evasive action. Bank and face the ship on her least damaged side. Let the ‘Furies and ‘Bolts get in as close as possible. If we have to we’ll open up a jump point and they can follow through. How close are the Drakh?” Another shot seared at the Excalibur.

“Most of their fire is dispersing. At least two clicks, but closing fast.”

It was too close for comfort. Even if the Excalibur opened up a jump point, the ship wouldn’t be able to make a hasty retreat without the possibility of leaving the fighter squads behind. If they paused once inside hyperspace, Matheson risked the chance of the Cruiser being able to follow and maintain sensor contact. He wasn’t worried as much about the Raiders; they weren’t jump capable without a gate and the closest was back in the Ghayn system.

His fist balled tighter.

Matheson spun on a heel and swore beneath a heavy sigh. He only had a few seconds to make up his mind and he hoped it would be for the best.

“Navigations, about face.”

Nielson spun in his chair. “But sir—“

“About face, Ensign!”

“Aye, sir.” In response to the new commands, the Excalibur banked, quickly slicing through space to face the remaining Cruiser.

“Time on target?” Glancing over Nielson’s shoulder, Matheson saw the etched display light up on the inside of the Ensign’s navglasses.

“Twenty seconds.”

“On my mark, fire main beam cannon.”

“Lieutenant, the jump engines will have to be taken offline.”

“I know that Ensign.” John didn’t have time to explain. He felt the hum through the deck subside as the jump engines went offline to power the reserves for the main cannon.

Matheson’s mental count began. He had to wait until the Cruiser was close enough or the enormous blast would be wasted, giving the Drakh an opportunity to do the same to an unguarded Excalibur. His eyes fell on the counter as it quickly monitored the distance between the two ships. Neilson’s hand shook above the final switch needed to fire the main cannon.

“Fire!”

The lights dimmed as the main console flashed a stand-by, all systems losing power. A strange quiet filled command, vacant of normal mechanical sounds. Static crackled through the air as power surged through the cannon. From his vantage, Matheson witnessed the ray of energy blast through the vacuum at the oncoming Cruiser, overtaking the Drakh ship before it had a chance to react. The Lieutenant winced, squinting through half shut eyes as the craft was engulfed and exploded. Only small pieces remained, spinning haphazardly away from the point of impact.

“What’s the count?”

“Forty five seconds, sir.” Neilson replied.

“How long for the jump engines?” Smaller pulses from the remaining Raiders shook the Excalibur.

“I’ll know for sure when systems are back online, but I estimate seven minutes.”

Matheson frowned. “Fighters should be back aboard by the time engines are online.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Good.” The Lieutenant returned to the command chair and sat. Gradually the lights came back to full strength and machinery hummed to life again. “Get confirmation on the squad.”

“All ships aboard.” Communications replied.

“Fastest normal speed away from those Raiders.”

“Fastest normal speed, aye sir.”