Banshee

11. Paper Tiger

Oh shit!!!

An enemy ship was closing in fast, twice the size of the Banshee.

"Captain!" Valetta shouted, "your orders!"

I opened up the comms to the engine room.

"Kay! Can we make a quick run?"
"Not yet, gimme 10 minutes..."
"We may not have that much time."
"We may not have a ship to run with if we try now!"
"Alright, do what you can and let me know when you're ready!"

We are so not gonna make it...

I sat down on the throne and steered ahead as fast as the engines would safely allow right now.

"Valetta, prepare your squad, and have Ian suit up with his squad as well!"
"Aye!" was her response as she dashed off the bridge.
"Lana, I'll need you to take the ship when I go."
"Go where?" the doctor asked somewhat confused...
"Oh no!" she said as it dawned on her. "Don't tell me you're actually thinking of boarding that monstrosity..."
"We need a distraction to buy Kay time to fix the engines, and their ship is the best bet."
"But you'll be taking all available troops, what if we're boarded while you're gone?"
"Shoot them..."

I know it's a lame answer, but I need every man I can get right now...

"I'm sorry Lana... but for this to have even a chance of working, I need every man I can get. Keep the ship as safe as you can and shoot down any incoming boarding parties."

I got up from the throne and headed to my cabin as the doctor took my place with visible reluctance...

I'm sorry Lana, I'll make it up to you later...

After I had armed and armored up, I went down to the cargo bay, where Valetta and Ian were waiting with their squads. I waved them into the shuttle, which was rather packed with the now 21 occupants. I took place in the pilot seat and exited the Banshee...

"What's the plan, boss?" Ian asked. "Are we leaving the ship for a reason?"
"The Banshee's engines aren't ready yet for a run," I replied. "We'll create a distraction by boarding the enemy ship..."

For a few seconds, only the shuttle's engines could be heard...

"We're going to die, aren't we..." one of the troopers said.
"Maybe, maybe not..." I said. "But this is our best chance of making it out of here alive... And if we die, at least we'll take them with us."

Ah, a good old cliché...

I could hear murmurs of both agreement and disagreement. But at least they knew what was expected of them. And since I'd be fighting...

And possibly dying...

...with them, I had proven myself to not be a snob or whatever.

No... just an idiot...

The enemy ship came closer and closer. I aimed the shuttle at the bridge and opened up with the shuttle's on board weapons to weaken any shields... which proved non-existent...

What even?

The projectiles blasted into the ship's outer hull and tore a hole just large enough for the shuttle to crash through.

"Hang on!" I shouted.

The shuttle crashed right into the bridge. As soon as the transport stopped moving, we were out, shooting at any survivors. It took less than a minute to clear the bridge, and we had no casualties yet.

It can't seriously be this easy... right?

Ian found a ship layout and called me and Valetta up there while the rest guarded the doors.