Chapter XI
The battle had begun as soon as the first Drones reached firing distance; they immediately opened fire on Destiny. Some of them fired on the Descendants shuttle but their main focus appeared to be Destiny.
They had destroyed a great deal of Drones when a third Drone Command Ship dropped out of hyperspace flooding the battle field with even more Drones of various sizes, by this time three Descendants shuttle had been destroyed. Battle planning was not Rush’s best quality but Varo had really stepped up and almost took control of the bridge, and for the first time Rush didn’t mind being overruled so many times. Things seemed to be getting under control when:
MR. BRODY: Oh God…
DR. RUSH: What now?
MR. BRODY: The main reason we are not neck deep in drones it’s because of the debris field…
DR. RUSH: Yes, Yes, so what?
MR. BRODY: That’s about to change.
DR. VOLKER: He’s right. Look…
As everyone turn their gaze into the large debris field it was clear that the largest piece in the field was about to enter the atmosphere and it would create a large hole in space between Destiny and the Command Ships, so large a hole that the three Drone Command Ship would have no problem advancing towards them. Varo was the first to react:
VARRO (ON RADIO): Tamara, ready everything you have we are about to get in trouble.
LT. JOHANSEN: What is happening?
VARRO (ON RADIO): Dr. Park, how are the energy levels?
DR. PARK: They are in normal parameters, why?
VARRO: Dr. Rush, connect me to the ship P.A. and to the Descendants.
Without hesitation Rush pressed a button and knotted to Varo. Varo informed Destiny’s crew and the Descendants that when the large piece of debris started re-entry it would open a large enough gap that the Drone Command Ships could actively engage Destiny and that would turn the tide in favour of the Drones…
VARRO (ON P.A.): This battle is not been easy; we have lost friends and shed blood. As we speak a large enough piece of the debris field, that we are using as cover is about to enter the atmosphere and clear a big enough hole so that the remaining Drones Ship can engage us with little effort. All we need to do is buy some time, Eli and Col. Young are on the planet trying to end this once and for all, not just for us but for our Descendant as well. I know I ask a lot but all we need to do is to make them take as long as possible to destroy us. Because even if we don’t make it, at least the millions of people back on New Novus will be safe. And if Col. Young were here he would say the same. So hang in there just a little longer and believe in Eli, as I do.
After the speech Varo told the civilians to stay away from windowed areas as the Observation Deck or the former Hydroponics Chamber because the probability of shield failure in those areas was high. He instructed Dr. Wray to lead them into a large room at the centre corridor of the ship, close to where they held the invading Lucian Alliance members for the first time. He assumed that those portions of the ship would be the best place for them.
Wray refused at first, she was helping T.J. with the wounded. But T.J. agreed that it was the best course of action, to protect the civilians.
