The third and fourth waves of missiles went the way of the first two.
"We are now within powered-missile range, Captain," Lieutenant Green announced. "Ten minutes to beam range."
The missiles coming in at the Valhalla now would still have life on their drives and would be able to maneuver, trying to worm their way past the point-defense net. Conversely, their missiles would have the same advantage, and they had more of them.
"Commander Fain?" Alex asked softly. "Do you see that cruiser to the starboard?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Kill it."
"Yes, ma'am." Even with the vengeful mood that she was in, the tone of her tactical officer's voice sent a chill down her spine.
That is one man I definitely do not want to get on the wrong side of.
Fain's fingers danced over his board then stabbed down on the launch button. Alex watched the plot as forty missiles streaked from the Valhalla's tubes. Twice the number of missiles that both Xan-Sskarn cruisers were sending back at them.
She was still concentrating on the plot, watching their second salvo of missiles streak toward the Xan-Sskarn cruiser, when she felt the ship shake.
One of the enemy's missiles had evaded the point-defense net, getting close enough to inflict damage.
Plasma roiled over the starboard midships.
"Damage report!" she cried out.
"Nothing serious, just some armor damage," Tony reassured her as two more missiles detonated.
"Still only armor damage, ma'am."
"Holy shit!" came an excited yell from Lieutenant Green.
"Lieutenant?" Alex snapped.
"Sorry, ma'am, it's just that I'm reading plumes and a massive debris field, plus a significant power drop-off in the starboard cruiser."
Alex whipped her head around to watch as the icon representing the cruiser began to pulse with estimated damage. It began to flash faster as another barrage of missiles intersected with it. She was concentrating on the plot with such intensity that she didn't even notice the rocking of the ship from another impact.
Suddenly the cruiser vanished from the projection.
One down, one to go.
"Guns . . . "
She never go to finish what she was about to say.
"Targeting remaining cruiser now, Captain," Fain said as the first flight of missiles leapt from the tubes, chasing after the fleeing cruiser.
The Valhalla rocked under another series of impacts, and she turned her head to look at Commander Ruggs.
"More armor damage," he said, reading from the damage-control panel. "And a small outer-hull breach. Inner hull undamaged. God damn, this is one tough ship."
Alex had to agree with him.
"Now entering beam range," Green advised.
"Cease fire with missiles!" she said quickly. "Commander Tucholski, bring us ninety degrees to starboard. Commander Fain, with energy mounts only, fire as we bear."
Both officers confirmed her orders.
The Valhalla swung her bow to the starboard while maintaining her forward vector. The maneuver took time. Time enough for two more missiles to breach the defense net.
"We just lost a PDL," Tony informed her.
Alex didn't reply as she watched her repeater display. The turn completed, eight hellishly bright beams of destruction flashed from the Valhalla's flank. A heartbeat later, the last Xan-Sskarn ship came apart in an expanding sphere of fire.
* * *
Alex was sitting in her command chair, staring at the brightly colored holograph projected before her, thinking. She was supremely grateful that there had been no serious casualties on board during their battle. They had lost nine Valkyries, and she felt a stab of regret over that, but she knew it could've been much worse.
Her new crew and new ship had both performed superbly. She only hoped that the hardships ahead would not exact too high a toll on either of them.
She looked up as Commander Ruggs approached her.
"Recovery operations are almost complete, ma'am," he reported. "The last squadron is landing now. We'll be ready to jump in approximately five minutes."
"Thank you, Commander."
Turning away from him, she called out.
"Commander Tucholski, do you have your plots ready?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Good, pick one, it doesn't matter which, and prepare for jump."
"Prepare for jump. Aye, ma'am."
She turned back and saw that Tony was still standing beside her chair, looking at her.
"Something on your mind, Tony?"
"I was just wondering if this was the best course of action." He gave a slight shrug as he said this.
"Like I said before, what other choices do we have?"
"I know. I just don't like the thought of leaving the Sallys in control here."
"Neither do I, but it won't be this way forever."
They both fell silent as they watched the lights on her status board change from green to yellow as the final Valkyries landed.
"Jump plotted, Captain," Tucholski announced.
"Thank you, Commander."
She fell silent, staring at the hologram in front of her.
"Do you think we'll ever see it again?" Tony asked quietly, lifting his chin toward the projection.
Alex continued to stare at the slowly rotating image of Earth.
"Yes, Commander, I think we will," she said just as quietly.
And when we do come back, it will be my turn to give the Xan-Sskarn nightmares.
Leaning back, she cleared her throat and spoke in a clear, confident voice.
"Jump!"
Glossary
ACM:
Air Combat Maneuvers.
Aesir:
Name of the Norse gods.
Asgard:
Home of the Norse gods.
Battle Net:
Communication frequencies used by different departments.
CAG:
Commander Air Group.
CIC:
Combat Information Center.
CO:
Commanding Officer.
DC Net:
Damage-Control Net.
Dead Jokers:
The call sign of all Loki pilots.
ECM:
Electronic Counter Measures.
EMP:
Electromagnetic Pulse.
Fenris:
Monstrous wolf destined to kill Odin.
Folkvang:
Home of Freya.
Frigga:
Wife of Odin.
FTL:
Faster than light.
Gna:
Messenger of Frigga.
Hermond:
The nimble god.
Hervor:
A warrior-maiden.
Hugin:
One of Odin's ravens, whose name means "thought."
Humpty:
Jump-drive engines whose shape resembles eggs. Also known as fold engines.
I-Com:
Inertial compensator.
IFF:
Identification friend or foe.
Ka-Shesh:
Xan-Sskarn rank equivalent to a Terran naval ensign.
KEW:
Kinetic energy weapon.
Kira:
Xan-Sskarn heavy cruiser–class ship.
Kisnan:
Xan-Sskarn battle ship–class ship.
Ki-Tesh:
Xan-Sskarn rank equivalent to a Terran naval lieutenant.
Ki-Xarn:
Xan-Sskarn rank equivalent to a Terran naval commander.
Lashana:
Xan-Sskarn expletive.
Le-Kisnan:
Xan-Sskarn carrier-class ship.
Loki:
Electronic warfare plane. Norse god of mischief and trickery.
Midgard:
The Norse name for Earth.
Mjölner:
Thor's hammer.
Mustang:
Prior enlisted person who has earned their commission and b
ecome an officer.
Nan:
Xan-Sskarn frigate-class ship.
Odin:
Father and ruler of the Norse gods.
PDG:
Point-defense gun.
PDL:
Point-defense laser.
Phase Drive:
Also known as a P-Drive.
Ran:
Norse goddess of the sea.
Ring Knocker:
Fleet Academy graduate.
Ri-Nan:
Xan-Sskarn destroyer-class ship.
RIO:
Radar Intercept Officer.
Salamander:
Terran slang for the Xan-Sskarn.
Sally:
Terran slang for the Xan-Sskarn.
Sif:
Thor's wife.
Sigyn:
Wife of Loki.
Sleipnir:
Odin's steed.
Ssi-Kira:
Xan-Sskarn light cruiser–class ship.
Ssi-Nan:
Xan-Sskarn scout/courier-class ship. The smallest craft in the Xan-Sskarn navy capable of FTL travel.
Sunna:
The daughter of Mundifiore that rides a chariot of day.
Tavark:
A notoriously vicious amphibious creature native to the Xan-Sskarn home world.
Tesh:
Xan-Sskarn rank equivalent to a Terran naval lieutenant, junior grade.
Thor:
Norse god of thunder.
Uller:
Norse god of winter, also known as Ull or Ullr.
Valhalla:
The hall of warriors slain in combat.
Valkyrie:
Space superiority fighter. Battle-maidens. Choosers of those fallen heroically in battle.
Vampire:
Incoming missile.
Vidar:
Norse god of vengeance, also known as the silent god.
Xanle-Kisnan:
Xan-Sskarn command ship.
Xan-Liarn:
Xan-Sskarn rank equivalent to a Terran naval captain.
Xan-Sskarn:
Alien species resembling Terran salamanders.
Xarn:
Xan-Sskarn rank equivalent to a Terran naval lieutenant commander.
XO:
Executive officer.
THE END
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Ragnarok-ARC
Table of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-one
Chapter Twenty-two
Chapter Twenty-three
Chapter Twenty-four
Chapter Twenty-five
Chapter Twenty-six
Chapter Twenty-seven
Chapter Twenty-eight
Chapter Twenty-nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-one
Glossary
Ragnarok-ARC Page 40