***
“Hard to port Flores, get us behind those frigates!” Kami growled as the ship lurched from multiple impacts. The bridge view screen glowed, crisscrossed with streaks of white hot energy beams. Beams that tore swaths of destruction across the screen, tearing mercilessly into the enemy. Two smaller Drac cruisers exploded in the distance while a tapestry of converging fire from the ship’s deck guns tore into a wing of toads descending on their position. She awkwardly stumbled across the bridge as the ship was rocked by another impact almost falling onto the back of Emily’s chair shouting, “Where’s our fighter support?”
“Diamondbacks are engaged at fleet perimeter,” Emily said. “Knight left Gunsmoke on support.”
“Well where the fuck are the rest of them?”
“Mako’s attempting to fill a gap in the line and Knight says he’ll be on the way once he’s secured the EVAC ships.”
Kami almost lost her footing as yet another concussion jolted the deck. Gripping the back of Emily’s chair she yelled, “Starboard batteries fire at will.” Directing her attention back to Emily she spit, “You tell that sad excuse of a fighter jock to make it quick or I’m gonna shove my foot up his ass.”
“He says he loves you too Commander.”
Kami smiled briefly at that. Leave it to Jeff to somehow maintain a lighthearted tone when the world was falling apart around them. The thought was short lived as one of the frigates Victoria was attempting to take cover behind detonated in near proximity. The force of the blast sent her sprawling.
“What the hell was that?” Styles hollered over the chaos. Lurching from his chair he danced across the shaking deck to help Kami to her feet.
“The UES Saratoga Sir,” Tyler answered. “We’ve sustained heavy damage to the starboard bow. We’re venting atmosphere.” Close on the heels of the report, Flores cried out, “Helm’s sluggish Captain,” and Schwartz signaled at the same time, “Admiral Caloway’s on the horn Sir.”
“Tell that bastard I don’t have time for him,” Styles snapped. “Flores do what you can,” he said while gingerly thumbing back Kami’s eyes. A nasty gash split her scalp and he feared a concussion.
Kami weakly pushed his hand away mumbling, “I’m fine Sir.”
Smiling at his XO he told her, “See what that asshole Caloway wants,” before stumbling towards Flores console. “Tyler, seal off the forward bulkhead,” he called grabbing the back of Flores chair. “That should help you a bit son,” he told the helmsman while leaning in to view the console. “Try to move us back here,” he said indicating a line of cruisers roughly twenty-thousand kilometers off.
“Caloway’s ordering a general retreat,” Kami called across the cacophony.
Tyler equally vying for attention called, “Two Drac heavies closing. They’ll be in weapons range in five minutes.”
“Goddamnit,” Styles breathed. “Flores step on it. Ranson get our fighter support over here now.” Looking across the deck at Kami, he braced himself as another weapons impact rocked the hull. “You tell that coward I’m not abandoning all of those people to certain death,” he shouted, disdain dripping from his voice, before calling, “Tyler. Give me a status on that fucking Cannon Ship.”
***
“Mayday, mayday, guard fighters converge on Victoria,” Emily’s voice rang in Jason’s ears.
“Victoria Gunsmoke, we’re twenty-thousand klicks out. Please advise target.”
“Two Drac heavies closing on position. Support ships out of range request missile barrage.”
“Roger,” Jason answered punching his razor to full speed, “I see the pigs.” Swinging the razor wide around Victoria’s starboard side Jason’s flight of fighters raced toward the threat. “All right pardner, let’s give these kurrs somethin ta chew on. Soon as we’re in range rain hell on 'em.”
The field of fire was intense. Juking his razor about Jason begged the targeting computer to obtain a lock. A bead of sweat dribbled down his temple as the ships seemed to inch closer to their quarry. A putrid lance of energy tore past his plane, his wingman engulfed in the searing heat. Heartbeats later the computer signaled weapons tone and he unleashed his missile compliment at the larger craft. A flurry of cylinders streaked past his canopy moments later forming a swarm of death racing toward the Drac vessels. The lead ship took the brunt of the missile strike its hull quickly beginning to buckle.
“One pig down,” Jason grunted into the radio. Jerking the flight stick he twisted the razor towards the other cruiser as the first crumpled upon itself ultimately exploding in a brilliant fireball. Diving into the wave of energy bolts emerging from the ship Jason gritted his teeth. He knew it was now in firing range of Victoria, but was determined to make a dent. “Okay boys. Let’s strafe this son of a bitch.”
***
“Victoria Knight. EVAC ships secured. Alpha and Delta flights en route,” Jeff’s voice crackled through Emily’s headset.
Pressing the earbud tightly with a finger she shakily answered, “Knight, belay previous.” Gripping the console when the ship rocked from another impact she continued, “Nightdippers and Tophatters failed on package delivery. Captain wants you to take a shot at the prize.”
“Say again Victoria. I didn’t catch that last part.”
“Proceed to Cannon Ship and attempt missile strike,” Emily clarified. “Beta flight is supplying cover and Gamma is incoming.”
“Fuck that,” Jeff’s voice was obstinate. “Mako, Knight. Take your flight and give the Drac hell. Once we spring Victoria we’ll catch up with you.”
Emily shouted into her mic, “Jeff don’t do this,” while Alison acknowledged his command blatantly disregarding Emily’s protests.
Captain Styles must have either sensed her frustration or heard her shouting. Quickly on the heels of her last message he barked, “Put him on speaker.”
Emily gritted her teeth as another blast jolted the ship. A console somewhere behind her exploded, the sound of sparks and a scream washing over her. Her hands were beginning to shake from the pressure. She had to tap at the button twice from the near uncontrollable trembling.
“In another ten-thousand klicks I’ll have missile lock on that pig,” Jeff’s voice erupted onto the bridge.
“Grant, I don’t have time to dick around with you,” the captain shouted. Emily turned in her chair to glance back. Styles still had a firm hold on the back of Flores seat. His face was a powerful shade of red. From concentration or anger she couldn’t tell. But she knew the tone of voice. Captain Styles wasn’t going to give Jeff any ground on this one. “That cruiser is right on top of us. You’re not going to do any good. Now get your ass in motion and hit that fucking Cannon Ship.”
“Sorry Sir. You’re going to have to court martial me.” Emily knew that tone too. Jeff wasn’t going to be budged. She stole a glance at Kami as the captain and Jeff argued. The XO shook her head as if to say Jeff was being incorrigible. But her face held a smile that said she was happy he was ignoring this particular order. The smile quickly turned into a face of horror as Kami tried to yell something at her.
It happened so fast. The ship was rocked by another explosion. She felt her hair tingle and pull standing on end. Turning back to her console she had barely the time to scream, much less throw up an arm reflexively, as the display exploded in a shower of sparks. Searing pain radiated across the side of her face. Her arm felt on fire. A powerful force threw her from the chair depositing her on the deck with a sickly thump. Blearily she stared at the ceiling, a hazy film coating her vision, vaguely aware of Kami's face quickly interrupting the view. Her mouth moved, Emily couldn’t hear or understand what she was saying. A pleading look filled the azure pools of Kami’s eyes. Licking her lips, Emily winced at the pain, the taste of blood and burnt flesh filling her mouth. Raising a hand to Kami, what used to be a hand anyway, she gasped, her heart skipping a beat. Gone were her delicate fingers, instead replaced by a mangled blackened mass. Shock set in, her legs growing cold and numb. It fel
t good in a strange way, the pain ebbing away and a sense of release washing over her. With her last bit of strength, Emily curved her lips in what she hoped was a smile for her friend.
***
“I’ve got Mako on it Sir,” Jeff said gruffly into the radio.
“This isn’t a game Grant. I gave you an order.”
“Fine you stubborn old man,” he shouted into the mic. “Teak, on me. The rest of you boys rendezvous with Gamma and see what you can do.” Juking the razor to avoid fire he peppered two Drac toads with slugs as he raced through the frenzied battle. Within moments he’d acquired missile tone on the rapidly advancing Drac cruiser. The ship was tearing into Victoria as if she were a roast. Ignoring the captain’s repeated commands he unleashed his full salvo of missiles, their flights corkscrewing through the mayhem. Less than half the payload struck Victoria’s attacker. The Drac ship was severely crippled but continued its assault with a final sharp lance of energy striking the carriers bridge. Jeff heard a brief scream before the transmission terminated.
“Victoria?” he called. “Captain Styles. Kami,” he cried. With a blind furry, reminiscent of his suicidal run at Prokuon. Filled with the same rage and bloodlust as when he lost Curtis, his world lurched once more. The ship was repeatedly hammered by wave after wave of energy bolts. Large fissures opened upon her hull spewing equipment and people into the harsh vacuum. He pressed the razor harder, ignoring Alan’s repeated calls to pull out. Jeff pushed his engines to the redline, coaxing more speed from the craft, as if he could somehow undo the damage to Victoria if he could get there in time. Tears welled in his eyes as the once mighty warship was dissected before him, succumbing to her wounds and tearing herself apart as much as the vile Drac weapons were.
“Jesus no!” Jeff rasped Jeff. Frantically jerking on the flight stick, he wove through the debris from the crumbling ship. Deftly maneuvering through the field of death he screamed a primal roar and fixed his sites on the target of humanities last desperate stand. Corkscrewing his razor through the mayhem the bloodlust boiled over. Revenge the only thing on his mind, Jeff tore through the enemy who’d stolen yet another important soul from his life. His attention so focused he couldn’t hear Alan’s frantic calls as he desperately tried to keep up.
Whipping about the shattered hull of a frigate Jeff was jarred back to his senses when the Victoria detonated with a sudden force in his wake. The wreckage of the onetime escort was all that saved him from the blast. Shaking his head, he scanned the HUD for friendly craft, thanking God when he picked up transponder images from Victoria's escape pods.
“Teak,” Jeff called into the radio. Static answered him. “Teak!” again he cried, but only a lonely hiss replied. Compressing his lips, he spared a brief thought for the young lieutenant before calling out, “Gunsmoke, Mako…Skid. Is anyone out there?”
“Skid online,” James answered quickly followed by Joanne, Alison, and Jason.
“Skid what’s our status?”
“About as well as things look,” James called back. “The fleet’s toast. Caloway ordered a general retreat we’re making for the Essex.”
“Not before I have one more go at that fucking Cannon Ship.”
“Forget it Knight,” James countered. “We hammered the piss out of that thing. Didn't do shit! We've got to leave.”
“Fuck that,” Jeff cried, determined to get retribution. “Do you have any missiles left?”
***
“I have one,” Joanne chirped.
“Nothing doing Apps,” James argued, “Your plane’s in no shape for that run.”
“On me Apple,” Jeff called, ignoring James protest. “Let’s give that thing a present.” Swinging around, Jeff rattled off rounds to break up a swarm of toads, clearing a path for the desperate charge. “Do I have any volunteers?”
“You're Goddamned right you do!” Alison was quick to say. “Apps, you shove the missile down its gaping fucking hole.”
James ultimately conceded and formed up with Jeff and Alison to cover Joanne’s suicidal attack. Jason pulled his razor into a trailing position guarding their wake and The trio threw themselves headfirst into the Drac onslaught. The melee was thick, but the seasoned pilots mustered their skill and punched a good sized hole into the seemingly impenetrable wall of toads before them.
Weaving through the confusion, Joanne lined her razor up attempting to get a lock. “This is Apple,” she called out, “I’ve got tone. Looking good. look-ing-good…Fox one!”
Jeff broke off his drive, swinging wide of the Cannon ships field of fire, as the sleek cylinder jumped off Joanne’s wing. The missile corkscrewed through space intent on its target. It quickly it traversed the distance, and in calamity struck the mighty warship on the rim of its yawning barreled bow. Time stopped for Jeff. Humanity's last bullet had missed. His mouth was dry, his silence stunned. Turning his gaze as the massive weapon fired, he looked longingly upon its target. His birthplace, his home, his dreams, and memoirs stood ever so briefly before him. The powerful beam bore deep into the core of the planet tearing the atmosphere off in its path. In an instant, the cradle of human civilization collapsed, and the planet Earth and its culture was reduced to a cloud of dust. In the blink of an eye.
When can their glory fade?
O the wild charge they made!
All the world wondered.
Honor the charge they made,
Honor the Light Brigade,
Noble six hundred.
—Alfred, Lord Tennyson
In the Blink of an Eye Page 40