Robeyone
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Posted - 2003.08.12 23:11:00 -
[2]
The Jovian Encounter
by
Justin Robey
Vaniel's heart pounded in his chest as the warp drive hummed to life.
"The crew seems nervous. Are we sure this is a good idea?" asked Cranel. "Something like this has never been heard of and the men are scared. The last thing they want is to have their DNA recycled!"
Vaniel's temper rose.
"Find the traitor and we can go home," Vaniel barked at a shocked Cranel. "For now, we need to be alert! We are six AU from 4GQ-XQ and Intelligence reports the Stain Alliance has shown very little tolerance for visitors."
Vaniel heard a voice of one of his officers.
"We are dropping out of warp, Sir. Do you want me to activate our shield hardeners?"
"No, we don't want to act hostile. Prepare weapons and make sure everyone is at their post," Vaniel ordered.
"Yes sir," said the officer as he returned to his duties.
Vaniel felt the ship lurch as the engines shut down and the battleship began to exit warp. He would never get used to this feeling. The unknown - an unseen future always made him nervous. Even after all his training, there was nothing that could prepare even this most seasoned officer for what was waiting for him and his crew when the ship dropped from warp. Vaniel's train of thought was interrupted by commotion on the bridge.
"Sir, we have multiple targets on the grid!" yelled the helmsman.
"We are being targeted. I count ninety ships they are of mixed class and race," The stunned look on his helmsman's face struck Vaniel. The situation was worse then he could have possible imagined or prepared for.
Vaniel's head raced.
"Open communications to all channels!" he said.
Vaniel moved the communicator towards his mouth.
"This is Vaniel of the Jovian fleet. We do not wish any hostility. We are merely seeking passage through the region. I repeatą we are not hostile. We desire only to pass through the Stain region."
Vaniel felt the silence, anticipation filled his body as if the very blood in his veins.
As if on cue, his chief security officer yelled:
"Sir we are being targeted by twenty ships!"
"Are they firing?" Vaniel shouted.
"What's that, Sir?"
"Are they firing?" Vaniel yelled, nearly losing his temper.
"No Sirą"
Alarms sounded throughout the ship.
"Sir, one of the ships just fired," exclaimed the chief security officer, noticeable panic in his voice.
Vaniel announced into the receiver to the conscience on the opposite end.
"You will regret ever firing upon a ship of the Jovian fleet!"
He smashed the button to the receiver. He then turned to his crew.
"Cut communications and activate defensive measures. Bring us about and target the closest ship!"
The bridge seemed to come to life. Like a well organized machine his crew moved about the bridge. Vaniel could hear his turrets roar to life and saw the flash of what had once been a frigate in the main window.
"We are at eighty-five percent shields, Sir, and our hardeners are taking the brunt of the impacts," announced his chief security officer.
"We count eight ships destroyed, a cruiser and seven frigates," said the weapons officer, his eyes still glued to the targeting computer.
Vaniel felt his pride swell. He had heard that Jovian technology was better than that of the lesser races but he did not know to what degree. This encounter would prove to be a valuable asset to tactical operations in the future.
"Sir, shields are at thirty percent. We are now being engaged by over ninety ships. What are your orders, Sir?
He waited for Vaniel's response.
Sir!" yelled his tactical officer.
"Activate the shield boosters and try to get us out of here," Vaniel said, his military training revealing its precise and militant instincts.
"Sir, the warp drive is scrambled and we are being jammed. The shields are failing and we don't have enough cap to use our boosters," exclaimed the helmsman.
"Sir, we just lost our hardeners and many critical systems have been heavily damaged," yelled Cranel.
An explosion rocked the bridge.
"Get him off the ship," yelled Cranel.
All Vaniel remembered was being picked up and thrown into the pod. Watching in horror as his pod was being ejected, his battleship and crew exploded like a small nova, pieces scattering and showering like fireflies on the black mosaic of space and stars. He watched in dismay as the attackers, now like vultures, raced towards the debris of his once great ship. He mashed on the communications array, anger filled his whole being. He began to shake violently as he screamed into the communicator:
"You will all die for this. I will avenge the death of my lost brethren I sweą"
The last thing Vaniel felt was the impact on his pod. . There was a high pitched noise and then - silence.
Vaniel was deadą..
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