Evolve (Forgotten Starship Book 5) by M.R. Forbes

Author:M.R. Forbes [Forbes, M.R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-10-05T16:00:00+00:00

30

Cross

Forge. Control Mind Simulation. 04.24.2324. 2030 hours.

As the assault began, Joseph’s attention was so focused on the tactical grid and the Forge’s planned defenses that he quickly lost his awareness of the saloon around them. In the eye of his consciousness as it was represented within the Control Mind, he found he began to process the incoming streams of data as if he were a bystander positioned a few thousand kilometers away from the Forge, floating in space and watching the attack commence.

From that position he was able to get a birds-eye view of all of the action, the separation enabling him to better manage the systems still under the control of his many secondary processes and threads. It helped that the Axon were focusing their attention on the main factory portion of the station, because while they were separated enough to prevent decimation from the shell’s pinch missiles, they were compacted enough that he was able to monitor the entire four thousand ship fleet within one large group and defend against it accordingly.

“Here they come,” Keesha said a second time.

“Launch the drones,” Joseph replied. “Keep the pinch missiles in reserve for the Novas. They want us to waste them on the smaller ships, but they’re our last, best line of defense.”

“Copy that,” Keesha said. “Deploying drones.”

From Joseph’s vantage point the entire surface of the Forge seemed to come to life, the sudden movement reminding him of the ooze that had clung to the wall of Iagorth’s asteroid vessel. Thousands of drones peeled away from the shell, the smooth surface of the station looking pockmarked in their absence. The swarm seemed to glow a faint orange as their thrusters ignited, sending them hurtling out into space toward the onrushing Axon fleet. Hundreds of flashes of blue energy joined the orange a moment later, Axon warships opening fire on the smaller vessels. Dozens were cut down in the first volley, while hundreds more took evasive action to stay clear of the bolts.

“It’s really ugly out here,” Keesha said, her processes individually piloting each of the drones and her main process aware of it all.

“It’s going to get worse,” Joseph replied. “They’re launching fighters.”

A fresh swarm of ships began pouring from the front of the Axon fleet, hundreds of small vessels ejecting into space and racing toward the thousands rising from the Forge. Their blue energy bolts split the darkness while the drones were too far out to start firing, their weapons better suited to getting in close and pounding away at Axon shields.

“Split the drones in half and try to lead the Axon fighters in closer to the Forge,” Joseph said. “If we can get them near enough we can use the extra firepower of the fixed batteries.”

“Copy that, Sarge,” Keesha replied. “Twenty seconds to intercept.”

Joseph broke out of the scene, using those twenty seconds to return to the saloon. He picked up the beer Max had left him and downed the entire mug, slapping the empty container back to the table.

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