Invincible: Book 3: Blood and Metal by Will Crudge

Author:Will Crudge [Crudge, Will]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-06-06T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 19

The stars snapped into place and the view of the carnage-filled the visual feeds within the CICs' displays. Nemesis was swarmed with alien dropships affixed to her hull. Plasma cutters attached to the dropships' prows desperately tried to cut their way into the ship. Admiral Hendrix had attempted to create some distance between Nemesis and the station, presumably to safely activate the point defenses. Still, it was apparent that it was too late.

At least a dozen drop ships cut their way into the vessel while several more were hovering around the dreadnaught twenty-seven nautical miles from the station. Alien fighters swarmed Nemesis and unleashed their plasma cannons across the hull.

Jason was angry at the sight of his ship being manhandled by Charteans. "Dane, hail the admiral and tell her we're launching fighters,"

Jason noticed McDonald craning her neck when he mentioned the fighters. "Sir, is that my cue?"

"Aye, shipmate," Jason said. "Get in the black,"

McDonald wasted no time and scurried out of the CIC in a flash. Jason reached up for the command helm and pulled it on his head.

"Athena, I have the con," Jason/XAI declared.

"I stand relieved," Athena replied. "Shall I get out in the black as well, sir?"

"By all means," Jason/XAI replied. A split second later, twelve icons indicating heavy fighters launched into the void and immediately opened fire on the Chartean fighters. Moments later, the interceptor launched with McDonald at the helm, and she used her speed to catch up to the fray.

"Proximity warning!" Dane announced it to the CIC, but Jason/XAI had already seen it. Four Chartean dropships diverted from the dreadnaught and rocketed towards Invincible.

"Sir, I have a solution," Malorie announced. Jason smiled; grateful he had an AI for a weapons officer. Her ability to calculate on a quantum level meant that she could engage with at least some of the point defenses with a reduced risk of collateral damage. Granted, the risk was never zero, but with dropships also swarming the station, Jason/XAI decided the risk was worth it.

"Engage," Jason/XAI ordered. Rail guns belched their payload into the blackness, and one of the dropships was turned into a fiery ball of shattered debris and combusted atmosphere. However, the engagement order came a millisecond too late, and the three remaining dropships made it through the volley and were now inside the minimum point defense range.

"Dane, please inform Marie Obata to execute her crazy plan," Jason/XAI ordered.

"Aye, sir," the response was given.

Now, the merged entity refocused their combined awareness on the battle outside, as nothing else could be done about the impending boarding action. "Mal, get me a MAAC solution on the dreadnaught and hold fire until I give the order,"

"Solution locked in, cap," Malorie replied. "Asset denial?"

"If it comes to that, then I don't want to miss our chance," Jason/XAI replied.

Moments later, the sounds of metal on metal could be heard as the alien dropships landed somewhere on the exterior hull of Invincible.

***

McDonald knew the heavy guns of Athena's fighters were too much of a

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