Sanctuary by D. J. Proctor

Author:D. J. Proctor [Proctor, D. J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-12-28T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 26

Deep Space

Neanderthal Scout Ship Two

Bickham was nervous. Landon reported that two more destroyers had arrived. They were clearly massing for an attack.

“That's now five destroyers, and six cruisers. That's a pretty typical attack squadron. I think we should break communication silence and report back. If this is consistent with what we have seen before, they will be ready to leave within twenty-four hours,” said Surax.

The other Neanderthals nodded, and Bickham thought that the real game was about to start. Surax got on the communication device, and sent a message that the Cobran attack was likely imminent.

A few moments later Landon reported, “Six Cobran fighters have broken off from the ships in orbit. They seem to be heading in our direction.”

Surax flipped on his engines and said, “We are done here anyway. Prepare for jump.”

Bickham was still watching a screen that showed the positions of various ships, and he could see smaller ones approaching their position. Just then another object came on the screen, with a different kind of marker to indicate its type.

“What kind of ship is that?” asked Bickham.

“Dammit, that's a subspace sniper. We had better get out of here,” said Surax.

He hit the switch to prepare the jump engine, making the cabin vibrate gently. Just then, Bickham saw a flash of yellow through one of the port windows. The jump engines stopped.

“What happened to the engine?” asked Bickham, his chest feeling tight.

Merkle replied, “They hit us with a sniper bolt. Space is disrupted in the area, preventing the jump drive from grabbing it to punch us through. We will have to change position and recharge the engines.”

Surax grabbed the control stick and maneuvered the ship, presumably to prevent the approaching fighters from getting a weapon lock.

“How long will it take the jump engine to recharge?” Bickham leaned forward in his seat, watching as an enemy fighter blasted passed them. It must have been sizing them up.

“We can recharge faster than a larger vessel, and do smaller jumps with a partial charge, but it will take several minutes even for that,” said Surax.

Surax flew the ship back towards the moon where they had been hiding. Bickham saw on the screen that the enemy ships were coming back for another pass. He had a hunch that this time they'd mean business.

“They are almost in range for blaster bolts, sir,” said Merkle.

“There's too many of them for us to hide very easily around that moon, we will have to take more drastic measures,” said Surax.

Bickham watched the window in front of Surax as the ship nosed directly toward the gas giant. The ship hurtled down into the turbulent atmosphere and was enveloped by swirls of orange and yellow. The vessel shook as it dove deeper.

“Hopefully they will not follow us in here,” said Surax.

“Sir, our ship will not be able to handle the stresses for too long,” said Merkle.

“I know that, Ensign. We either take this risk to buy time or we die at their hands immediately.”

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