The First Day by Peter Irvine

Author:Peter Irvine [Irvine, Peter]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-12-18T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

Doix was busy strengthening the line in the north with the recently arrived GalInf forces from the other side of the city. Although it had not been heavily attacked, the northern flank was close to the jungle and could easily be overrun if attacked, opening a key mountain pass into the city.

“Frost, this is your sector. It’s key that you hold it, deploy your troops to bolster the GalInf platoon here.” He paused. “Now you’ve got the Hak-rhen on the promontory covering your flank.” He paused. “But this is their best route of attack, so they’ll be coming at you hard.”

“Understood, sir,” she replied. “We’ll hold.”

“Undoubtedly.” Doix nodded with a smile.

“Sir, I've got movement at the edge of the jungle,” Burns whispered. One of Doix’s helmet cameras zoomed in on the jungle, displaying the image in his NAD, and instantly he spotted the moving bushes as the marines and GalInf took aim.

“Steady, wait for my signal,” Doix watched as from out of the edge of the jungle stumbled a figure. It didn't look like the enemy. It looked like a Kronon, and he soon recognised the figure it was Backstab. “Hold your fire, it’s one of ours.” Backstab quickly limped his way across the open ground between the jungle and the foot of the mountain which the alliance line snaked around. He reached the defences and made his way towards Doix.

“Well, it seems reports of your death were exaggerated.”

“Yeah, but don’t tell the insurance man,” he replied, sitting down on a rock as a medic began to tend him. “How’s the battle faring?” he asked, taking a water bottle from Burns.

“We’ve checked them on the ground for now. It’s not going well up top, Hornet’s gone along with the research facility, and the enemy’s been heavily reinforced.”

“Shit, I should’ve stayed in the jungle.” He grinned.

“Let’s get you to the med ward, get that patched up properly.”

“It’s alright, I can manage on my own. Sounds like you might be needed here soon enough,” Backstab replied.

DeLancy watched through the main view screen as the enemy ships attempted to cut across Vanguard’s bow, aiming to surround them, all the time the ship shuddered as she was continuously struck. There was a sudden and abrupt explosion from the left-hand side of the bridge.

“Sir, shields are failing.”

“What's the status of the primary shields?”

“They've recharged to about thirty-five percent.”

“Raise the primary shields, reroute secondary shield and auxiliary power to boost the primaries.”

“Aye, sir. Rerouting power now, shield strength at fifty-seven percent, secondary shields are charging.”

“Good. Helm, bring us onto course two four seven.”

“Aye, sir.”

“Si,r Bandit and Brezan are taking severe damage.”

“Tell them break off, move to a safe distance and recharge shields.” He paused. “Have Narulh cover their withdrawal.”

“Sir, we won’t be able to contend with the fire power of this number of ships on our own for long,” Commander Hunter whispered.

“We don’t have much of a choice,” DeLancy replied sombrely.

“Sir, I have Commander Black on the line it sounds urgent.”

“Put him through.”

“Captain, it ain’t going well.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.