The Henry Gallant Saga - Books 1-4 by H. Peter Alesso

Author:H. Peter Alesso [Alesso, H. Peter]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Video Software Lab
Published: 2016-05-12T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 31

NEUMANN

Neumann sat in the captain’s chair on the bridge of the Intrepid—the symbolic seat of power and authority. He leaned to his right side and let his hand flitter over the vast array of virtual controls capable of monitoring and directing every aspect of the ship. A small part of his brain remained focused on the approach of the Titan destroyer while he swiped a screen to display a three dimensional color image of Elysium. The planet was as beautiful as ever, but now it posed a deadly threat.

Laser lightning bolts were being periodically fired through the atmosphere upward at the orbiting Intrepid.

Just then, a laser blast struck the ship’s hull causing his chair to shudder. He leaned forward, his hands tightly gripping the chair, his jaw jutting out, speaking softly, but with an intensity that could not be mistaken for anything other than extreme urgency. “Engineering, I want power—now! Bring the fusion reactors critical and begin adding heat, immediately.”

“Aye aye, sir,” came the disjointed voice of Ensign Smith who had only recently qualified as the Engineering Officer of the Watch. He was standing in the engineering control room hovering over the reactor operator who was pulling control levers to adjust the fusion plasma containment field. They watched as the compression heat increased and produced increased fusion reactions that heated the plasma thereby adding the necessary thrust to move the Intrepid.

“Helm, get us away from this laser fire—plot a course from orbit to behind the moon,” said Neumann.

“Aye aye, sir,” replied the helmsman. After a few seconds of touching his virtual chart screen he added, “Recommend course 120, azimuth 12, sir.”

“Very well. Helm, steady course on 120, azimuth 12,” ordered Neumann.

The Intrepid cut an impressive figure passing high above the planet—powerful and majestic—yet she was thrashing along with her engines straining beyond all design limits trying to reach orbital escape velocity.

Turing to his Weapons’ Officer, Lieutenant JG Palmer, Neumann said, “Lay down blanket fire to suppress the laser.”

“Aye aye, sir.”

A few seconds later, Palmer said, exasperated, “The laser cannon has been playing a game of hide-and-seek—firing a single shot, and then disappearing into an underground bunker for several minutes before firing again. I’ve got a general location, sir, but it would be pure luck to score a direct hit while it’s above ground.”

Sure it would, Neumann thought harshly.

Anger shone in his eyes as he looked across the bridge at his fresh faced weapon’s officer at the controls of the ship’s laser and plasma cannons. The young man would eventually develop into a good weapons officer, but for now, his inexperience would weigh heavily against them.

Neumann observed the young man’s uncertainty, but rather than finding encouraging words, he said, scornfully, “Then get lucky.”

“Request permission to open fire, sir?” asked Palmer.

“Commence firing,” said Neumann.

“Sir, more flashes from the planet,” reported the radar-tech.

“On my display,” Neumann snapped, searching the screen for traces of the enemy. Dead silence filled the bridge. He sat tense and still, waiting for the next shot to strike. For just a moment, Neumann's brain refused to accept the visual images.

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