Battletech #34 - Impetus of War by Blaine Lee Pardoe

Author:Blaine Lee Pardoe [Pardoe, Blaine Lee]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction, Fiction, General, Fantasy games, Science fiction; Military
ISBN: 9780451455291
Publisher: Roc
Published: 1996-12-02T06:00:00+00:00

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"Short-range sensors indicate that the objects dumped from the DropShip are in our flight vector," the bridge officer of the WarShip Dark Claw reported as he studied the information scrolling in front of him. "It is as you said, Star Captain, they are definitely life pods and three of their life boats." The dull hum of the massive subspace drive of the Smoke Jaguar destroyer seemed to throb with energy as everyone on the bridge of the Dark Claw swung into action. The massive viewports, their armor shields down now, showed the vast expanse of space in front of the ship. Against the velvet blackness the ship's target looked like little more than a glowing dot of burning fusion energy.

Star Captain Klark Chrisholm, commander of the Dark Claw, nodded with some satisfaction that he had been right. "Any sign that the pods are occupied?"

"Neg. They are making no attempt to avoid us. Apparently they are adrift, sir."

"An old ploy but poorly timed on their part. Had we fired on that ship, perhaps we might be deceived into believing they had been hit," Chrisholm said. "I will not waste precious time investigating this ruse."

"Do you wish to change course to avoid them?"

"Neg," Chrisholm said, as though the question were offensive. "A course diversion of even a few degrees at this distance could add hours to our interception. Continue at current heading and speed." He knew that the Dark Claw's massive frontal armor was more than enough to stop any damage the escape craft might try to do. And, judging from the tactical plot, only three of the pods and none of the life boats would pass close enough to present any danger of accidental ramming. "Are our guns in range yet?" lie asked.

"Neg," the Gunnery Control Officer replied. "The turrets will be in range in less than a minute. Gunner's Mate Volks and his crew have won the bid for the right to engage first."

"Captain," called the bridge officer. "We are passing their life boats in ten seconds."

Klark Chrisholm sat tall in his chair, ever the proud Smoke Jaguar warrior. These were not prey worthy of a ship's commander such as him. His WarShip was more than a match for the already damaged DropShip.

He looked out the forward viewscreen and saw the outline of one of the escape pods nearly fifty meters away as the Dark Claw passed. There was a slight glow, then the pod's boosters suddenly fired, burning brightly with life and energy. It pivoted slightly, then drove straight into the destroyer's hull just in front of the bridge. Within moments the other pods and life boats also plowed into the WarShip, coming to life all at once like mad dogs suddenly awakened.

The instant the pod hit the WarShip's hull, it erupted in a gigantic ball of light. There was no blast sound, but the massive Essex Class destroyer seemed to shudder and moan under the impact. There were four more explosions, four in rapid succession, each seeming to shake the ship hard.

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