BattleTech: Land of Dreams (Founding of the Clans, Book Three) by Randall N. Bills

Author:Randall N. Bills
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Catalyst Game Labs
Published: 2022-07-18T05:00:00+00:00

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LOLA III-CLASS WARSHIP BLACK VENOM

DAGDA SYSTEM

PENTAGON WORLDS

1 JULY 2821 (D-DAY–1)

“People of Dagda. You are outgunned and outmatched. Concede.” Star Captain Cyril Herling spoke plainly on the open comm broadcasting across the nadir jump point of the Dagda system.

Moving at a sharp, oblique angle to the clustered defending ships, they shot past them. He felt the thrust of the Black Venom cut off completely. The main engines and attitude jets immediately began reorienting the vessel one hundred and eighty degrees as its Delta V kept the ship at its current velocity. He braced for it: the drive plume ignited as the pilot fought to dump velocity and start a second pass. Nearly three gravities pummeled everyone on board as the ship came to a complete standstill and began forward movement in its new orientation, for another oblique pass at the defending vessels. This time, much closer, per his directive.

We will cow you into submission.

“Star Captain, we have a K-F drive spike. The Merchant-class ship is far enough away from the other ships to initiate a jump. They’re attempting to escape.”

A sigh shook his frame. “Make an example. Weapons free on that target.”

Attuned to the vessel, he immediately felt the drive cut once more as attitude jets shifted the ship in its orientation again—along its current flight path—to bring its broadside to bear. Four two-hundred-kilogram naval-grade shells tore from their barrels toward the target JumpShip, accompanied by the jeweled naval laser that brilliantly lit all combatants as it reflected off the evaporating hull of the Merchant. The laser struck first, amidship, carving a long, burning slot through the paper-thin armor of the needlelike vessel; the autocannon rounds followed shortly thereafter, further tearing through the midsections, punching clean through the other side. Explosive decompression vomited crewmen and materials in every direction, while the kinetic impact broke the ship’s keel and bent the long starship at an off angle, imparting a slow spin.

Cyril shook his head. What a waste. “One more time, people of Dagda,” he spoke again on the open comm. “You have forced us to unnecessarily destroy a ship. I care not to waste such valuable resources. Please do not make me fire again.”

The bridge crew seemed to hold their breath awaiting a response. “Star Captain,” a voice interrupted. “We have multiple K-F drive spikes. From four JumpShips.”

“This close! Their fields will overlap!” He quickly glanced at the display in front of him on the bridge, showing the inexorable path of his Lola III-class WarShip flowing directly through the space the jump fields would encompass. Adrenaline, not previously part of the equation for Cyril, started pumping; his breath came faster, and he felt the flood of sweat at his temple.

“Evasive maneuvers. Get us off this course fast, pilot. And kill those ships!”

The bridge ignited into activity. The pilot communicated with the engine crew—yes, push the engines beyond standard limits!—gravities piled upon gravities as thrust was applied to try to move the ship faster along its course. Weapons officers correlated with gunnery crews and the first of the four JumpShips died easily under a withering fusillade of fire.

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