Choices of One by Timothy Zahn

Author:Timothy Zahn [Zahn, Timothy]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, azw3
Tags: Fiction, General, Science Fiction, Adventure, Space Opera
ISBN: 9780345511256
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2011-07-19T11:47:04+00:00

The hyperspace sky cleared, the starlines flashed back into stars, and the Chimaera arrived at a blue-green world spinning lazily through space.

Right at the edge of a massive battle.

“Full alert!” Drusan was bellowing as Pellaeon stepped hurriedly from the turbolift into the aft bridge. “Deflector shields activate; turbolasers to full power. Senior Commander Grondarle?”

“I read forty-two ships in the engagement sphere,” the first officer called from the tactics station in the portside crew pit. “We have an Imperial heavy attack line: one Star Destroyer—the Admonitor—two Strike-class medium cruisers, and four Carrack-class light cruisers. Opposing are eight ships of Dreadnought size and twenty-seven escort vessels of system patrol craft size, all of unknown configuration and weaponry.”

“Line array?”

“Unknowns are using a modified drinking-cup with center-focus fire,” Grondarle reported. “The Imperials … I’m not sure, Captain. It looks almost like a standard engagement line, except that the Admonitor isn’t hanging back out of enemy range like it should. And the Carracks are doing a sort of sweep pattern around and in front of it.”

“Take us into combat range,” Drusan ordered, frowning out the viewport as Pellaeon came up beside him. “That Carrack maneuver makes no sense,” he added, lowering his voice. “The Admonitor has far more armor and shielding than any light cruiser. Putting the Carracks in front like that is practically begging for them to be blown out of the sky.”

“It does look that way,” Pellaeon agreed, gazing out the viewport at the distant battle.

“Obviously someone incompetent running the show,” Drusan said darkly. “I suppose we’d better go and fix it for him.”

“Sir, the Admonitor is hailing,” the comm officer called.

“Put them through,” Drusan said. “Admonitor, this is Captain Calo Drusan of the Chimaera.”

“Welcome to Teptixii, Captain Drusan,” a voice came from the bridge speakers. “Captain Voss Parck, currently commanding Task Force Admonitor. I don’t know what you’re doing this far out, but your timing couldn’t have been better. I have the enemy ships nearly pinned, but my closest reinforcements are still nearly twenty minutes away. I need your help to finish this.”

“We’re on our way,” Drusan said. “In the meantime, you’re putting your Carracks at severe risk. I suggest you pull them back.”

“He’s not risking his Carracks, Captain,” Lord Odo said from behind them. Pellaeon turned to see the masked figure striding along the walkway, his cape rippling behind him.

“Excuse me, Lord Odo, but he is risking them,” Drusan said stiffly.

“Forgive me; I misspoke,” Odo said, coming to a halt beside Drusan. “He is risking his Carracks, but he’s doing so in order to gain victory. Observe how each time the Carracks block fire from the enemy cruisers the Admonitor is freed to lower its shields long enough to send a volley at one of the enemy’s other ships.”

The words were barely out of his mouth when there was a multiple flicker of turbolaser fire from the distant Star Destroyer and one of the enemy patrol ships flared and then exploded in a blue-white fireball.

“That’s all well and good,” Drusan grunted.

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.