Planet Wreckers by Anthony James

Author:Anthony James [James, Anthony]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-03-03T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

The initial alarm quickly turned to bemusement. The red dots – surface launched missiles – crept with a pitiful lack of speed across the tactical. Long before they came close enough to threaten the Hardliner’s shield, they were pulverized by the battleship’s interceptors and laser countermeasures.

A second wave came and then a third, and the Hardliner plotted each launch position on a topographical map of the city.

“Second wave destroyed,” said Hawk, scratching her head. “There goes the third. Fourth and fifth incoming.”

“What is happening?” asked Brutus.

“Whatever’s firing those missiles at us must have been designed and built in the stone age. In fact, they’d have more chance of hitting us with a medieval catapult.”

“You are exaggerating.”

“Not by much. The inbound missiles are travelling at five percent of the speed attained by the Hardliner’s interceptors. They have no additional heat shielding to protect against our lasers. It’s like shooting explosive fish in a barrel.”

“There’s no chance they’ll hit us?” asked Kader.

“None whatsoever. Not unless we run out of ammunition and the lasers burn out.”

Raxer looked nervous. “So, we are we safe here?”

“Are you one of those a spaceship is a metal coffin type of passengers?”

“I prefer solid ground.”

“That didn’t stop you attacking the Hardliner before.”

“I was angry.”

“If it makes you feel better, we could sit here forever and not take a single hit. Even if they somehow got a missile through, the Hardliner’s energy shield could likely absorb a few hundred detonations before the gauge fell significantly.”

“It’s not just those missiles that concern me,” said Raxer. “The Drogol ship is not so advanced as this one, but there it is on the ground.”

“I suppose it could have been hit by a short-range weapon we don’t know about,” said Hawk after a moment’s consideration.

“It looks like a cruiser or similar,” said Kader, trying to figure out the shape. “The dimensions fit.”

“Drogol cruisers are equipped with a weak energy shield, missile clusters, countermeasures, two particle cannons, and with the capability of carrying three different types of bombs within their…”

“Thank you, Brutus, we get the message,” said Hawk. She raised her voice. “Hardliner, what is the likelihood the Drogol vessel was brought down by the missiles currently being fired from the surface of Charnol?”

“Constructing model. Result: the chance of the Drogol vessel being brought down by the weapons in evidence is less than two percent.”

“There’s no indication of missile strikes on the surface either,” said Hawk. “Nothing fresh, at least.”

“Meaning the Drogol pilot didn’t shoot at those emplacements, which also means he didn’t think he was in danger,” said Kader. “I think we should learn the lesson he didn’t and keep our distance.”

“For the moment.” Hawk tapped her fingers on the console. “My first inclination is to blow the crap out of those launchers. Before I take offensive action, I’ll see if there are any receptors on the surface. Maybe there’re people living in this city and they got spooked by the arrival of a thousand-meter spaceship.”

“And thought it best to shoot first before asking questions,” said Brutus.

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