R.A.E.C.E. Genesis by Geoffrey C Porter

Author:Geoffrey C Porter [Porter, Geoffrey C]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2014-01-13T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 23

A.D. 2132

Lithor planet AB-137…

They named Steve Creech's Corvette The Attrition. They decelerated at one gravity and had another week's worth of travel time to reach AB-137, Fleet's name for a Lithorian planet that Steve Creech intended to burn with atomics. The ten person crew on board The Attrition suffered from stress, appropriately. They flew an untested craft and faced an unknown enemy. Steve didn't feel stressed. They pushed the craft through simulations, and it performed just like its name implied. Steve resigned himself at the beginning of the war that if it was his fate to die in space so be it.

The last day of deceleration approached, and Creech ordered, "Battle Stations." The crew members ran to their places--Gel-cushions so they could sustain significant gravities of acceleration. Creech called out, "Disconnect our extra fuel/food pods. Power up the scanners."

Julie read the scanner report. "Four ships detected in orbit, one is a Demon class, one is a Hornet, and the last two are Mongrel's Nests…"

"Pilot, aim for the Demon class. We're going to hit it with everything but atomics. All turrets aim forward."

The pilot called back, "I've got her in my sights!"

"Fire all weapons!"

Cannons and batteries all blazed at once, leaving streaks of light in their wake leading to the Demon class ship. The shields on the Demon flashed for a minute and then caved. The energy bolts cut into the hull rupturing it. Atmosphere jetted out of the holes, pushing the Demon into an uncontrolled spin. It would be a few moments before the weapons on The Attrition recharged. Steve ordered, "Turn to lock on to the Hornet."

The pilot said, "Yes, sir!"

The Hornet started to accelerate, slowly at first but then gaining speed. Steve called out, "Full throttle, chase her."

"Aye-aye."

The Attrition gained on the Hornet quickly. Steve ordered, "Get a lock on her. Fire at will."

The chief gunner fired all the cannons at once, rending a giant hole in the side of the Hornet causing it to spin out of control. Julie spoke up, "Captain, they've launched their Mongrels. They're coming straight at us."

"Pilot, target the Mongrel's Nests with the forward cannons. Nobody escapes. Turret gunners, target those Mongrels. Aim for the seam in the underbelly or the cockpit."

The Mongrel's Nests proved to be no match for The Attrition, and one by one, they cut the Mongrels into pieces.

The Attrition flew to the planet and found a rather large population center. They flew right down towards it. Creech ordered, "At 10km drop two of our atomics. Pull up once the atomics are away."

Pulse cannons of some sort fired at them as they descended, but the shields on The Attrition held firm.

Within a few moments the chief gunner shouted, "Atomics away."

The chief pilot pulled back on the stick and aimed her skyward. The blast rocked their ship. They broadcast on FTL, "Mission successful, planet AB-137 has been irradiated."

They went back to their extra fuel/food pods and secured them. They plotted a course for their next target and started the acceleration.

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