Battle Beyond Earth: Resurrection by Nick S. Thomas Read Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Nick S. Thomas
Kepler-186. The first thing they saw was part of the hull of one of the Bulwark’s support vessels still floating in space and with debris all around it. Other than the remnants of the battle, the space was completely peaceful.
"Scan the area with everything we have. I want to know if we're alone out here. And set a course for 186f," ordered Cohen.
Once again Jones watched as they banked, and the planet came into view. But there was no excitement this time. There was no hope; only a fear of what was coming next. He could feel sweat dripping down his face now, despite the fact the ship's temperature was carefully monitored and regulated. Cohen noticed his perspiration and smiled sympathetically.
"Don't worry so much, Lieutenant. We're here to end this threat."
As the Commander's words came out, a flash of light erupted on screen and soared towards them, striking just as she turned to see the impact. They were thrown violently off their feet, and the lighting fluctuated for a moment. Cohen pulled herself up onto her chair and barked her orders.
"Shields up! Prepare to launch fighters!"
She looked over to the XO for a report.
"Minor hull damage, but we're okay," replied Nichols with a sigh of relief.
"What the hell was that?" Cohen yelled.
"I'm getting nothing on the scanners, except for...a small energy signature two klicks ahead."
They looked back at the screen to see nothing but space between them and the planet. But before they could do anything, the lone Aranui vessel opened fire. Its beam-like weapon soared out to what seemed like open space until it appeared to pierce an object. A moment later the target seemed to materialise, as if from some camouflage device, and break apart from the high-energy blast.
Nobody said a word as all watched and waited for what would happen next and carefully studied the wreckage of the ship that had just been destroyed. It was smaller than a Human frigate. It had what appeared to be three talons or mandibles protruding from an oval and almost featureless hull, though it was hard to tell for sure, as the powerful blast had ripped the vessel apart.
"Is that the ship that attacked the Bulwark?" Cohen asked.
Jones shook his head.
"If only," he replied.
As he finished, a flash of lights burst out in the distance, and a volley of gunfire soared towards them as three similar vessels revealed themselves.
"Brace for impact!" Cohen ordered.
Just one of the shots hit the Guam, and it rocked them once again. Warning lights flashed over the console where the XO was already sectioning off floors that had been breached.
"Launch fighters and fire everything!"
The railguns opened fire and were quickly joined with trails of missiles as the crew did exactly as ordered. Another impact struck the Guam, and somehow Jones couldn’t believe they were still alive. Off to their flank they could see a flash, as one of the smaller Human frigates was blown apart and another Cholan vessel was smashed so badly it lost power and was now nothing more than a floating wreck.
The Allied fleet did not need any direction to return fire. They joined the Aranui vessel and the Guam in unloading a salvo into the hostile vessels.
“The Manchester has been destroyed!” Nichols called out.
But their attention remained focused on the enemy vessels. They watched as waves of fighters swooped in to attack. Jones couldn’t help but feel helpless as he watched everyone around him fight the battle while he did nothing but stand and watch and hope for the best.
The fighter wings strafed one of the enemy vessels, and the continued bombardment from the rest of the fleet smashed them into oblivion. Even as one of the wrecks began to break apart, the guns of the Guam continued pounding into its hull just to be sure.
“Hold fire!”
“All vessels hold fire,” Nichols relayed the order.
Everything fell silent, and the bridge crew stared out into space at the wreckage of the alien vessels. On the side screens they saw
"Scan the area with everything we have. I want to know if we're alone out here. And set a course for 186f," ordered Cohen.
Once again Jones watched as they banked, and the planet came into view. But there was no excitement this time. There was no hope; only a fear of what was coming next. He could feel sweat dripping down his face now, despite the fact the ship's temperature was carefully monitored and regulated. Cohen noticed his perspiration and smiled sympathetically.
"Don't worry so much, Lieutenant. We're here to end this threat."
As the Commander's words came out, a flash of light erupted on screen and soared towards them, striking just as she turned to see the impact. They were thrown violently off their feet, and the lighting fluctuated for a moment. Cohen pulled herself up onto her chair and barked her orders.
"Shields up! Prepare to launch fighters!"
She looked over to the XO for a report.
"Minor hull damage, but we're okay," replied Nichols with a sigh of relief.
"What the hell was that?" Cohen yelled.
"I'm getting nothing on the scanners, except for...a small energy signature two klicks ahead."
They looked back at the screen to see nothing but space between them and the planet. But before they could do anything, the lone Aranui vessel opened fire. Its beam-like weapon soared out to what seemed like open space until it appeared to pierce an object. A moment later the target seemed to materialise, as if from some camouflage device, and break apart from the high-energy blast.
Nobody said a word as all watched and waited for what would happen next and carefully studied the wreckage of the ship that had just been destroyed. It was smaller than a Human frigate. It had what appeared to be three talons or mandibles protruding from an oval and almost featureless hull, though it was hard to tell for sure, as the powerful blast had ripped the vessel apart.
"Is that the ship that attacked the Bulwark?" Cohen asked.
Jones shook his head.
"If only," he replied.
As he finished, a flash of lights burst out in the distance, and a volley of gunfire soared towards them as three similar vessels revealed themselves.
"Brace for impact!" Cohen ordered.
Just one of the shots hit the Guam, and it rocked them once again. Warning lights flashed over the console where the XO was already sectioning off floors that had been breached.
"Launch fighters and fire everything!"
The railguns opened fire and were quickly joined with trails of missiles as the crew did exactly as ordered. Another impact struck the Guam, and somehow Jones couldn’t believe they were still alive. Off to their flank they could see a flash, as one of the smaller Human frigates was blown apart and another Cholan vessel was smashed so badly it lost power and was now nothing more than a floating wreck.
The Allied fleet did not need any direction to return fire. They joined the Aranui vessel and the Guam in unloading a salvo into the hostile vessels.
“The Manchester has been destroyed!” Nichols called out.
But their attention remained focused on the enemy vessels. They watched as waves of fighters swooped in to attack. Jones couldn’t help but feel helpless as he watched everyone around him fight the battle while he did nothing but stand and watch and hope for the best.
The fighter wings strafed one of the enemy vessels, and the continued bombardment from the rest of the fleet smashed them into oblivion. Even as one of the wrecks began to break apart, the guns of the Guam continued pounding into its hull just to be sure.
“Hold fire!”
“All vessels hold fire,” Nichols relayed the order.
Everything fell silent, and the bridge crew stared out into space at the wreckage of the alien vessels. On the side screens they saw
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