Interzeit: A Space Opera by Samuel Eddy Read Free Book Online Page A

uniform.
    “Glad to see you Ms. Liang,” He bowed curtly, “At our plot ted velocity, we will arrive at Vesta Minor in another two hours.”
    Lei replied in usual take orders politeness, The MISA (Mars Intelligence and Safety Authority) agents usually didn’t venture far off world. Their typical beat was regulatory compliance, and the “reconcillation” of dissidents.
    The minor colonies on world and off, were often in need of reminding of their place. To prevent the fracturing away of these colonies, or their consolidation of too much power, MISA was formed. Experts in subversion and infiltration they were use d to being taken seriously.
    Only time would tell if their confidence could stand up in the belt, where Lei knew first hand how personal loyalties could quickly overtake “Principles” including that of patriotism. The Martians unlike TianShanTech were keen on trumpeting their cultural wealth, upholding equality, freedom, and cooperative decision making methods.
    Their ships were black slivers in the void, often disappearing from visibility entirely. Luckily, h er advanced sensors made it possible to track them , despite their chameleon nature . There seemed to be five of these ships in total, how many agents that really amounted to, she didn’t know.
    “Basil” She muttered,
    “Yes Master Liang?” It crooned through the mech’s speaker system.
    “What do you suppose these agents will be doing on Vesta Minor?”
    “MISA has a notorious reputation on the Anthrion net .” Basil answers, “If there is something to hide on Vesta Minor, there is no doubt that they will uncover it. The turmoil they leave in the process is something of a somewhat volatile inconsistency.”
    Lei returned to her simulation when a message came through from the MISA ship. She opened it, the commander was of a more concerned nature this time.
    “Our long range sensors are picking up a group of ten ships on an intercept course with us. 2500KMs until our vectors intersect,”
    Lei nodded, “Let’s keep moving, ten ships won’t stop me. Which direction will they be coming at us from?”
    “Somewhere ahead and below our current bearing.” He answered.
    “Change course Commander, re-assemble the ships behind Tiger West, this won’t take long.”
    The MISA ships complied, and Tiger West pulled into the front of the formation. Lei assembles the Tiger West’s main long range cannon. It emerges out its chest, just above the cockpit. Tiger west leans forward, trave ling in a narrow prone orientation. The cannon articulates and aims in the general projected vector of confrontation.
    The first readings of the craft come into the Tiger’s sensors about 10,000 KMs out. Their trajectory is locked into the cannon calculations, Basil gives Lei the green light to fire.
    “All ships,” She ordered, “Reduce speeds by 60 mega meters per second on my mark.”
    She takes deep breathe, exhales, and, “Mark!”
    She fires the cannon, the blast shakes the entire mech as the force pushes against the main rockets. Sensors read the MISA ships tracked with the recoil without issue, their course maintained on her tail.
    The cannon’s projectile is a large metallic tube. It hurtles towards the ships at tremendous speeds. 5Mms from the target the tubes internal mechanism exploded, its contents swarm out in a giant space. Tiny sharp engineered particulates fly at the ships in a cloud. The tiny crystalline shrapnel swim through space in a crashing wave, an ocean of daggers.
    A few ships change trajectory, but seven explosions still light up the sensor array .
    “Good Shot Miss.” Basil says encouragingly.
    “We’ve got a two one split on the others with their diverted trajectory , what are the chances we will come within their weapon range?”
    “Five percent,” He calculates.
    She smiles, contacting the ships, she comes t o consensus with the commander on the situation. He agrees that the chances of intercept were now small, and thanks her