The Nathan Daniels Saga: Part 1 by Sam Lippert Read Free Book Online

display, he still had a few minutes to explain things.
    “Here are the scenarios, as I see them,” he explained, one eye on the range indicator.  “One is the unlikely event that you mentioned, in which case they are just as worried as we are, and this is nothing more than a cosmic game of ‘chicken.’” Her brow furrowed, as she tried to place the reference.
    “ Two: pirates trying to hit us before we jump.  However, pirates usually want plunder and tend to strike at the null points when a ship is barely moving.”
    “ What else?”
    Nathan could see the slightest flicker of fear in those deep, dark eyes.  As if she knew what he was going to say.
    “Somebody knows you are on board, and wants your demise to look like an “accident” or “attacked by pirates.” Nathan donned a headset.  “Let’s see what we can find out.”
    “ Spacecraft Nora to unidentified spacecraft: we show you on a collision course.  Please respond.” Nathan swung the main guns around, attempting to target, but they were still out of range.
    “ Well, there goes theory number one!” He shook his head.  “Unidentified spacecraft, this is spacecraft Nora, we are a merchant vessel en route for transit point to Rhadasia.  We do not intend to change course.  We show less than 5 minutes to collision.  Please respond.”
    It was almost time for the tough decision.  In all likelihood, the enemy thought they were unarmed, as Remi had.  This meant Nathan’s first shot would take them by complete surprise.  The question was whether to use that surprise as soon as they were in range, or wait until they were fired upon.  If they were professionals either way was chancy.  Nathan decided that his “do unto others” rule applied.  He depressed the fire button.
    One of the realities of space flight is that space battles are just plain boring.  First, they can’t happen at all during FTL, for the same reasons that conventional drives are useless.  Second, at sub-light speed ships point themselves in a direction and give a push, or a series of pushes, then midway they turn around and push in the other direction.  Any change of course has to be planned for in advance.  Hence, there was no dog-fighting, no evasive maneuvers, no attempting to out position your opponent.  Changes in direction or speed that could accomplish that were just too expensive in terms of fuel.  All this means is that a classic space battle is usually ‘continue to fire into each others shields until one shield collapses.’  That being the case, at times it all comes down to who got a microsecond advantage by shooting first.
    Nathan saw the glow in the monitor that showed his shots were connecting with the enemy’s shields.  Moments later, the Nola ’s shields lit up, as they were absorbing and dissipating energy.
    Nathan knew the shields would hold, they were military grade.  What worried him was if there would be a resolution before a collision.  The ships were close enough now that anything he did to avoid that would not only be expensive, but would likely be immediately countered by the enemy craft.  It was obvious they had no intention of returning home.  Or at the very least, they were prepared not to.
    He glanced over at Remi.  She was fast at work on the computer, diverting every bit of energy to the weapons and the shields.
    “ Don’t worry about the shields.  If we can’t trash them in the next fifteen seconds, its not going to matter!”
    The collision warning indicator was counting backwards from fifteen, when it reached six, the other craft’s shields flared up and collapsed.  The other ship was not far behind in disintegrating.

CHAPTER III
    Remi's picture perfect landing at the Rhadasian spaceport signaled the end of a voyage that was devoid of real excitement, which was good, as excitement during FTL travel usually means you don't make it to your destination. 
    There was only one city on Rhadasia, and it had grown up around