The thick hatches hiding the eighty eight rail gun turrets on the dorsal side of the ship moved upwards and to the side so the deadly cannons could raise up. Each gunner took aim and opened fire. The entire topside of the ship lit up with the white light of hundreds of rail cannons firing at the four fifteen meter long boarding craft. They only fired for two seconds, then stopped and aimed at the three hundred forty meter long destroyer.
The deadly projectiles tore through the shuttles, and by the time they were shredded into scrap and slag the rail gunners were firing at the red and blue coloured destroyer. Thirty six torpedo bays and fourteen rapid fire missile posts at the front and side of the Triton let loose their deadly projectiles, each one homing in on the outmatched vessel thousands of kilometres away.
The targets' anti-ship batteries and flak cover destroyed a few of the torpedoes and quickly accelerating missiles but they could do nothing for the hundreds of thousands of rounds that struck their armoured hull at over two thousand kilometres per second. The outer armour of the ship flew to pieces, revealing the inner hull as it burst outward, expelling the air and other pressurized contents within.
“We have destroyers and one heavy carrier trying to close to within range with us Captain,” Price reported. His tactical department was forwarding all their advisories to him, it was up to him to make informed decisions and bring up issues in order of priority. “The nearest is less than a minute away,” He started marking potential targets.
“Frost, switch to flak and high explosive loads. Divide your fire between the nearest ships at your discretion,” Captain Valance ordered. He knew Frost would handle the specifics, but he'd still keep his eye on the situation to make sure there wasn't a dangerous target not getting enough attention.
The surface of the Triton came to life once more as the turrets chose targets in all directions and flung explosives wrapped in steel and shreds of metal at all comers. Their former target, the destroyer, was listing to one side, adrift.
“The colony ship has disappeared sir, along with any magnetic fields and ships within three hundred metres,” Price announced. “On playback there's a large power surge in the moments before.”
“Thank you, we'll look at it later.”
“Seventeen seconds before we're in tractor range of the Silkstream. ” Announced the helm.
“Are your people ready?” Captain Valance asked.
“Of course we are. Just waiting on you,” Paula answered.
Two of the destroyers veered away as soon as they started taking hits, trying to accelerate around the planet to use it as cover. It was a poor tactic, getting around the gradual curvature of the atmosphere would take precious minutes. The others were coming straight on as fast as they could and were suffering the consequences.
The Triton started taking hits as well, rail cannon fire half the calibre that it used and pulse weapon fire. A few beam weapons tried to tax the shielding, but at a glance Captain Valance and his First Officer could both see that they would make it to the Silkstream, their shields hadn't taken over twenty percent damage yet and Chief Grady had increased the recharge rate, so they were gaining strength.
“Tractor system engaged,” Paula announced, watching the technicians several steps down and in front of her.
“We have them, bringing them in,” one of them announced.
Captain Valance brought up the view from the inside of hangar one on a bridge wall. He could see the needle shaped ship being pulled in sideways, there was more than enough clearance for it to make it into the hangar.
“Start getting us out of here,” Captain Valance ordered tensely.
He glanced at the tactical display. A total of five destroyers were firing on them along with one carrier launching eighteen fighters at a time. “Running out of time here,” he brought up the fighter's profile. They were all bombers, some were armed with nuclear warheads and heavy shielding. The Triton's port shields were depleting fast and there were at least two dozen large projectiles incoming, they had to be torpedo or larger class.
“Frost, intensify flak fire. We have nukes coming in.”
“Aye. Sharpen up and shred those radiological points! I didn't come all this way to get a sunburn! Loaders switch to flak! Two magazines!” Captain Valance and Alice could hear Frost shout through the shared comm channel before he muted that channel.
“The Silkstream is aboard and secure,” Announced Assistant Deck Chief Paula.
“Thank you,” Captain Valance said with a cordial smile and nod.
“Checking it out sir, taking a medical team with us,” Stephanie announced.
“Cloaking systems up!” First Officer Valent commanded.
“Let's get out of here!” Captain Valance ordered with urgency.
“Three nukes in staggered formation got through the bulk of our flak field!” Price announced.
Captain Valance didn't have time to put the order through, he just brought up the screen to increase power to inertial dampening systems and did so while reducing the tolerances. He hoped they'd be strong enough for the crew to survive the shock wave of a nuclear blast.
“More power to shields!” Alice ordered.
The first of the nuclear missiles was destroyed by flak fire, the second got through seconds later and exploded one hundred nine meters away from the hull.
The ship shook, but thankfully it was more of a rumble, at least on the bridge. For a moment half the panels and holographic displays went out completely, then they came back on. The third nuclear missile didn't detonate, why exactly no one could be sure of, it may have been caught in the blast of the second or destroyed by the fine bits of steel fired as flak from the Triton's rail cannons, no one would ever know.
“Can we leave now please?” Captain Valance asked.
“Hyperspace in three, two, one,” one of the helmsman announced.
The ship entered hyperspace then shook violently.
“Impact sir! We hit something small but it tore us up pretty bad,” Larry reported from the helm.
Both Jake and Alice hurriedly checked the ship's condition. “Damage control teams to starboard side, section thirty four. We have a breach.”
“We're on it sir,” answered one of the team members.
The navigator to Alice's right held his head in his hands. “Oh my God,” he whispered to himself. Shaking.
“Drop us out of hyperspace now,” Captain Valance said levelly. “Re-plot a course for us and get us under way Larry, Ashley. Pendelton! You're relieved.”
The Triton dropped out of hyperspace, still not clear of the Enreega system but out of immediate danger. It took a minute for Ashley and Lewis to plot a new, safe course but their second hyperspace initiation went smoothly. The third member of their team left the bridge, his face flushed and his head down.
“Estimated nine dead, fifteen casualties. Request assistance to transport them to medical, most are already in emergency stasis,” reported the damage control team on site.
“We're clear Captain.” Ashley reported, increasing to full throttle, slowly, smoothly.
Ayan Rice
Laura was there, she could hear her voice somewhere in the ship. Her eyesight was blurry at first but it cleared up after a few blinks. The bunk she rested on wasn't made for long term rest but all her tactile sensations were dulled, the world seemed faint, muted.
Boot steps sounded against the boarding ramp, on the deck, then she saw him. He seemed bigger, stronger than she remembered, wearing a newer black vacsuit and coat, the scarf she had made for him from the remnants of her shawl was hanging around his neck.
He smiled at her and knelt down low right at her bedside and she managed to catch the end of the scarf with her fingers on the way down. It had lost a few centimetres on that end, the hem was different, probably repaired after some misadventure.