The ensign nodded, static flickering across the image ahead before it cleared, the subordinate officer turning to face his communications device and nodding, ‘Yes admiral…Pirrigan is ready.’
The commander smiled, staring at the dark haired female subordinate officer, the woman with startling green eyes, her curvaceous frame appealing to him as she forced a smile, his words resounding across the bridge of the battle cruiser, ‘We have come a long way together…fought many Morgon adversaries and safeguarded our marines.’ The ensigns stiffened, staring up at their fleet commander in his command chair, the image on full screen as he continued, ‘This day you face your hardest challenge and the Trevakian Empire and I are highly honoured to have accepted your volunteer requests.’ His eyes seemed to moisten as he swallowed with emotion, ‘You are all very brave and an example to all…’ He leant forward, staring into the screen fondly as he respectfully viewed the seven ensigns behind their vice admiral, ‘Your orders are to maximise your speed at all times, to sustain your advanced weaponry on the target warship, but to adopt evasive action at every opportunity. You must distract the enemy for as long as possible.’
The admiral sighed apprehensively, then smiled, ‘As you know, the Pirrigan now has additional armaments and enhanced shields…all unnecessary equipment and stores have been removed to enhance speed with the exception of your cloaking ability. I expect you to withdraw or even abandon ship should you sustain extensive damage…I have no wish to lose any fleet personnel.’
Vice admiral Herk stiffened, nodding and saluting, ‘Yes admiral…we understand. I have briefed the ensigns and we have no other personnel on board. The nearest escape pods are active and have their own power sources should we become disabled…’ She stifled a mischievous grin, ‘We will just have to get to them…’
The admiral smiled back, nodding as he rose from his seat, stiffening to attention and slamming his right fist to his chest, ‘You are an example to us all…I wish you every success and will be awaiting your return.’ His head lowered slowly, a wry grin forming across his lips, ‘I have arranged a dinner for you all upon your success…in the upper conference quarters.’
Herk’s eyes widened slightly as she stiffened to attention, the slamming of boots behind as all the ensigns rose to their feet, her chest swelling in pride, voice breaking, ‘Our time is now admiral! We will succeed this day!’ Her head bowed with respect, the link flickering before cutting as she turned away.
The admiral lowered slowly back into his seat, his eyes narrowing as the screen filled with the nearby planet, the lead ensign’s voice shrill with excitement, ‘Admiral…we have a power surge, Cruiser Pirrigan is cloaking and beginning to accelerate…they will clear the planets shield shortly.’
The commander nodded, his head turning to face his own crew as his voice rose with pride, ‘This is our time…the greatest opportunity for us to defeat this menace in open battle. Finally, we are attacking in concentrated force for the first time in many years…let us not fail this day!’ He swallowed, glancing across his bridge crew in determination, his jaw tensing, ‘This could change the war for our children…the children and future of our allies. This day will be written into history as the beginning of the end for the Morgon menace! For freedom and peace…our time is now!’
The admiral’s frame stiffened, ‘Initiate Red Alert! Final attack orders to all vessels…we cloak at the outer orbiting ring marker! Maximum velocity…clear the shielding planet and attack!’
Jozefina ran her tongue across her lips in trepidation, staring ahead as she patted and grasped David Bland’s lower thigh tightly for reassurance, her voice a low gasping whisper, ‘Regulate our breathing? I have never been so bloody nervous!’
Muffled voices came from the cockpit, the hum of engines becoming louder as the drop ship vibrated slightly, David drawing a sharp breath as he glanced across the other seated pensive marines through his visor in embarrassment, several whispering in hushed voices, ‘It’s getting hot in here…’ His eyes narrowed, ‘This uniform may be reinforced but your grip of friendship is beginning to irritate me…it will use the suit’s energy up before we land at this rate! I am not too keen on physical contact at the moment.’
Jozefina giggled nervously, withdrawing her hand, ‘Oops…sorry…I just get too excited!’ Her eyes lowered, suddenly filling in emotion reflectively, ‘I used to grab Rees’s thigh or hand…guess that will never happen again now…’ She sniffed, attempting to compose herself, her vision misting as tears filled her eyes, a deep suck of air causing David to turn as she whimpered, ‘He was so young a naive…I should never have taken him with us.’ She turned to look into David’s eyes, a tear running down one cheek, ‘He swore he had been in the army cadets and completed basic weapons training with the training team at Heathrow…’ She sniffed deeply once more, ‘I guess I just wanted to believe him…he was so keen to come…it is my fault he is dead…’
David shook his head, turning in his seat to face her, his eyes widening as she stifled a loud sob, her face strained, some of the other marines glancing round in concern, ‘That can’t be helped now…it’s not your fault.’ He shifted uncomfortably as tears rolled down her cheeks, Jozefina’s breathing becoming sharper as she sobbed uncontrollably, more helmets turning to stare at him as he raised a hand in innocence, his voice strained in irritated embarrassment, ‘Look…he told you what you wanted to hear, you made a judgement on that alone…it’s not your damn fault!’
Jozefina was struggling to breathe through the sobs, tears flowing freely, her voice broken, ‘W-what of the others that died…were killed…that was my stupid idea.’ She drew a sharp strained intake of air, her eyes straining in emotional pain, ‘They texted me…told me they wanted
