Titus lowered his voice again, “Can you explain that logic?”
“The shields may be specially designed to stop beams,” Rudy replied. “Which means they could be unprepared for actual physical attacks.”
I guess.
Titus engaged the holographic monitor on his chair, looking over the details of Violet’s discovery. The enormous power output from the enemy wasn’t restricted solely to their shields. They appeared to have multiple reactors, at least according to the scan details. Two sections of the vessel appeared hotter than the others.
Furthermore, she picked up smaller energy readings all over the sides and tops. Something appeared to be warming up. He had a bad feeling about the increase in readings. The consistent rise meant something… likely a counterattack. But they could allow the TCN vessels to batter them while prepping.
I wonder why they’re waiting. Titus considered a couple possibilities. They want to make a big show of things. They genuinely didn’t have their weapons online. The only thing he knew for sure was that they were entering a conflict they might not walk away from. We’re facing giants. Comparing their technology to ours makes it obvious we’re in over our heads.
The mass cannons opened fire, deploying their explosive rounds against the shields. As they hammered the surface, they burst into orange globes but the enemy shields remained intact… and unscathed. Even with all three ships hitting them at the same time, beams and bullets together, they didn’t make an appreciable dent in their defenses.
“Enemy thrusters are engaging,” Violet said. “They’re breaking orbit.”
“Turning in our direction,” Jane added. “Both ships are now in motion, sir.”
Rudy leaned forward, watching as their vessels continued to batter their opponent. The constant fire, all the shots, were simply wasted. Titus watched the scan of the enemy shields intently, praying for some dip, however minor. But no matter the ordnance tossed their way, his fears became realized.
They were in over their heads.
“Sir,” Titus leaned to Rudy, “respectfully, I suggest we withdraw from this and regroup. We need additional forces if we’re going to… ”
“I’m reading a massive power surge!” Violet shouted. Her cry drew all attention to the main screen. Both ships seemed to glow from every bristling point, purple-red pulses like tiny lights offering an indication of their presence. “Something’s happening… something big. Wait! That’s… those are some kind of beam weapons. Sir! The enemy is opening fire!”
Chapter 2
Alon Des slipped between two trashed buildings, crouching at the edge. The enemy soldiers seemed occupied by policing the bodies of the fallen militia soldiers which bought him some time. The command center became his objective. If he got there, he might call for help or find others in the bunker that could back him up.
Dashing out into the open, his heart raced. He struggled to keep his breathing under control and risked hyperventilation. His muscles tensed up against the thought of being shot, the moment when he’d feel some burning sensation then nothing. Some part of him knew he would die out there.
When he left cover, he barely recognized himself. He didn’t know if he should consider it bravery or panicked self-preservation. Whatever the case, remaining outside meant certain death. Those people at the farmhouse had easily slaughtered his friends, tearing them apart with advanced weapons.
And their defenses. They could not be stopped. More than anything that meant getting help, leaving the planet, and letting the military step in. That’s their job. We aren’t equipped for this! And the guy who had the training threw his life away! Alon had no intention of doing the same. I’m walking out of here no matter what.
He took the stairs to the command center two at a time. Bursting inside, he waved his gun around as if to clear the area, but he knew it didn’t matter. If one of the enemy forces happened to be there, he’d be dead. The whole place proved to be empty, at least on the ground floor.
After years of serving on the colony, Alon had never found any of the buildings vacant. It made his walk down the hall eerie. He expected footsteps, voices, anything at all to indicate a person survived the attack. The bunker. He had to remind himself of its existence. They’re probably down there.
The safe room had all the technical equipment they needed to call for help. Alon hoped they’d found someone. So far, there’d been no indication of rescue, no sense that the military had arrived. He wondered how long it might take.
If they arrived, would they have any better luck taking down these invaders? Our weapons aren’t all that different. That thought didn’t offer any comfort. But at least they have ships. We can flee. But where would we go? If this new enemy followed, if they wanted to attack other colonies, could they be stopped?
Sounds from a terminal gave him some small relief. He stepped into the main control area where men and women generally manned those posts in shifts all day and night. It was clear they had all left in a hurry. Everything remained on, computer programs still churning away, devices buzzing and beeping here and there.
I wonder if they ran the hot second the invaders arrived. Alon couldn’t judge cowardice. Not after what he’d done when his fellows had all died. But these people were meant to get help. I have to get to the bunker. Make sure they made it and if so, find out exactly what they’re planning to do.
The sound of thrusters whizzed by overhead. They were familiar; a shuttle of regular design. It buzzed the command center before going distant. The new arrivals might be from another part of the planet or they could be their relief. He wouldn’t know without a look and he didn’t understand the scanning tech well enough to use it.
Heading out of the room to
