Heritage (Under Revision)

Chapter 43: Elena

“Commander Blake, enemy fleet is preparing to fire. They’re scrambling star-fighters as well. What do you suggest we do?” The tech lieutenant says to me in an unnerved tone.

“Launch all fighters and direct power to forward shields. Prepare all forward cannons and Jackal rockets to fire at once. Relay the same orders to the rest of my quadrant. Also, bring up communications with General Blake,” I respond hailing out orders almost in a habitual fashion.

Six months has brought a lot of fighting, off-world especially. Ethan and I were still assigned to the same unit but due to the events that transpired in the Poseidon incident, they decided to place us on separate ships in the same fleet with Ethan at its helm, commanding everything.

A hologram pulses and Ethan’s face projects on a holographic screen.

His face is stern and more stressed than usual as I watch him yell orders to and fro across the bridge of his own fleet ship, the UFS Apollo, sister ship to the Poseidon and all the more enhanced.

It boasts an titanium-carbon armor shell with an over layer of a newly discovered metal gifted to us by an ally species of humanoids called the Jinkor.

They call the metal malcon, meaning impenetrable in their native tongue. Most energy rounds simply bounce off the ship or leave a slight char mark on the hull of the ship. Along with said armor, the Apollo holds a host of state-of-the-art weaponry including: the newly approved missile system appropriately named the legionnaire.

The main gun is a rail-gun, linear cannon hybrid. It fires a twenty-foot metal spike that has been infused with a highly electrified plasma charge that when fired sheers straight through most any substance known. The secondary cannons, posted on numerous places all over the ship fire high velocity, high caliber, plasma energy shells.

With such outside advances, so must there be inside advances that match. The bridge of the Apollo is of a new, revolutionary design that allows its operator to see everything from one central position as opposed to having to move back and forth on the command center to read the monitors. Every status readout is laid directly in front of him in a half dome projection so that all the operator needs to do is rotate his body.

In addition, the outside viewing monitors have been replaced by a large dome viewing window to remove any risk of viewing feed lag or malfunction. The Apollo also has a simultaneous feed connection to all ships in its fleet, which allows it to communicate in conference with all fleet ships through live, uninterrupted video chat.

Ethan turns his face back to the screen and looks at me, sweat beading down his face. “All fleet ships, prepare to fire all cannons,” He says in a focused tone.

I glance back and forth at the numerous system controllers punching in numbers and coordinates to the various weapons that are on my ship.

Ethan’s face becomes hard and cold on the monitor as his eyes narrow down. “All ships...Fire!” He shouts to the fleet.

All of us as Commanders and Captains of our respective fleet ships give the confirmation to follow through with Ethan’s order in a simultaneous fashion.

Rockets and plasma shells scream across the dead space that separates our two fleets as both sides launch everything, they have at each other.

Shells explode on the hulls of both enemy and ally ship, explosions stopping just before they collide with the raw metal due to the shields that surround each fleet ship. I feel my own ship rattle as each hit reflects off the shields, sometimes causing me to nearly fall over.

The battle rages for nearly two hours and by this point, both fleets are running low on ships. Sweat is pouring from my face as I stare intently into every monitor scattered across the bridge.

Sparks shoot from random places in the room as our shields have weakened and a few plasma shells managed to break through.

Ethan’s face shows up once more on a projected hologram screen.

“All ships, prepare for retreat, their firepower has exceeded our own, we can no longer hold them off!” He yells naturally, dispersing is own stress out at the rest of us.

“Ethan, if we retreat now, their ships will tear us to bits, they’ll have full free reign to fire on our backsides. We have to stay and hold out,” I respond trying to be logical about the situation.

Ethan turns his head back to face me, almost surprised at my objection.

“We have no choice Elena, if we don’t back out and break away, we will all be slaughtered. We don’t have time to argue this. We’re pulling back,” He responds, almost talking down to me.

“Just because you are leading this fleet does not mean I know any less about these skirmishes than you do. Either way our shi--” Another plasma shell slams into my ship’s hull, shattering pieces off of it, causing me to stumble and grab on to a nearby console to retain my balance.

I regain my composure “As I was saying, either way our ships will be torn apart. Even faster if we turn and run. If my ship is going to fall, then I’m going to let it go down handing out every last piece of ammunition it has,” I say sternly and serious as can be.

Ethan sighs hard and looks to his left and right.

His eyes narrow once more as he ponders what to do.

“Right then. All ships, forward all shield power reserves to the front and broadsides of your fleet ships and drop every last round you have into the enemy. We’re making it out of here alive God damn it! Unleash hell!” Ethan screams, letting out the words in a war-cry.

I can’t help but smile at his newly found motivation.

“Right! Tech Sergeant, you heard the General, forward all power to forward and broadside shields. Launch all remaining missiles and fire all remaining plasma shells!” I yell to my bridge crew.

They punch in different key combinations and I feel my fleet ship vibrate as numerous shells and rockets fire from every area it can on the outside hull.

As ammo withers down, the various commanders and captains begin to become increasingly nervous, fearing the worst. Shields are wearing down and the damage our ships are taking are reaching dangerous levels.

All hope feels lost.

“Keep firing! Don’t let up! We’re going to survive, even if I have to give my life!” Ethan screams over the monitor.

My heart pounds in my chest as I watch the numbers on the screen dwindle, a dark omen, letting us know how quickly our ammo is fading.

All I can do is stare at the numbers until finally...zero.

My heart pounds even harder.

Is this how it ends? I think to myself.

“Forward all power possible to the ship’s shields! We may not be able to fight anymore, but we’ll defend to the last hit we take!” I yell, absolutely determined to survive this ordeal.

My ship jostles more and more as the shields start to fail, allowing numerous shells to collide with the naked hull behind it.

The screens fuzz out and the lights begin to flicker.

I close my eyes, letting tears roll down my face as I begin to accept the inevitability of my death.

“It’s been an honor flying with all of you,” I say with one final statement.

All goes silent save for the shell hits on our broadside.

However...in the distance...there’s a sound. The sound of a massive energy charge.

I hear it fire, causing my chest to thump even behind all of the armor plating on my fleet cruiser.

Bewildered, I run to a barely working viewing monitor and jostle it a bit. The picture comes up in a fuzzy but viewable picture.

A large violet energy beam careens into the Sekrid fleet and collides with its mothership. The energy beam disappears as it seems the mothership absorbs the energy into itself.

There’s small twinkle for a second or two and then...A massive explosion ensues, brighter than I have ever seen, causing me to shade my eyes from the screen.

The blast rattles and tosses the entire fleet backwards, while still leaving them intact.

Multiple, smaller energy bursts follow suit, shredding through the Sekrid ships like tissue paper.

I move over to the holographic monitor and reconnect a few wires, performing quick maintenance work. After a few tweaks it powers back on and I see Ethan’s face in front of me.

He looks back at his display “Elena! Thank God, you’re alive! I thought you didn’t make it,” He says, relief in his voice.

“I’m fine Ethan, a few cuts and bruises from being tossed around, but otherwise alright,” I respond reassuring him.

But then, another voice breaks into our communications and I see my monitor split showing a humanoid face staring back at me.

“General Blake, this is Jinkorian Fleet Commandant Arkaia. We’re here to help, you seem to have need of it,” The Commandant says in an intelligent tone.

Ethan grows a wide grin.

“Well damn, you boys showed up at just the right time, we appreciate the help. I’ll have to come on board personally and shake your hand Commandant,”

“It is our pleasure General. We’re happy to lend a hand to you,”

I breathe a sigh of relief and flop into an empty seat, allowing the Commandant and Ethan to have their conversation.

Thank you Jinkor...