Countdown, John Walker [online e book reader txt] 📗

a message to the buoy. Providing they didn’t destroy it, command might receive a warning about the attack.

Though Donovan wasn’t feeling optimistic about it. He stood up straight, turning to look outside again. These guys aren’t here to take prisoners. This isn’t some kind of misunderstanding.

The smaller five ships that remained in the system were outfitted with weapons. Scans on the main screen showed their gear. He doubted any of it had the necessary kick to get through the ervas defenses. As they opened fire, blasting away at the middle battleship, the enemy’s green shields burst to life.

They counterattacked, but the smaller vessels proved too maneuverable for the initial encounter. Each of them veered about, evading the attacks as they moved in for a second pass.

Another quick volley tore at the ervas as they strafed their opponents, flying swiftly about to keep away from the worst of the assaults. Fighters joined in; station defense forces. I guess they feel like they don’t have anything to lose. Perhaps that was the case. If they didn’t try, the ervas seemed intent on destroying the station.

Might as well go down fighting. Donovan checked the station defenses; the automated turrets. They were offline, as were the shields… even the environmental shielding that kept debris from striking them. He didn’t know what to do other than stand there, witnessing the violence transpiring.

The Gold Empire allies held their own, masterfully moving about the larger vessels. Donovan allowed himself a sense of hope, holding his breath. These men and women have practiced taking on greater odds many times. This might just work! Maybe they can fend them off! We might…

A volley from the left hit the station, making him stumble into a nearby console. The screen continued to display the action. The biggest of the pirate ships took a direct hit from a main cannon, shattering it in an instant. Its defenses didn’t even slow the assault down.

Holy shit that was… oh God.

One vessel he thought might’ve been a refitted destroyer swept between two of the ervas ships, casting blasts in both directions like some kind of old-style broadside. The attack seemed effective though as he cleared his run and pulled up, he found himself harassed by enemy fighters.

They swarmed like angry insects, their tiny attacks littering the hull. Donovan would’ve bet good money the ship could withstand that sort of assault for a long time… until he remembered the secondary effect of ervas weaponry. He’d never witnessed it in person but he’d seen the technical readouts.

As the destroyer’s shields dropped, the fighters kept at him, tearing holes through the hull. They suddenly broke off, swarming toward another ship as the destroyer’s reactor tore through the hull. Only the nose section remained intact, tumbling away from the explosion and bits of debris cast about.

The last three station defenders went after the ship on the end, the one that had blasted the station most recently. They hit it hard, synchronizing their shots in an impressive assault. The other battleships moved, each discharging their main weapons. One ship pulled up, their thrusters carrying them far from its opponents.

The other two took direct hits. They collided into one another, erupting into an orange-red ball before disappearing entirely.

Donovan turned his attention to the final combatant who continued flying away, making a serious break for it. I don’t blame him. Donovan backed away, taking a seat. The escape pods were only two rooms away… he knew he wouldn’t make it in time. There’s no way. The ervas vessels lined up again, points all over their surfaces glowing green.

The next hit made the station shake for only half a moment. The alarm went dead. Air exited rapidly. Donovan felt himself dragged toward the wall. Darkness hit him half a second before his body was pulverized, every bone obliterated in a heartbeat. The station followed him into death, blown to bits in less than a minute.

The war had begun.

Chapter 1

The Morrigan emerged from hyperspace in the Gallik system, lurching into position some four hours out from the planet. Captain Noah Markel used every ounce of discipline to keep his posture perfect in his chair. While the ship’s sensors brought back information about their surroundings, reports came through from other departments.

Engineering had another laundry list of repairs to make, mostly from the internal blast that had damaged so many circuits. They’d be working on that for the next few hours at the very least; likely a full day. Even then, chances of full recovery quickly seemed impossible. Noah prepared himself for a lengthy time frame from Chief Mills.

Commander Jack Shelley had yet to wake up. He didn’t see any improvement over the entire hyperspace trip back to their safe zone. The doctors hesitated to call it a coma, but Noah knew enough to recognize the state. His terminal had popped a few inches from his head, causing massive trauma.

He was lucky to survive.

Despite their victory over the Gold Empire dreadnaught, the ship felt as if morale had taken a dramatic hit. Several soldiers had to board the vessel as refugees from the Dusk Wing, which had been rendered inoperable. Roughly one-third of the surviving crew went to the destroyer, the Simple Heart.

This taxed the life support systems of both ships, making the environment less comfortable all around. Engineering did their best to boost the efficiency of the air purification tech, but it was barely noticeable. Fortunately, no one complained. They all understood the score.

Dorian called from the tech station. “Captain… there’s a lot of debris out here. Way more than when we left. There was definitely a battle here.”

“What?” Noah looked over at him. “I don’t… I mean, what’re you talking about? How big? How many ships were involved?”

“I can’t say for sure,” Dorian replied. “Just looking at the sheer amount of radiation from reactor pops, I’d