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

work of their adversaries. It was simple: when the enemy arrived, they would not have their full combat shields online. Withstanding an assault in that state may have been possible…but not with the number of ships available.

This is going to be devastating.

MerCon vessels burst into the system, taking formation around Erris’s vessel. She returned to her seat, strapping in for the action to come. After ten minutes, twenty-six of their thirty ships arrived. It didn’t mean the other four had been destroyed…they may have only been delayed.

Even so, this is more than enough for what we need to do. Erris hoped that was the case. It was possible the enemy brought a force so overwhelming they could not stop them. She found that doubtful. They couldn’t all arrive at the same time. That would be their downfall. No matter what came through, it couldn’t do so in adequate numbers to be a threat.

A half hour passed… an hour. They’d exceeded the time frame put forth in the message but Erris refused to let that dampen her spirits. She believed they would arrive… that they’d come through at any moment. Something delayed them. That’s the only problem. Another possibility gnawed at her.

The message they received may have been a hoax.

It can’t be. Erris shook her head. I refuse to believe it. She had to admit, she bought it regardless. It had to be true. It has to be.

At an hour and fifteen minutes, anxiety started in the back of her mind. And then fortune gave her a pass.

“Hyperspace signature,” Missy said, “incoming. Direct coordinates we were given.” She turned in her seat. “Ma’am, this has to be it.”

Erris patched through to all the ships in the surrounding area, every vessel ready to open fire. “Alright, folks. This is it. When it appears, shoot it. We may be at this a while so keep your generators ready and remember your designations. Odds and evens to maintain a constant, heavy fire on them. It’s go time.”

She muted the line, gesturing to Richard. “You ready?”

“Been sitting here with my finger hovering over the trigger the entire time.”

“I can’t remember the last time we engaged in combat ourselves,” Erris said. “Do you?”

“Nope. We’re observers most of the time. Glad to finally be getting into the game.”

“Me too.” Erris pressed her lips together. Even if we’re shooting fish in a barrel.

The first ship came into existence… a battleship. Evens opened fire, which included Erris’s ship. Without proper shields, the beam attacks ripped through the hull in an instant, casting green flames all along the port and starboard sides. As panels burst away from the core, the reactor went up, ending them before they even had a chance to initiate a scan.

Odds fired next, cutting down at least four destroyers. Debris littered the target area, creating a real hazard for the rest of the incoming ships, especially the bigger chunks of the first one. Those included a piece of the thrusters assembly that was half the size of the Morrigan, perhaps a little bigger.

The attack force continued coming through, slamming directly into the trap. Some took damage from the chunks of debris, others blown away by the constant fire by Erris’s force. They didn’t have a chance to warn their colleagues, and even if they could, it was too late to back out.

Once a ship started the process of emerging from hyperspace, they had to finish the process. And when they arrived, it took time to leave again. All told, they destroyed more than fifty vessels in a matter of ten minutes. Not a single ervas vessel survived the arrival…not one made it through unscathed.

As the waves ceased to appear, Erris let her shoulders slump. Her neck muscles ached from tension. She’d sat forward the entire time, practically holding her breath through the entire action. When it ended, she wiped sweat from her brow before leaning back. “Hold position,” she said, “in case some stragglers come through.”

The elevator to the bridge opened. Eliza stepped in, nudging her with her elbow. “That intelligence paid off, huh?”

Erris nodded. “Indeed. That was a big force. I’m not sure we know exactly how many they lost there. They were hoping for overwhelming numbers to take down the Gold Empire. If we hadn’t made it in time…”

“This would’ve been a protracted battle,” Eliza finished the sentence. “One we may or may not have won. I’ve received word from some of the other systems. There are skirmishes all over the frontier. We’ve won some, lost a few. But that’s not the interesting part.” She grinned. “Want to guess my news?”

“Not particularly.” Erris shrugged. “What is it?”

“The Morrigan.”

“What about it?” Erris stood. “Come on, what do you know?”

“They succeeded. The ervas homeworld fell.” Eliza gestured to the screen. “I doubt those maniacs would’ve listened to the next part but they’re putting out a call to the military to stand down. Providing they’re not zealots, we should see a cessation of hostilities. A chance to build peace.”

“Do we… participate in those battles?”

“Most of them we couldn’t get to in time if we were desperate.” Eliza took a seat. “For now, we do what we can. If one of these ervas forces continues to cause trouble, yes, we’ll hunt them down. But I suspect they won’t last long out there. Not after word of this destruction gets around.”

“That’s great all around.” Erris rubbed her eyes. “I didn’t dare hope. I had no idea what might happen with the Morrigan… their fleet. It seemed insanely dangerous.”

“It was. Oh. I have one more bit of news but…maybe you’re done in. I can wait if you’d like to get some rest first.”

“Don’t be like that.” Erris scowled. “What is it?”

“Rita Peck. She’s alive and well. Helped out in the battle from what I understand.”

Erris smiled, letting