"Missiles incoming!"719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhArSrurkhx
"Shields."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKYQMo621MQ
"Full strength!"719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsrZlwf4KH
"Get point defense on it faster. Z+ 10 degrees, 20% thrust. Execute."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtSSKw4WWud
Captain Morak of the Imperial Dreadnought Fearless glanced over at Admiral Stephanie Laurent, who was bent over a holographic representation of the battlezone. The Fearless was flanked by two frigates, the Fulcrum and the Polis. A battlecruiser, the Agamemnon, was closing in from port to wedge the enemy between them. Sarah studied the map closely, noticing the tiny red dots leaving the front of the pirate ship.719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHA5VIBO2G
"Torpedoes!" Sensor Officer Lamar said.719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡluDK9Mrbjm
"Destroy them," Captain Morak said, looking at his weapons officer, Lieutenant Seneca.719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6YzHKo1cT1
"We can't get a lock, sir."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rJXC4Sj3e
"Defer to Agamemnon."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlk9SGE3NCs
Sarah looked up from the map, looking at the comms officer.719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59h8iFHgYb
"They're not getting a lock either, sir," Lieutenant Kaheira said. "They think the torpedoes are jamming their sensors."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL82Cgrwamz
"Point Defense manual lock, now."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrx3M9cBzwu
Sarah looked out the front bridge window. Spotting the pirate ship was easy. It was engulfed in flashes of plasma and the constant, pulsing glowing of its shield under heavy bombardment. As the Fearless turned its bow upwards, the pirate ship was just barely visible on the lower edge of the window. She couldn't see any torpedoes, but that was not surprising given that the pirate ship itself was far away.719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynsAaVPBfW
"Manual lock will take time, sir."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtc7Tunml1a
"Do it, and send interceptors."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXHHN0Y3rG
The Fearless was vibrating from getting hit and firing its guns. Ten minutes ago, Admiral Laurent's task force had engaged a whole fleet of pirate vessels ranging from gun boats to cruisers. It was Operation Claw, the decisive strike against piracy in Imperial Region North. It was a breach of her word, and a planned one. After today, piracy wouldn't ever reach this level of prosperity again. She clenched her hands to fists as she saw the beacon of the Imperial cruiser Harmony disappear, a ship with over 2000 souls onboard. She went to a tactical display on the side and switched to sensor view, targeting the Harmony. The ship hadn't vanished completely, but it was heavily damaged along its underbelly and was missing half its engine section. Scorch marks scattered all over the main hull stood witness for the punishment it had absorbed. Two loud beeps sounded through the bridge and the sensors officer shouted that one of the torpedoes had not been destroyed and would impact momentarily. Collision alert sounded through the entire ship and Captain Morak spoke into his headset: "Brace, brace, brace."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6PPiM8ucq
Sarah quickly lay herself flat on the floor and Admiral Laurent did the same. The torpedo impacted and exploded two seconds later and the sheer force of it shocked through the dreadnought, causing Sarah to bump her head into the floor. She jumped back up and asked, "What happened? That wasn't a normal torpedo."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9YppCNJdFx
Captain Morak nodded. "Damage report."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDgmfqwtRD
"Shields are down to 30% and we have hull damage. No breach."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbnTQibq3t
"Do we know what was in that torpedo?"719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxh1wQkwHR
"No, sir. But it wasn't a normal one."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4BQA0j09T
"I saw that. Call Agamemnon, tell them to concentrate on their engines. Aim and lock torpedoes, fire when ready."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEX9YT6lWH
"Yes, sir!"719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1em7ABmfrh
Sarah walked up to the captain. "We must catch them alive. I suspect these torpedoes weren't from the black market."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM3J88Mq1vE
"I agree. Our salvo won't destroy them, but will open them up to be boarded. I'm having a boarding party."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL91SzGYitI
The Fearless rumbled under several missile impacts and the shield status display on the wall pulsed red.719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2pFpc0EV1
"Captain, why haven't we neutralized them yet?"719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rUqFQaN1Y
"They're better equipped than we anticipated, but not to worry. We'll soon crack the coconut."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2R3PzUjay
Sarah looked over to Admiral Laurent, who was swiftly inputting orders through the tactical table's interface. Modern fleet coordination allowed a commanding admiral to do much of the work themselves and only required a staff for larger formations. With only the ICDN Fearless, IF Fulcrum, IF Polis and BC Agamemnon around, coordination was easily managed. A bright flash in in front of the Fearless snapped Sarah out of her thoughts.719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6moXj7Y1o3
"Direct hit. They're disabled," Lamar said. "They're launching escape pods."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIoo1olXBAz
"Bring them aboard," Captain Morak said. "Inquire Agamemnon about torpedo complement."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1d6LjPMQ4
"Agamemnon reports 310 torpedoes left, sir."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQuiuG5p9I9
Captain Morak nodded and turned to Admiral Laurent. "Admiral, main enemy disabled. Orders?"719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pA7XpMoMN
"Wait a moment, captain. Something is wrong here."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqdcYjNtpQ
Sarah pricked up her ears. "What do you mean?" Captain Morak stepped beside her, silent. The admiral seemed to be thinking about something intensely.719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IDXcd4ZYY
"We've only met a small force here, despite it surpassing our expectations. They can't do piracy on their usual scale with such small fleets. I think these were set up to be sacrificial lambs, making us think we dealt them a fatal blow."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHe2FC6PDC9
"Well, we haven't located their base yet," said Sarah.719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMA9ktTtfy
"Yes, but I think I know where it is. These came from the Delta Hewi constellation. Let's jump there and see what we find."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhFm6ctG2x
"Yes, ma'am," said Captain Morak and made the preparations. Sarah left the bridge, heading for the sickbay.
In the sickbay on Deck Six, Doctor Lima was hard at work. He and his nurses had a room full of casualties to patch up and judging from the blood, it was bad.719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaWavv7jv52
"Are these crewmembers from the bow section?" Sarah asked a nurse.719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqJuEMJjxO
"Yes. The shields held but a structural mount broke and they were buried under heavy cargo. Excuse me, I don't have time."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzaRjudRwbz
Sarah nodded. The sickbay was held in a clinical white, with white light stripes on the walls and ceiling illuminating the room. It was very bright, but it allowed everyone to see everything well. For the patients, orange visors were available to shield their eyes from the light. One patient in the far side of the room had her visor dimmed down completely. The light in the sickbay wasn't hurtful to the eyes, but it must have been for the weakened patients. The usefulness of such indiscriminate illumination in a sickbay eluded Sarah, but perhaps it would be dimmed when no emergencies were occurring. Far was it from her to be a warship sickbay expert, but it was obvious to her. Snapping out of her engineering contemplations, she noticed how badly she was standing in the way of everyone and retreated to the door, ashamed of her lack of awareness. She was keen on trading places with one of the patients if it could only take the pressure she was now feeling off of her. Operation Claw needed to be successful at all fronts, or she feared the pirates and their backers would reveal the extent of their influence. It was clear that the Reformist Party in the URS was out to get her. The new chancellor Graham Bean had only been all too clear when he said that the URS would no longer play the empire's janitor like it had for the past 30 years, keeping the empire's floors clean to ensure trade was flourishing. She suspected it had begun long ago; too many signs pointed towards URS involvement in the empire's piracy epidemic. But was the influence stately or private? A doctor had enough with her standing around like a forgotten piece of luggage and gently pushed her out of the room. For a few seconds, she stared at the closed door, reading "SICKBAY - DECK 6".
She turned away and walked down the corridor, the ship creaking and aching, the sound of repairs echoing through its hallways as if it was all far away. How had she come to be here? Which choices had led here and how would the alternative have looked like? Though only 30 years old, Sarah felt old. As a kid, she had not once dreamed about being a childless wife on a governor's seat in a galaxy of terror. Come to think of it, being married had always remained strange for her. She didn't feel married. She felt like herself. But perhaps feeling married had never existed at all and every wife of any species in the universe just felt like herself. Ishaan had always been very understanding of her and she hadn't really returned the favor. Despite his constant worrying, he knew when to stay silent and let Sarah do her thing. His work as a teacher had shaped him. Right now, he was in the Fearless' gym, working out on a treadmill. Sarah approached him from behind, carefully so as to not alert him. He was in good shape, but no muscle package. Despite his aversion to physical combat, he kept in shape through regular exercise. He was no supermodel, but had never had to hide his looks. His angular face with the large nose and the brown hair were the reason Sarah was attracted to him - on the physical side. When they had started dating, she had stared at him for long periods of time, making him uncomfortable, but also intrigued. Sarah had feared he would back off, but he told the tale of one of his students having had taken a liking to him, making for lots of staring - and drawn out discussions with the girl's parents about the situation.719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyaBCuwlMmJ
"Why are you exercising now?" Sarah asked.719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHWOgCHDwR
"Why do you sneak up on me when you know I can feel your presence?"719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWzZkBHeaw
"I guess I'm not for big hellos today."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWA0Xkhs30
"Fair enough."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPssNWFZmQ
The pulsing red alert that had until now been set throughout the ship gave way to steady yellow lighting and an announcement said for the crew to prepare for FTL and to post additional guards on Deck 12 - Brig Section.719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNyMYZHRjC
"The battle is over, that's why," Ishaan said. "I've got nothing better to do. The wife is off punching pirates, so I do the next best thing."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5bJ61UONQU
Sarah chuckled and smiled. "You can do me when we're back home. The admiral thinks we're gonna find the pirate base on the other end of this jump. That's gonna be a hard battle."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQQN1VqDys
"Oh. Any action from me required? I'm kinda just sitting around, wondering why I came with you."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIGEHAU6zM
"To be my valiant protector, of course."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKu1F309Fhm
"Yeah, right."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFgGL32gVc
"But seriously, they may need us to provide protection."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXzo45ZS2l
"Fine, I can do that."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXAO4LGokC
"Good. I wanted to grab a meal in the mess, do you-"719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBqyvMTw4G
Shrill red alert sirens sounded off throughout the ship, the yellow switching back to red in an instant.719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWKsgZTgUa
"Battle stations, battle Stations, enemy contact three lightseconds off starboard. Launch alert fighters. Sickbay, be ready to recieve," it blared out of the PA system. Sarah hurried to the door and pressed the button for the bridge.719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3y4W2cTRI
"Governor Tanas here, what's going on?"719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiG690ZmqoI
"We fell out of FTL, had a sensor blackout. When we got them back online, it showed an enemy formation off our starboard side. They're engaging us."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Ihe1bElSw
"I'm coming to the bridge. Are they pirates?"719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXRzIDpshV
"No ID yet, only hostility has been established."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX55T9IZ7fG
"Thank you," Sarah said, hurrying to the bridge with Ishaan in close pursuit.
Just meters from the bridge, the Fearless shook so hard, Sarah crashed to the floor. Was the artificial gravity damaged? There seemed to be less of it now. Ishaan helped her back up and they entered the bridge. The tacmap showed a large force approaching fast, but the signal cut off intermittently. Beyond the panoramic bridge window, the point defense turrets were hard at work throwing compressed plasma at invisible targets.719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvarWJG8F0
"What are we shooting at?" Sarah asked.719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaChbsTFIIG
"Incoming small missiles, very fast. These can't be pirates, they don't have such technology," said Captain Morak.719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7ILTT2ZaV
"Are you sure?"719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06agX7iqQU
Admiral Laurent looked up from her holo display. "What we don't have, they can't have."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbPsc8piV1n
"Incoming torpedoes!" shouted weapons officer Lieutenant Seneca. "They're gonna hit."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcL9JnEhWd
"Sir, I can't find any of our other ships. We're alone here," Lamar said.719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVnE3ucqPhX
"Brace, brace, brace," Captain Morak spoke into the PA system and Sarah found the next best empty seat to strap herself in in. Ishaan had already done so. A jolt more brutal than any Sarah had ever experienced rippled through the ship and the lights went out. She slowly floated upwards until her seatbelt held her back. Another violent impact and explosion sounded off an alarm. In front of Sarah was a standard bridge workstation and on its main display, it read in bold, red, menacing letters: "MAJOR SYSTEM FAILURE. EXECUTE EMERGENCY PROTOCOL. MAIN POWER OFFLINE."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7dhEQaMcA
This was it. Someone had killed them. Only two salvos against a dreadnought. Almost like in the early days of the Zephalan War, but it couldn't be. Their ships were destroyed. Sarah closed her eyes, not wanting to see the computer message of doom anymore. She didn't pay attention to the frantic chatter on the bridge, the efforts of the crew to get the ship going again and continue the fight. She should be helping them, but how? She didn't know where to start, what to do, and she was sure the admiral, captain and the crew would call on her if they needed her. Why was she so afraid? Why did her hands tremble. Why the cold sweat in her face? Faint images swirled around in her head, blurred and distorted. Old, faded memories from long ago. How long? She heard a woman screaming her name. Rose, not Sarah. Then it all disappeared and silence fell.
She awoke with a start, still floating in her seat. She looked around. Emergency lamps stood around, their light touching on yellow-ish. The bridge crew was standing in a circle near the captain's ready room and technicians were hard at work to bring the systems back up. Despite all the commotion, it was fairly quiet. Nobody talked much except for necessities. Ishaan was nowhere to be seen at first, but then he came in from the ready room with a cup in his hands. He faked a smile at her when their eyes met.719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEutc9rH0L
"How are you?"719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfrWPgD9BVd
"Groggy. How long was I asleep?"719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNShUAuw7LY
"Two hours. I just got myself a cup of tea. Do you want one?"719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Rv95ZsyVz
"Yes, please. Don't care about the flavor."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrY3k8JAFY
"I'll get it. Be right back."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmWObpYmrqM
"Wait. Why are we still alive?"719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjFDvPeLtU
"I don't know. The attacker suddenly disappeared. We still don't know what it was, but it was out to get us, and only us. The rest of the task force completed their jump and found a destroyed space station. All records wiped. Can't tell you more right now. I'll get the tea."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxaQCEq9nc
He set down his cup and disappeared through the door before returning with a steaming cup of fruit tea. Setting it down on the tray in front of her, he gave her a kiss. "The doctor checked you out while you were out. You're fine. How did you manage to fall asleep?"719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXhcuwuPA1
"I didn't know I was sleeping till when I woke up. Something really strange happened. I tensed up in fear like never before. I don't get it. It's not the first ship battle I've been in, not even the only one recently."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72oHgtTFqt
"Hmm. Should we see a psychologist?"719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFVxT4lWtA
"We don't have to see a psychologist for every emotion, Ish."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9r3PSOxE85
"'like never before' didn't sound like 'every'."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsPzaajp5yj
"I just need to rest a bit. Haven't had much sleep recently."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDoaXtqgk2n
"Ever since you came back from your adventure with that Zephalan."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9203ZNR4mW
"Yes."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqMBV04Mjgb
"You still won't tell me what happened there?"719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChc6sGXNQ7
"It's better if nobody knows."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIp1raKhZb
"Better for whom?"719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhqgX60L4E
"The both of us, our families, the empire."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKK5vqa4B5m
"But I wouldn't talk to anyone about it."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMu0g8ORdDM
"I know. It's just that the more people know, the higher the chance it gets out somehow."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡawVceK7bFB
Ishaan nodded, visibly dissatisfied.719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlIv9dgdOi
"Perhaps one day, Ish."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHBXjEaFiM
He kept nodding, absorbed in his thoughts.
An hour later, IF Polis had arrived and assisted with repairs. Admiral Laurent was busy wondering about the unknown attacker, while Captain Morak and his chief engineer Commander Brant coordinated the repair and maintenance effort. Sarah had requested the casualty list earlier and an ensign had brought her a tablet with a whole folder full of status lists and reports that updated in realtime. 230 dead, 632 wounded, 3 missing in a cargo bay that wasn't yet accessible again and no contact could be established. That left about 9000 crewmembers unharmed or only lightly injured. A good number considering the damage done to the ship. Perhaps that was all the attacker wanted: To disable the ship and send a warning. But a warning of what? There hadn't been any sign of anyone claiming responsibility for the attack yet. Sarah had personally spoken with Therana about the situation and found her concerned about the possibility of it having been URS black ops. She had said that the Reformist Party had let violent rhetoric run loose about alleged Imperial involvement in the URS election. Apparently they weren't happy with their 54%. The reason was probably that a good chunk of the URS people weren't swayed by the Reformists populist and blame-assigning campaign. Their most prominent opposition, the United Freedom Party, were already up in arms over the belligerent attitude of President Ilvati.
Some time later, the Fearless' main power and engines modules were operational again and stable enough for three short FTL jumps to the nearest base at New Atlantis. There the ship would be receiving the bulk of the repairs or, if it turned out it was too damaged, be slated for the scrap heap.719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4E2ZG25hS
"We should be able to make the journey in four hours, one of which being idle time to cut the engines some slack. We'll remain on red alert and battle stations for the duration. Inform the Section Heads to prepare for a possible abandoning of the ship and have them always be with one foot in the escape pod. Governor, we're transferring much of our non-essential personnel to the Polis. I highly suggest you also leave," said Captain Morak.719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwFuttHEoe
"No, captain. I'll stay with the ship. Give me a job and I'll do it."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6s76TCv5k
He nodded. "Your job is to catch some shut-eye. You don't look fit for duty."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFryFxP2OCH
"But..."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRxeedQgx1o
"You in bed equals you being most useful for the entire region currently. I won't force you to leave the ship, but I will force you to sleep."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuk34yTbyo0
"Understood, captain."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTVc44Tbip
"What about you, sir? Staying with the governor or leaving?"719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQ6wR7msTA
"Staying," said Ishaan.719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs93tz4DOqr
"Very well. Would you mind a moment in private?"719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhehyXWru1r
"Not at all. Excuse us, Sarah."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡycAsdivU1G
They turned their backs on Sarah and walked away a few steps.719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXEajYQdsqS
"Do me a favor and make sure the governor stays in bed. I don't like saying it too loud, but she's not of any use to me right now, unless she has hidden talents in fusion core maintenance."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeCzappANIO
Ishaan subdued a chuckle. "She doesn't, captain. I'll make sure she rests."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCg9Gc5HpyJ
"Thank you, sir. I'll assign a guard to your quarters."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV87SmZmGn7
"Alright. Thanks for letting us stay, captain. She'd get weird otherwise if you get me."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz0boVYosP7
"I think I do, sir."719Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSnt2V9QTt
Ishaan returned to Sarah and helped her out of the seat. Together, they went to their quarters, both exhausted from the day. On their way, they had to ask crewmembers to let them through multiple times, their equipment blocking doors and corridors. In places, lights were smashed, flickering. Bent bulkheads and leaking conduits showed the damage. In their quarters, Ishaan brought Sarah to bed and she fell asleep immediately. He sat down on his and watched his wife sleeping. He was still of the opinion she should see a psychologist. Being this tired after effectively sitting in a chair, although under great stress, and her general lack of sleep, with her getting up at night and walking around the house, was concerning to say the least.
