The First Wave (Short Story)

---

Source

---

The alarms of the ship erupted, breaking the silence that built up between the three turret operators.

"Hostile vessels are going to be in firing range soon. All batteries, prepare to return fire on the frigate." The Captains voice came in strong over the alarms, and then disappeared behind the noise once more.

Gardara, Kearl, and M'Tyuse N'ag simultaneously all shifted in their seats.

"This is it," M'Tyuse said.

"Fighter squadrons are scrambling. General Ortine, have your weapons ready." The Captains voice came through once more.

"All weapons ready, Captain," Ortine's voice came through clear and booming.

Light on a radar. Dots in the distance. The monitor showed coverage of the frigate surrounded by what looked like a swarm of insects. A green blast flew from it, followed by another. Both shots were coming toward the ship.

Impact. lights flickered. The ship shook. Compared to the fighters, the shots were night and day. One was a kiss, the other, a gut punch. Return fire. Gardara left off a shot. The force of firing was felt within the ship. As the other turrets fired the ship felt as though it was being pushed backwards.

"Charging," Kearl said. "Targeting," he stopped. "Firing," a small break. "Charging," silence. "Firing."

"Firing," Gardara heard himself, "Charging," he watched the meter to the left of his monitor. Each shot raised the level, and it momentarily lowered. Quarter high allowed for another shot, but raised the meter higher. A second dial showed the cooling chambers temperature. It was a balancing act. His eyes darted to the dials between shots. Return to his monitor to re-align targeting parameters.

"Watch those dials, don't overheat your weapons." M'Tyuse N'ag said as he fired in silence, while occasionally looking at the other monitors. "Good, keep it steady, give the cannons breaks." He carefully gave advice.

"Firing," Kearl said robotically.

Another shot. Lights flickered, and died. Emergency lighting came on. Red. Alarms sounded.

"Power generator interrupted. Emergency power activated." An emergency message repeated.

The monitors died, leaving the operators staring at black windows. Gardara watched a reflection of himself. He was focused on the frigate and was now watching his own death glare. His face dropped, and re-settled. The sight unsettled him. He did not recognise himself. The image burned into his own mind.

The emergency message died.

"Power generator rebooted," a voice came through the intercom.

The lights flickered to life. Red light fought off. The monitors lit up. More shots. The frigate had moved. Both shots missed. Fighters closer now. Small turrets fired. Explosions. Debris impacted the ship. Thuds. Rain against a window.

"Re-centre targets," M'Tyuse said.

Instinctively Gardara was already lining up his next shot. The Gnosian cruiser was ever growing in the distance. The frigate was starboard facing. Circling them. It considered itself a predator, and their ship the prey. At this distance damage was noticeable. The frigate was fighting fervently, but it was slowly dying.

"We nearly have them," Kearl erupted excitedly as he fired. "Firing," silence. "Charging," silence. "Targeting," he paused. "Firing!" He exclaimed. Kearl's pace was faster than before. He repeated, quicker.

"Slow down, watch those dials." M'Tyuse N'ag barked.

"Firing," Kearl was leaning over his controls. Glaring at his monitor a red flash appeared.

"You've overheated it!" M'Tyuse shouted as he picked up his comm-link. "We're going to need chamber one cleared."

"Just waiting for the temp to drop, will release it when ready." A voice came back.

M'Tyuse lay his comm-link down. "We're down to two batteries," he glanced at Gardara. "Switch to controlled fire."

"Firing," Gardara said. "Charging," he looked at the dials. "Targeting," he stopped.

As he charged M'Tyuse was firing. The frigate didn't have any respite.

"Don't give them a second!" Kearl shouted as he stared at his monitor.

"Firing!" Gardara shouted. He held his breath, watched the shot travel through space. It landed. The frigates lights flickered and then went dead. Engines gone. It tipped on its side and slunk forward. A debris field formed around it. Fighters retreated and were blasted as they did.

"That's it! You got it!" Kearl exclaimed as he jumped from his seat, arms out stretched in triumph as he stared at his monitor.

"Don't get too excited, the cruiser is still to come." M'Tyuse said coldly as he re-centred his targeting.

The cruiser was on his monitor. It ate the space between them and had grown much more now.