In The Beginning (dn) by Dan Nadler
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In The Beginning (dn), part 1
Date: 9 December 2002, 2:59 am
System Gamma 23-A45
The fallout out sirens sounded and the corridors of the capital ship Memoritane lit up with the flashing red lights.
"This is a class 3 alert, all offensive and defensive hands man your stations. This is not a drill."
Hundreds of doors slid open, crewmembers poured out rushing to their posts.
"Bring the guns online Cortana" ordered Captain Douglas. Exterior floodlights pierced through the emptiness of space illuminating the 6 large projectile cannons surrounding the ship.
"Bring us around," said the Captain.
"Yes Sir! Lieutenant, bring us around 40 degrees to port!" commanded the commander.
"40 degrees to port, aye sir" repeated the navigation officer.
As the ship slowly rotated the enemy ships came into view. 2 large covenant carriers surrounded by countless fighter and frigates. A large purple aura appeared before them as their shield began to power up.
"Fire forward cannons!" commanded Douglass. The ship shook and two large antimatter filled warheads launched toward the incoming threat. The recoil from the outdated cannons sent a vibration through the entire ship and the flash blinded the ship's forward view. The projectiles were trailed by fiery white exhaust that disappeared into the mass of covenant ships. A flash followed by the crackling of the reaction, then the shockwave.
"Any effect Cortana?"
"Their primary systems are still intact, the shockwave had no affect on the carriers."
"Any hull damage to the escorts?"
"Calculating... I count 20 fighters destroyed, and 2 frigates disabled" A green-blue field formed in front of the enemy ships. "Captain, they are charging their disruptor."
"Evasive maneuvers!" ordered the Captain. The ship began to turn as the engines and emergency quantum thrusters kicked in. Even with the thrusters, evasive maneuvers are not meant to be used starting at a standstill. The disruptor fired, all of the energy merged into a single stream. It slowly advanced on the ship. The collision sent the ship spinning. Maneuvering thrusters were firing furiously trying to steady the ship. The quantum thrusters shut down and the ship's power went offline.
"Take us out of here! Now!"
"Aye sir, Emergency jump, random destination pass-code gamma bravo echo five lambda theta"
A hole formed in front of the ship as the jump drive powered up. The ship seemed to stretch just before it disappeared into the jump gate it had generated.
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