- soulguard
- |
- Exalted Mythic Member
“Understood.” Eric stated as he began to walk of the pedestal. “Red Squad, clear the bridge; double time.” The marines all gathered their gear and quickly emptied the bridge. Once Eric exited, the door quickly hissed shut.
“Communications, hail them.” Domadree stated.
“They are responding captain.” The com officer replied. A video screen appeared in front of the command pedestal and the image of a highly decorated brute displayed on screen.
“Life and Sacrifice, you have not been given permission to leave the human world.” The brute roared. “Why have you abandoned your post?”
“The hierarchs decided that we needed to return.” Domadree stated. “Surely you have heard that the holy prophet of Regret has left the human world?”
“The hierarchs would not recall this attack, elite.” The brute snarled, letting his teeth shine in the transmission; a show of aggression.
“Do not play ignorant brute, we know the situation.” Domadree stated.
“Do you?” The brute laughed. “I don’t believe you have any idea of what is happening. Your time has come, prepare to die.”
“Captain, four slip space incursions appearing in our path.” Siren stated. “They’re materializing.” The forward screen showed four cruisers all matching the size of the Life and Sacrifice. “Weapons powered, plasma inductors pressurized, and decks sealed. We are ready for combat.” The bridge door opened and Red Squad returned.
Eric climbed to the top of the pedestal and stated; “Siren, sound General Quarters, and find Wesley.”
“All hands to battle stations.” Siren’s voice stated over the ship wide com channel. “I repeat. All hands to battle stations.” Siren then switched to Eric’s private com.
“Eric, there’s been a situation.” Siren stated to Eric. “Private Williams has been injured and is on his way to a makeshift medical bay on the command deck. It appears that the covenant decided not to put medical facilities on their cruisers.”
“What happened, Siren?” Eric smirked. “Did he trip and fall?” Eric chuckled to himself, but Siren’s words quickly silenced him.
“Gridolee happened.” Siren stated. “He nearly killed him in frustration for being kicked off the bridge.”
“Where is he?” Eric stated.
“Wesley is in…” Siren was quickly cut off.
“Gridolee, where’s Gridolee?” Eric quietly stated into his helmet com.
“I… I’m not going to tell you.” Siren softly mumbled.
“Say that again.” Eric demanded. Siren remained silent and returned to her primary functions of defending the ship.
“Captain two of the forward ships are reducing speed, and arming plasma cannons.” An elite stated. “Shall we fire?”
“Captain, I can target and recalibrate the plasma cannons much faster if you give me control.” Siren added.
“Very well.” Domadree stated. “Weapons, let the construct take control. Helm, take the ship to coordinates 300, 000, 300.” Domadree keyed in the spatial grid of the slip space tunnel and verified his coordinates. He then looked back toward the helmsman and added, “Once we reach the coordinates, reduce speed by half and bring us directly over the pursuing ship.”
“Yes captain.” The elite returned.
“Captain, weapons ready to fire.” Siren returned.
The cold plasma curls of slip space roared around the six covenant cruisers. The life and Sacrifice quickly rose to the upper edge of the slip space threshold. The trailing brute ship increased its speed and closed in; firing its plasma torpedoes toward the Life and Sacrifice. The Life and Sacrifice reduced speed and the brute ship roared beneath the ship. The plasma torpedoes arched passed the ship and could not track them. The life ans Sacrifice slipped effortlessly between the torpedoes, and they soon faded after loosing track of their targets. The two ships rubbed shields and rocked from the impact.
“Construct, fire all lower turrets.” Domadree yelled. “Helm, increase speed and bare to 150, 010, 100.” The Life and Sacrifice’s lower weapons fired concentrated beams of focused plasma and the relative closeness made the shields useless. The brute controlled ship buckled and imploded as its hull crumbled upon itself. It faded from view as it shattered hull tumbled into the void of slip space.
“Excellent, they over shot us.” Eric sighed.
“We are not done yet.” Domadree replied.
“Incoming fire!” An elite roared.
“Evade.” Domadree screamed.
“It is too close.” The elite returned.
“Brace for impact.” Domadree shouted. The ship rocked from the impact of the plasma torpedo but the ship held its ground. “Status report.”
“Shields at 70 percent and… rising.” The elite curiously stated. “We were hit from all four ships, how is this possible?”
“Don’t think, react.” Eric snapped. “There are still four ships out there!”
“Helm, increase speed by forty units and put us directly between all four ships.” Domadree ordered. “They fired their aft turrets and they will need time to recharge. Construct, target the upper left ship and fire with the forward turrets.”
The Life and Sacrifice plowed ahead firing it’s fully charged upper turrets. Siren’s modifications allowed the concentrated plasma to tear through the ships shields and pierce the hull.
“Captain, target one is listing but still intact.” Another elite roared. “They are arming turrets. The other ships are spinning on their centers, turning to face us!”
“Clever.” Domadree stated. He watched as the other three ships turned 180 degrees and pointed their forward turrets at the Life and sacrifice. “But the stupid brutes will sacrifice speed with that trick. Helm increase engines another forty units. Construct, prepare mid turrets and aft turrets.”
“Incoming.” Eric shouted.
“Helm, evade to 76 mark 2.” Domadree roared as he double checked his navigations display.
“Torpedo evaded, but it is tracking.” An elite roared. “Our relative speed is giving us an advantage.”
“Helm, realign to center, bare 000, 211, 000.” Domadree barked. “Construct, target the three undamaged ships with our mid section turrets. Helm, after we fire bare to 22 mark 8.” The ship rose to the center of the four brute ship’s formation, and the mid turrets cut through their shields. One ship snapped from the blow to its mid section, and began to tear apart. The other two ships began to list but leveled out as their crews regain control. The life and Sacrifice then rolled toward the first ship they crippled, and scraped passed it by only three thousand feet.
Suddenly the crippled ship was engulfed by the plasma torpedo that was still pursuing the Life and Sacrifice. The relative closeness to the ship caused the torpedo to alter its target. The crippled ship began to bloom and spark as its hull melted away. The ship’s inner frame became exposed and it quickly drifted off into the edge of the slip stream. It was then ripped from existence within the plasma engulfed fringes of slip space.
“Construct, fire aft turrets at the remaining two targets.” Domadree roared. The aft turrets powered and focused beams of plasma split them from stem to stern. The two ships imploded sending charred fragments into all directions. “Helm, return the ship to axis center and recalibrate engine speed to normal.”
“Captain, all threats neutralized.” Siren stated. The humans all began to cheer as the elites watched; confused at the human’s show of relief.
“How were we able to survive this?” Domadree pondered. “We were out numbered, but evenly matched. Clearly the brutes had the upper hand.”
“Let’s just say you had an angel on your side.” Siren laughed. “I was able to focus shield strength to the areas where the plasma torpedoes would impact, greatly reducing the result. And thanks to my older sister, Cortana, I was quickly able to alter the plasma inductors to produce a more powerful, and accurate, plasma turret. I’ve scanned local relative space and there are no signs of brute reinforcement, and I was successfully able to jam all five brute ships, so they were not able to send out transmission.”
“I see.” Domadree stated in awe. “You humans have a very resourceful construct aiding you.” He stated to Eric.
“Sometimes, but normally they’re just a pain in my ass.” Eric roared. “Captain, where is Gridolee’s room? He and I have unfinished business.”
“I recommend you avoid him, sergeant.” Domadree stated. “He does not like your kind. I only wish I knew where his hatred brews from.”
“Thirty years of war can bring out the worst in any soldier, captain.” Eric replied. “Even the best warrior can give in to hate.”
“If you wish to speak with him, please allow Elder Bartello to accompany you.” Domadree stated as he looked to the elder standing below the command pedestal.
“I would gladly assist you, sergeant.” The elder added.
“Not this time.” Eric stated. “This is between warriors. Something I’m sure you understand.”
“His quarters are not far.” Domadree stated. “Once you leave the bridge, bare to your right, fallow the corridor until it splits, then bare left. His door is the second one to your right.”
“Thanks, I’ll be back shortly.” Eric stated.
“I fear for your safety, sergeant.” Domadree added.