Echoes of future past, part 35

Beka strode back into command, "All stations report in." The crew reacted immediately as she took hold of the slipstream controls.

"Sensors on line and ready."

"Weapons armed, point-defence systems on-line."

"Communication grid shows all channels clear, all ship responding ready for fleet-formation manoeuvres."

"Engineering is good-to-go boss." Harper's voice came over the com-system.

"All fighters prepped and ready for take-off."

"All Lancers armed and ready to repel borders."

"Environmental controls green."

Andromeda's holographic form appeared next to the pilot's station, "A.I. systems working with operational parameters." She smiled, "Relax Bake: you'll do fine."

Beka nodded, "Signal the Admiral that Delta squadron is ready, willing and able." Andromeda nodded, "Confirmed. Fleet will enter slipstream in T-minus 45-seconds." Beka flipped the switches that regulated the slipdrive, bringing it to full power, "All hands to Battle Stations." The lights in command turned blue as ship went to the highest state of alert.

Andromeda fixed her eyes on the main view screen, "Slipstream in 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, engines taking hold, 3, 2, 1, Transiting!" Beka pushed forward on the controls, sending the ships into Slipstream. The controls felt sluggish as Beka navigated her way along the cords: the data-link to the other ships in the squadron forced her to plan her moves with more care than normal, but her natural talent and affinity for the cords more than compensated.

With a series of blinding flashes, the combined war-fleet's or the known worlds exited slipstream before the damaged World Ship. Magog Swarmships immediately attacked, forcing the armada to scatter, making tem easier pray for the deadly point-singularity weapons some of the smaller ships carried.

Beka gritted her teeth as destroyer under her command exploded in a ball of flame as it's slipstream-core was hit and lost containment, it's exotic-matter fuel vaporising half of the ship instantly. Beka looked at the tactical display, "All ship's form up: we have to punch through the Magog so we can get a shot in at that star. Andromeda, confirm Nova Weapon deployment, authorization Acting Captain Rebecca Anasazi, code Bravo-Ten-Bravo-Alpha!"

Andromeda nodded, "Nova Weapon deployment authorization confirmed. Loading tubes 1 and 2: 30-seconds until optimum firing range." Beka swung the ship around the bulk of a damaged Than Destroyer, and narrowly missed a Pyrian Battle Cruiser that was moving to assist the stricken craft. Andromeda looked up, "That was close!" Beka smiled, "What's the old saying: a miss is as good as a mile?" Andromeda raised an eyebrow, "Beka, I do believe you are starting to enjoy this?"

Beka laughed, "I'm married to a Nietzschean and my best friend is a Warship: how do you expect me to react?" Andromeda was about to respond when a fireball lit-up the main view screen. The Hologram blinked, "Charlemagne Bolivar, you maniac! He just detonated a Maximum-charge right in front of us!" Beka looked at the readout's, "Yes, but it was to far away to damages us, but it took out the Swarmship's between us and the World Ship! Have you gotten a lock on the Maru's ion-trail yet?" Andromeda nodded, "Confirmed: it's week, but we should be able to track them through slipstream." Beka smiled, "Prepare to fire Nova Weapons 1 and 2, on my mark. Mark!"

The two missiles shot forth from the missile-bank in the bottom of the Heavy-Cruiser, and shanked their way to the target.

Beka swung the ship around, "Signal all ship's to run like hell for Slipstream: this one's going to be big!" No sooner where the words out of her mouth then the 2 Nova Bombs Harper had spent three years building detonated, sending the artificial star at the hart of the Magog World Ship supernova.

Without the Spirit of the Abyss to contain and channel the energy, the shock wave radiated out in every direction, shattering the remaining planets and ending the threat of a unified Magog attack once and for all. The shock wave kept going, and threatened to envelop the fleeing ships, but they managed to make it to slipstream and safety.

Freed of the need to guide a squadron of ships, Beka was able to follow the faint trail left by the Maru's engines, and the Andromeda exited slipstream less than 2 light minuets from the damaged cargo ship. Beka's eyes went wide, "Life signs?" Andromeda looked up, "I'm only picking up to, and with my sensors still partially blinded from that Maximum-charge, I can't tell who it is, but I am not receiving a single from my Avatar." Beka nodded, "Launch grapples and bring them in: have Harper and a medical team meet me in docking-bay two." Andromeda nodded and blinked out as Beka ran from command.

TBC

In case you are wondering, the title of this chapter, "Una Salus Victus Nullam Sperare Salutem", is Latin for "The only hope of the doomed is not to hope for safety". It's amazing what you can learn from books nowadays.