Chapter 14

The debris grew more and more numerous, sometimes blocking the view of the cruiser's forward cameras.
"Stay sharp, people," warned Fielding, "That cruiser could be anywhere."
Time passed as they drifted through the debris, the all-well-know sounds of debris striking the hull echoed throughout the ship, racking everyone's nerves on end.
"Enemy signature," informed LeGraud, "it's faint, but I have it on long range scanners."
"Bring it up on screen," commanded Fielding, darting his eyes back to the main screen.
A lone USC cruiser amidst the debris appeared, maneuvering just as they were to avoid the numerous amount of junk that floated in the area.
"I have a complete signature, Sir," LeGraud continued, "A USC heavy cruiser, the same one that fled our last battle."
"Cowards," commented Fielding, "they must be trying to make a break for Side 4."
The USC cruiser was now facing them and increasing speed.
"As soon as it comes into range, fire the main cannons," Fielding commanded, looking to his weapons officer, Ensign Ryan Deathrage. He was fresh; his stay aboard this ship was his first assignment. Barely old enough to be in the military, he looked like a little boy. His sandy blond hair, crew cut, was accented by his light blue eyes, which were glued to his computer.
"Yes, Sir," replied Deathrage, keying combinations into his computer, setting firing solutions for the main cannons.
Seconds passed, seeming like hours, the ships flying straight for each other.
The EMF cruiser shuddered as the fully charged cannons fired, sending the all-too-familiar 2 blinding, white-hot streaks of light towards the enemy cruiser. They seemed to move slowly because of the vast distance between the ships. Anticipation and hope filled in Fielding, waiting for the sight of an impact. The streaks of light were only seconds away, when the USC cruiser hit its emergency thrusters and dodged the cannon shots, which impacted the remains of a resource satellite, obliterating it.
"Charge cannons again, fire at 100," Fielding ordered, keeping a grasp on the situation.
The main screen flickered, turned to static, and an older man with only one blue eye appeared in his USC uniform.
"You have always been a lousy shot, little brother," taunted the man.
"Jonathan," scowled Fielding, gritting his teeth.
"Don't worry, little brother," Jonathan continued to taunt, "You will see mother and father soon enough."
"You keep them out of this!" Fielding screamed, "It was your fault they died, and you passed off as if it were nothing."
"It was for the good of the colonies," Jonathan replied in his usual demeanor.
"Killing innocent people, especially your family, is never good for anyone," Fielding said, enraged by his brother's lack of emotion.
"You have a lot of room to talk, Thomas," Jonathan came back, "the EMF's beloved Cmdr. Derril Brandt destroyed an entire colony, S7-CN0023 to be exact."
Fielding's face turned pale, one of his commanding officers and one of the few people he still respected committing atrocities of that magnitude was not possible for Brandt's actions, was it? The EMF had civilian blood on its hands, Fielding hadn't know at all about this, it came as quite a shock to him.
"What's the matter, Thomas?" Jonathan continued to taunt, "did you actually believe that the EMF was "perfect", that they protected the Earth with honor, purity, and integrity?"
"I do," replied Fielding, assurance in his voice, "I don't give a shit about the rest of the EMF, I know what is right and wrong, regardless of what others do in our name."
"Spare me the patriotic speech, Thomas," groaned Jonathan, "Regardless, you will have to better than that pathetic attempt."
"Oh, I will," Fielding stated, "you can count on that."
Jonathan gave a minute chuckle as the screen returned to normal.
"Sir," informed Deathrage, afraid to but in on the conversation, "cannons are at 100."
"Target the cruiser, but don't fire until I say so," Fielding commanded, watching his adversary maneuver in space.
"Target is locked, Sir," Deathrage stated, continuing to work at his computer.
A series of flashes appeared on the USC cruiser. Seconds later, alarms were blaring throughout Fielding's ship.
"Sir, multiple missile launches locked on our position," LeGraud informed, watching his scanners and radar.
"Begin evasive action, Ensign Summers," Fielding said, calmly.
"Yes, Sir," she replied, maneuvering the ship out of the path of some of the missiles.
A series of concussive blasts resonated on the hull, blowing the armor plating away.
"Hull breaches in sections 5,6,7, and 9, Sir," Priss informed form his station, automatically sealing the breaches without being told to.
"Trying to blow us in half, I see," thought Fielding, trying to remain focused on the battle.
"Get us closer, Ensign," Fielding stated, watching the USC cruiser closely.
They thrusted forward, growing closer and closer to the USC cruiser.
"Change course to heading 0-4-5 starboard...now," commanded Fielding.
The cruiser made a quarter turn towards the USC cruiser.
"Fire the main cannons, Ensign Deathrage," ordered Fielding.
The ship vibrated as the cannons sent forth the beams, closing in on the enemy cruiser. The USC cruiser took a direct hit towards the bow, the beams penetrating straight through the cruiser. The crippled USC cruiser fired all of its portside weapons as the EMF ship passed by after its attack, inflicting moderate damage.
"We can't take much more of this, Sir," Priss commented.
"Pull yourself together," replied Fielding, seeing the damage on the screen next to him. The diagram flashed red where the cruiser had taken damage, which included amidships, the bow, and nearly all of the starboard side.
"Engines are failing, Sir," informed Summers, concerned about the ship's loss of speed.
"Run 'em 'till the blow, Ensign," Fielding replied, keeping his cool on the situation at hand.
The USC cruiser fired another salvo of missiles at Fielding, trying to finish him off.
"Divert shields to projected missile impacts, Priss," ordered Fielding, watching the missiles come closer and closer.
The reoccurring impacts continued, most absorbed by the cruiser's shields, but some found their way to the hull as usual, inflicting massive damage to the already damaged hull.
"That last attack knocked our stabilizers offline, Sir," worried Summers, as the ship began to list to the right, rolling in space.
"Target the enemy's bow, hit the emergency thrusters when I say to," Fielding informed, thinking of a strategy.
The USC cruiser thrusted into position to make a final attack on the crippled EMF cruiser.
"Now!" commanded Fielding.
The cruiser shot upward, and all the bow weapons fired, having a straight line of fire on the USC cruiser. Missiles, beams, and bullets struck the USC cruiser with tremendous force port, causing it to roll starboard. Jonathan appeared on screen as he did last time. His bridge was in disarray; some of his crewmen lay on the deck, lifeless from the last attack.
"Good show, little brother," Jonathan said, blood running form wounds on his face.
A pang of regrets struck Fielding.
"Seems I taught you something after all," he continued with a laugh, only stopped by a wincing of pain.
Fielding couldn't speak, watching his brother in pain made him feel weak. Even though he was a heartless bastard, he was still his brother.
"You can make it to the escape pods Jonathan, do it!" Fielding yelled, watching sparks fly from the shattered computers behind him.
"It is too late, brother," He said with remorse in his voice, "but remember, I am sorry for what I have done, and I will always lo-"
The cruiser ruptured and exploded violently, sending a shockwave through space.
"No," thought Fielding, tears swelling up in his eyes, "he had to survive, he just had to."
Fielding held back his tears, trying to keep his composure aboard the bridge.
"Original heading for Side 3, set it on Autopilot," Fielding choked, "engage starboard thrusters on continuous burn until the stabilization is fixed."
Without a word, Fielding's commands were carried out.