Chapter 1: The Great Escape
AN: This is a rewrite of my other story. Some things may be edited in the future for this first chapter depending on how I feel.
The date is 3528, March 15, 1500 hours. Location: Lorn arm in the void
"Captain on deck!" A nearby bridge crew says and salutes the captain with everyone else soon following. Captain Hoffer is seen seemly tired with a large mug of coffee.
Hoffer soon yawns before saluting the bridge crew then saying "At ease, Helmsman status report"
"Green, currently the repair ship Gracy is alongside us resupplying and the Pioneer is off to her starboard side. The scope is clear no threats in the nearby area also" The helmsman responds while displaying the status and other information.
Hoffer takes a sip of his coffee before sitting down in his captain's chair with Heather alongside him seemly lost in looking through reports. After a few seconds of watching Heather reading through reports, he finally responds back with "Good work, here's hoping for easy escort. I'm sure we are all looking forward to some shore leave once we get home."
A sound of agreement is heard from all the bridge crew. As they are also looking forward to a few months off to see their families and rest after their 5-year patrol. Heather is seen nodding looking forward to getting her hull cleaned up and her systems upgraded.
A little while later
"Heather, status report" Hoffer requests while looking at some strange reports that have come up on the screen.
Heather is seemly confused while looking at the reports and after a few seconds, she walks forward and displays a large reading before responding with "We have a few inbound void readings, unknown if they are friendly or not. The interface from the nearby black hole is disrupting my sensors"
"Set condition yellow, I don't want to take any risks with this. Have the Gracy form up close with us." Hoffer says before setting down the coffee he has been holding
The helmsman clears his throat and chimes in with "Captain seems like they are the void fleet. Though it seems like they haven't detected us yet. Though I can't say for how long until they detect us."
"Well, we have the upper hand for once. Heather enter silent running, have the other 2 ships follow along. Let's see if we can get out of this without needing to enter combat" Hoffer says while sitting in his chair and bringing up the sensor readings.
As Hoffer says that all 3 ships decrease their engine power and reduce their sensor output. Seemly vanishing from nearly all sensors the ships cruise at only 1/8th of their usual speed, all crews are tense ready for the worst. Though fate has other ideas in mind.
The helmsman lets loose "Shit!, we've been found!" then fully switches the thrusters on max before narrowly avoiding an incoming plasma beam.
Heather almost instantly responds by spinning up her weapons systems and sounding the General quarter's alarm. All crews proceed to scramble knowing the threat that the void ships are to a lone escort
"Incoming heading towards the pioneer!" Yells the helmsman
Within seconds of the helmsmen yelling that, A massive plasma beam splashes across Pioneer's hull easily overwhelming her weakened shields and punching through her relatively thin armor before melting her deck armor and easily punching inside the Pioneer breaching deck after deck.
Meanwhile onboard the Pioneer
Repair crews scramble to suppress the damage and repair damage systems though the attempts are in vain as the decks are completely destroyed. Seemly flustered at this discovery they divert important systems to the reserve systems narrowly avoiding a reactor SCRAM which would have left the Pioneer dead in space if it would have happened. They are seemly content with this repair and they rush to recover other systems.
On the bridge of the Pioneer
"We're hit! Massive damage to our hull, dozens of deck breaches. Communication system destroyed" Yells the weapon's officer who is scrambling to return fire.
"Damm it all to hell, return fire!" Captain Jacob says while worried about his ship. As the Pioneer is an outdated light destroyer designed for patrol of friendly space. Not nearly enough to fight the void fleet along even with an Empire destroyer. Though determined to by the repair ship time to retreat he pushes his crew to fight back.
"Shields are destroyed, Captain! Hull at 60%" The nearby weapons officer responds while struggling to return fire at the void ships. With warnings on all panels and a nearby fire which is quickly put out.
"Fire everything we have! I don't want an ounce of ammo left when were are done. All weapons are authorized." Jacob yells and struggles to remain standing as the Pioneer shudders due to the incoming damage.
The Pioneer is rocked as another salvo from the void destroyer rocks against her hull. Seemly ignoring the Pioneer's armor the plasma eats into her hull, only to be stopped by assistance from Heather who stretches her shield out to cover the Pioneer. Though Heather is soon targeted by the destroyer.
Onboard Heather
"Shields are taking a pounding, we can't afford to stretch our shields for long!" The weapons officer says as she struggles to keep the shields somewhat stable.
"Heather get us out of this mess full speed ahead. Drag the Pioneer with, I don't want to leave her behind" Hoffer nearly yells while Heather shakes due to the incoming damage. Her shields straining due to the sheer amount of incoming damage
"Shields have buckled! Shield integrity at 40% and falling. We can't take much more of this and I don't feel like combat testing Heather's armor today!" The weapons officer says finally after struggling to keep the shields stable and failing.
"Captain!, I'd advise a retreat. The repair ship has already jumped out heading towards friendly space. I can't handle this combat for too long at least not now" Heather says while barely keeping her shields online. She is seemly determined to drive off the destroyers though.
"Heather prep for a void jump. Location….. Anywhere besides here all safeties off." Hoffer finally says after considering the options. Though something deep inside him almost convinces him to stay and drive off the void ships, his concern for Heather wins. He is determined not to lose his ship.
"Roger that, randomized void jump location anywhere. Safeties off, Pioneer is reporting affirmative to join us. Though I should say, this type of jump is likely going to turn out a bad idea." Heather says before spinning up the Void engine.
"Jumping in 10 seconds!" The helmsman says once the void engine responds it's spinning up.
9
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7
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5 "Incoming shell towards us aimed right at the void engine!" The helmsman yells in fright as he tries to deactivate the void engine. Knowing what could happen if that engine is damaged while it's spinning up
4
3
2
2 "Shit! Energy use in the void engine has spiked captain, I'm reading a 500% energy surge" The helmsman says right before they jump
1 "DISABLE THAT ENGINE!" Hoffer yells while praying the engine doesn't fling them into nothingness
