Asa braced himself as his ship approached the Vessel. Its bow glowed and again that bright blood red beam spat at the Carida, but the Star Destroyers shield held as the beam thrust into it. The shield blazed blue, sparking as it struggled to hold. Asa began to count.
The Vessels side blew, an explosion that rocked its hull and it dropped in speed. Sustained fire from the Lusankya was doing damage but whatever it was using as armor instead of shields was still holding it together. Or perhaps their weapons weren't as strong in comparison...
That beam. Again it spat at Carida. Again , its shields held, but only for a moment. The beam carved a slice out of the star destroyers port and the Carida tilted to its side, as explosions rocked his hull.
Pellaeons Peace advanced toward the Vessel and Asa could feel his crews fear. He could almost taste it. And something inside of him licked its lips.
Asas face broke out into a smile. Fellas looked over at him and stepped back, his face full of hesitation.
20 to 30 seconds was the time needed to charge up the beam.
"Drop shields and disable all lasers. Arm ion cannons, full power and fire at the enemy vessel."
Ion cannons were dangerous. The power and system used within them was prone to overloading and could blow out rival systems on a ship unless those systems were offline or at least unpowered. Ion cannons were dangerous to use and usually only designed for disabling small ships. Shields were strong against them and a strong redundant system could fight a shot or two.
Asa fire 1,000 of them.
Over half missed. Ion cannons were notorious for being inaccurate and slow. But he didnt need them to be either. He was close enough to the Vessel now and by sheer virtue or proximity, the ion blasts slammed into the Vessel. It shuddered as cerulean blue sparks jutted across it. The Vessels engines sputtered and died.
But not before another beam shot out right into the Pellaeon. It proved a massive gash right across the center of the ship. Klaxons came alive in the distance.
"Sir, decks 3 through 7 have suffered severe damage!"
"Seal those decks and send in the emergency teams!' Felkas ordered.
"Primary Starboard engine has lost power!"
" Reroute the sub engines to compensate." Felkas barked. "Streamline the power leak through to the exhaust ports and ensure everyone there is wearing the proper radiation gear. Have every deck fit every crewman with proper air masks and suit."
"Aye sir."
Asa watched the Vessel. It felt like that main gun was pointing at his head. Yet again it glowed. An explosion rocked the cannon and the beam sputtered a bit. This would be ita last volley. But it would take his bridge with it.
Asa stared at the Vessel and inside him, he felt warm, sated. This would be a good death.
"Sir!. The Stalwart Shield!"
Asa blinked.
In the far side of the planet, Varceals ship approached, guns firing before it had fully passed the planet. It waa moving fast and Asa realized it had hug the planets gravity well, skirting the edge of a possible crash and using the momentum to push itself alongside its orbit.
That was a dangerous maneuver. And somehow, it had worked.
The Vessel blew in a explosion that took up the entirety of the view screen.