Dreamscape Saga Part 1: Project Falcon (6 page)

The fighters made a b-line for the destroyer, and began stinging it with beams of light that barely made a mark. The captain of the vessel laughed, knowing that even if they didn’t have their shields up, the fighters couldn’t even make a mark on the hull with their limited weapons. With the destruction of the first shielding rod, the captain realized the error in his judgment. The fighters weren’t taking his ship on as a whole. They weren’t even trying to take down the whole of the shielding. Instead, they targeted the shielding that protected key points, namely the one protecting the communication towers.

As soon as the shield was removed from the area, four boxy bombers came in, flying as low to the ship as possible. Flying so close, it was difficult to fire at them from the turrets without hitting another part of the ship. Fighters were dispatched to handle them, but it was too late.

Everything on the Confederate side of the battle went into frenzied disarray. The destroyers, no long hearing orders from the flagship, were forced to make their own decisions. Even though they still had communication amongst each other, the opinions of the captains of the ships were widely varying. Without a tower capable of transmitting a signal for help from their location, they were lost and on their own. One captain suggested that they abandon the mission while the others insisted they stay and fight. Even with the same resolve in the fight, the other captains had different tactics they felt they should use. Without a superior officer to sort things out, they were lost in their own struggle for power.

Without orders, the Confederate fighters ran rampant and broke formation from confusion. Several squadrons were better coordinated than others and actually staged a decent defense against the Order’s assault, but it was too little too late. One by one, the fighters were destroyed.

On the flagship, the heavy turrets were aimed at the crippled destroyer. Their blasts ripped through space toward it hoping to deliver a final blow. The sheer force rattled the bones of every man left alive onboard and disabled the artificial gravity. Normally there would have been an attempt to stabilize, but everyone seemed to accept the fact that they were about to die.

From behind, the Confederate flagship picked up the approach of the Order’s battleship. It was too far off to be seen, but it was certainly going to be heard. Coming directly from behind, the Order’s ship sent off a volley of three missiles. Without enough time to maneuver, the Confederate ship realized all too late that the enemy fighters had disabled its rear shielding for a reason. Their engines absorbed the hit and erupted in a nuclear ball of flame.

The Order’s battleship continued to move in and fired heavy volleys upon the destroyers of the Confederacy. When the Confederacy tried to move, they were met by another battleship and two fresh destroyers.

Benjamin couldn’t help but smile, totally pleased with himself. This was what he was meant for, this was what he was born to do, and this was how he would create his legacy.

He maintained his smile as he looked down at the communications officer, “Comm., please transmit in all frequencies.”

“Transmitting sir.”

“All Confederate vessels, we are the Order. You are to surrender your vessels and abandon your posts immediately. Resist and we will respond with deadly force. End transmission.”

Sykes looked up in disbelief. There was no way an unknown could have performed so well. It just wasn’t possible.

Sure of his abilities after such a massive victory, Benjamin winked his green eye at William. “The helm’s all yours sir.” As he stepped off the beam, he saw Lieutenant Frost enter the room with his rifle raised and aimed straight at Benjamin’s head. Benjamin raised his arms, totally undaunted.

Frost was furious, and he ran forward throwing the man before him to the ground. “What did I tell you? I ordered you to stay in your quarters no matter what.”

Sykes was taken back, but felt he had to use the situation. “Lieutenant Frost, whatever this man may have done, we owe him a bit of gratitude. After all, it was because of his handling of the battle that we won.” His face shone with a serene peace that was instantly shattered.

“What have we won? Do you have any idea how many people are dead? On the destroyer alone, we lost five hundred men. In the halls, there are easily another thousand. Most of them were unarmed, but this is a victory?”

Sykes glared at the man. “Frost, you of all people should understand that war is nothing more than an extension of politics. When negotiations fail or are not possible, physical conflict is the only answer. Death is an unfortunate and natural part of that. Now release that man, he is to be commended, not imprisoned.”

Coming November 2014!

Dreamscape Saga Part 2: Colonial Uprising

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Copyright Information

Dreamscape Saga, Part 1, Project Falcon © 2013, D. L. Sorrells

Cover art © 2013, Darren Geers

All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or redistributed without written permission from the author, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review.

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Space Corps and all affiliated symbols and ship designs are trademark of D. L. Sorrells. Unauthorized use is prohibited.

Disclaimer:

This is a work of fiction. All characters and events portrayed in this book are fictitious. Any similarities to real people or events are coincidental.