Read Online Black Legion: 02 - Assault on Khorram by Michael G. Thomas - Free Book Online
Authors: Michael G. Thomas
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most of the impact, but the harsh directional shift threw them about. Incandescent balls of superheated energy rushed passed then, and at least one dromon was hit twice.
“We’re lining up to land on the Vendetta, get ready for a quick evac,” he added as a blast of energy destroyed another dromon.
Dukas Xenias slammed his fist into the communication unit on the wall.
“This is Dukas Xenias to all ships, jump to the emergency nav beacon, now!”
The pilot looked back at him, but it was clear there was to be no discussion. Half of the dromons flickered and then vanished as each activated their short-ranged FTL drives. The Vendetta followed them, and the in a sickening lurch so did their own craft. Each of the surviving dromons was packed with crew and warriors from a dozen worlds. All that was left of this part of the fleet remained with the dromons and the cruiser. Only a small number were still trapped on the Olympia. Xenophon watched the massive hulk of the Titian shrink in size in the blink of an eye, and then they were gone. The heavy cutting beams used by the Medes capital ships were left to continue their terrible work on the Titan with the deadly efficiency the Medes were so renowned for.
“Dukas, we’re at the nav beacon,” said the pilot.
The virtual nav beacon was simply a location in space that had been predetermined as a rallying point; there was no actual physical beacon. The small number of burnt and damaged dromons swarmed around Vendetta, waiting to unload the surviving troops onto the cruiser. The landing bay was normally designed for the launch and retrieval of a single scout fighter or transport. Now it was being used as an emergency docking point for one craft after another. Two dromons had already been unloaded when the first Median light cruiser arrived. It appeared in a blur, and like the arrival of a thick droplet of water that coalesced into the form of a warship. In seconds, streams of energy flicked at the cruiser, and one beam cut an empty dromon in half.
“Dukas, we need to dock and fast!” said the pilot.
He looked down to his view screen and nodded in satisfaction as he spotted a multitude of signal streams being flooded with traffic. He did a quick check and looked over his shoulder to the Dukas.
“My Lord, Vendetta is jamming her, so it should buy us some time.”
Xenias nodded and tapped the communications buttons once more.
“All dromons, speed up the unloading procedure. Vendetta, restart your FTL, we’re going to need to jump immediately.”
The voice of the capital ship’s commander broke out over the internal speakers.
“This is Kybernetes Ezekiel Manus, the Kentarchos was killed during the first attack. We have rerouted all weapons power to the FTL and can jump in seven minutes.”
Another series of explosions ignited off the left side of the cruiser. Fragments of metals and debris struck the hull but incredibly, none penetrated the thick hide. The main weapons batteries didn’t respond, but the small point defence turrets did their best to hold off most of the projectile weapon fire. The shields were now the only defence against the heavy beams.
“Our turn, Dukas, we’re going in!” called out the pilot.
With great skills, he spun the dromon through the wreckage of two other vessels and landed in the small landing bay. As soon as the doors opened, a number of crew helped drag the wounded from their craft and pulled them to safety. In less than thirty seconds, the craft was unloaded and relaunched into an automatic holding pattern. Tamara watched as it circled away, crewless and aimless.
“What will happen to her?” she asked wistfully.
Glaucon looked at Tamara and to the dromon. It managed to reach three hundred metres before a dark blue energy beam cut through its middle.
“There’s your answer. Come on, we need to get inside,” he said, and they chased after the Dukas. The rest of the crew and spatharii did the same, and soon they were inside
“We’re lining up to land on the Vendetta, get ready for a quick evac,” he added as a blast of energy destroyed another dromon.
Dukas Xenias slammed his fist into the communication unit on the wall.
“This is Dukas Xenias to all ships, jump to the emergency nav beacon, now!”
The pilot looked back at him, but it was clear there was to be no discussion. Half of the dromons flickered and then vanished as each activated their short-ranged FTL drives. The Vendetta followed them, and the in a sickening lurch so did their own craft. Each of the surviving dromons was packed with crew and warriors from a dozen worlds. All that was left of this part of the fleet remained with the dromons and the cruiser. Only a small number were still trapped on the Olympia. Xenophon watched the massive hulk of the Titian shrink in size in the blink of an eye, and then they were gone. The heavy cutting beams used by the Medes capital ships were left to continue their terrible work on the Titan with the deadly efficiency the Medes were so renowned for.
“Dukas, we’re at the nav beacon,” said the pilot.
The virtual nav beacon was simply a location in space that had been predetermined as a rallying point; there was no actual physical beacon. The small number of burnt and damaged dromons swarmed around Vendetta, waiting to unload the surviving troops onto the cruiser. The landing bay was normally designed for the launch and retrieval of a single scout fighter or transport. Now it was being used as an emergency docking point for one craft after another. Two dromons had already been unloaded when the first Median light cruiser arrived. It appeared in a blur, and like the arrival of a thick droplet of water that coalesced into the form of a warship. In seconds, streams of energy flicked at the cruiser, and one beam cut an empty dromon in half.
“Dukas, we need to dock and fast!” said the pilot.
He looked down to his view screen and nodded in satisfaction as he spotted a multitude of signal streams being flooded with traffic. He did a quick check and looked over his shoulder to the Dukas.
“My Lord, Vendetta is jamming her, so it should buy us some time.”
Xenias nodded and tapped the communications buttons once more.
“All dromons, speed up the unloading procedure. Vendetta, restart your FTL, we’re going to need to jump immediately.”
The voice of the capital ship’s commander broke out over the internal speakers.
“This is Kybernetes Ezekiel Manus, the Kentarchos was killed during the first attack. We have rerouted all weapons power to the FTL and can jump in seven minutes.”
Another series of explosions ignited off the left side of the cruiser. Fragments of metals and debris struck the hull but incredibly, none penetrated the thick hide. The main weapons batteries didn’t respond, but the small point defence turrets did their best to hold off most of the projectile weapon fire. The shields were now the only defence against the heavy beams.
“Our turn, Dukas, we’re going in!” called out the pilot.
With great skills, he spun the dromon through the wreckage of two other vessels and landed in the small landing bay. As soon as the doors opened, a number of crew helped drag the wounded from their craft and pulled them to safety. In less than thirty seconds, the craft was unloaded and relaunched into an automatic holding pattern. Tamara watched as it circled away, crewless and aimless.
“What will happen to her?” she asked wistfully.
Glaucon looked at Tamara and to the dromon. It managed to reach three hundred metres before a dark blue energy beam cut through its middle.
“There’s your answer. Come on, we need to get inside,” he said, and they chased after the Dukas. The rest of the crew and spatharii did the same, and soon they were inside
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