Read Online Sacrifice:The Shenkar War by Seth Libby - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Seth Libby
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through what you learned earlier.”
Without thinking, Liam’s hand moved about the cockpit, flipping switches and pressing various buttons across his instrument panel until he heard the sound of his engine coming to life and his whole cockpit vibrated as if he was actually in a real fighter. Pulling back on the throttle slightly, the whine of his engine increased and the fighter slowly moved into position for takeoff. Keying his headset, he spoke into his mic.
“ Flight control, this is Lieutenant Brennan requesting clearance for takeoff.”
“ This is flight control, you are cleared for takeoff,” came back a male voice.
Pulling full back on the throttle, Liam was slammed into his seat as his fighter accelerated down the flight deck. Moments later, Liam’s fighter exploded out of the bow of the simulated battlecruiser into space. Pushing the throttle to cruising speed, Liam pulled the control stick to the left, and his whole cockpit spun as if the fighter was doing barrel rolls. Leveling out the fighter, Liam then pulled the fighter into a tight turn, using the control stick and the pedals at his feet. The turn brought the view of the battlecruiser into sight; Liam was awed at the sheer size of it.
He knew the battlecruiser was huge, measuring at length of 3,998 feet--just under three-quarters of a mile in length. But until you were flying next to one, you just couldn’t imagine such a sight. Flying in closer, he saw that from bow to stern, the ship was covered with heavy and light energy cannons for a full 360-degree range of fire. Torpedo tubes were located at the bow, stern, port, and starboard of the cruiser. Liam could also see several anti-torpedo defense platforms spread throughout the length of the ship. A thought occurred to Liam as he cruised looking at the ship. Keying his headset, he spoke into his mic.
“ Flight control, is the battlecruiser I see in the simulator the same battlecruiser we will be stationed on?”
“ That’s an affirmative, Lieutenant,” said the speaker.
Liam thought then that the name “battlecruiser” was a fitting title for such an impressive ship. As he started to make his second pass, he spotted another fighter exiting the ship. It turned to come alongside Liam. His ship-to-ship channel keyed, and Liam heard Evan’s voice over his speakers. “ Well, this is freaking awesome!” Evan said excitedly.
Laughing, Liam gave Evan a thumbs-up to indicate he agreed. Suddenly, Evan rolled his fighter, inverting it so his canopy was two meters from Liam’s. Evan waved and then completed the roll to come to rest on the opposite side from which he started.
“ Show-off,” Liam said into his headset.
“ Lieutenant Maxis, this is flight control. I realize you know you are in a simulator, but please refrain from killing yourself your first day out,” came a voice over the speakers.
Looking over at Evan’s cockpit, Liam could see him making a hand-jerking motion that clearly showed what he thought of flight control’s rebuke on his little flying stunt. Laughing, Liam gave him another thumbs-up to show he agreed with that also. Soon, Crystal joined them, flying alongside Evan. Her voice came over the ship-to-ship channel.
“ Hello, boys. Nice takeoff, you two. It was almost as perfect as mine.” Liam might not have been able to see her smile, but he could hear it in her voice as she spoke.
Soon, all members of the squadron were in flight, flying in two V-shaped formations. The voice of flight control came over the internal speakers.
“ Okay, ladies and gentlemen, let’s
Without thinking, Liam’s hand moved about the cockpit, flipping switches and pressing various buttons across his instrument panel until he heard the sound of his engine coming to life and his whole cockpit vibrated as if he was actually in a real fighter. Pulling back on the throttle slightly, the whine of his engine increased and the fighter slowly moved into position for takeoff. Keying his headset, he spoke into his mic.
“ Flight control, this is Lieutenant Brennan requesting clearance for takeoff.”
“ This is flight control, you are cleared for takeoff,” came back a male voice.
Pulling full back on the throttle, Liam was slammed into his seat as his fighter accelerated down the flight deck. Moments later, Liam’s fighter exploded out of the bow of the simulated battlecruiser into space. Pushing the throttle to cruising speed, Liam pulled the control stick to the left, and his whole cockpit spun as if the fighter was doing barrel rolls. Leveling out the fighter, Liam then pulled the fighter into a tight turn, using the control stick and the pedals at his feet. The turn brought the view of the battlecruiser into sight; Liam was awed at the sheer size of it.
He knew the battlecruiser was huge, measuring at length of 3,998 feet--just under three-quarters of a mile in length. But until you were flying next to one, you just couldn’t imagine such a sight. Flying in closer, he saw that from bow to stern, the ship was covered with heavy and light energy cannons for a full 360-degree range of fire. Torpedo tubes were located at the bow, stern, port, and starboard of the cruiser. Liam could also see several anti-torpedo defense platforms spread throughout the length of the ship. A thought occurred to Liam as he cruised looking at the ship. Keying his headset, he spoke into his mic.
“ Flight control, is the battlecruiser I see in the simulator the same battlecruiser we will be stationed on?”
“ That’s an affirmative, Lieutenant,” said the speaker.
Liam thought then that the name “battlecruiser” was a fitting title for such an impressive ship. As he started to make his second pass, he spotted another fighter exiting the ship. It turned to come alongside Liam. His ship-to-ship channel keyed, and Liam heard Evan’s voice over his speakers. “ Well, this is freaking awesome!” Evan said excitedly.
Laughing, Liam gave Evan a thumbs-up to indicate he agreed. Suddenly, Evan rolled his fighter, inverting it so his canopy was two meters from Liam’s. Evan waved and then completed the roll to come to rest on the opposite side from which he started.
“ Show-off,” Liam said into his headset.
“ Lieutenant Maxis, this is flight control. I realize you know you are in a simulator, but please refrain from killing yourself your first day out,” came a voice over the speakers.
Looking over at Evan’s cockpit, Liam could see him making a hand-jerking motion that clearly showed what he thought of flight control’s rebuke on his little flying stunt. Laughing, Liam gave him another thumbs-up to show he agreed with that also. Soon, Crystal joined them, flying alongside Evan. Her voice came over the ship-to-ship channel.
“ Hello, boys. Nice takeoff, you two. It was almost as perfect as mine.” Liam might not have been able to see her smile, but he could hear it in her voice as she spoke.
Soon, all members of the squadron were in flight, flying in two V-shaped formations. The voice of flight control came over the internal speakers.
“ Okay, ladies and gentlemen, let’s
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