Read Online SODIUM:3 Fusion by Stephen Arseneault - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Stephen Arseneault
Tags: Sci Fi & Fantasy
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Department were soon ringing off their hooks. The problem for the State Department was that they had no knowledge of what was happening. Our entire program was still as covert as a program could possibly be.
A statement was soon released through the White House with minimal details. Another alien craft had been destroyed. They were then down two. The media was in a frenzy trying to get details but none were forthcoming. We were at war and that information was privileged.
As a consequence of our small victory the remaining two alien fighters soon joined forces. They also began making random movements. Our active nuke strategy was now useless. I wondered how it was that the planners had not foreseen that event.
It seemed such an ingenious method for taking out the remaining three and it had been largely wasted on one. When we left the Battle Room that was the exact discussion going on between all the Tacticians. Some of the words being exchanged were very heated.
We returned to our DSim to continue our training. Level three brought with it a new twist. We would be competing blindly against another crew. Level three had 126 scenarios to choose from. The crew with the most points would earn credits to be used at a later date. We weren't told what those credits would be for, but we were assured they were indeed useful.
The first DSim scenario selected was called "Moonbase Run". We would lift off to a designated point at which time we were to put into action our own battle plan. The "Moonbase Run" scenario consisted of first getting past an alien fighter and then attacking an alien base. More specifically it was to destroy a designated drone factory on the Moon.
We had no idea if the aliens even had such a factory, but it was thrown into a scenario and we wanted a chance to destroy it. We had been paired up with crew A33 who were much further along in their DSim training than us. I was excited by the chance to take on another team but wondered if we were being set up. A33 had just finished level-five.
The Moon base itself was backed up against a steep crater wall and was defended by much more powerful gravity weapons than the ones on the alien fighters. We had been given two hours to plan our strategy before the scenario would begin. After scratching our heads for most of the two hours we were left with no real plan of action.
We would be winging it as we went. This earned some grumbles from Red, but he had been directed to stay out of our way. It was a test of not only our skills of flying, but of thinking on our feet. As the scenario began I tried to ensure the others that we were going to win. All I received in return was empty stares.
When both ships had reached their initial rally points the scenario began. There was not just one alien fighter, but one that we each had to do battle with. As soon as we headed towards the sitting alien craft it began to move in a random pattern. Whip had one active nuke ready so we decided to take pot luck shot with it.
As soon as the nuke was launched the alien fighter turned hard in our direction and came on at full speed. I flipped our ship and pushed the throttle to full. We slowed dramatically and then began a rapid acceleration. In level-three scenarios we had use of 50% throttle. But our spur of the moment plan was not well thought out and the alien fighter soon came within striking distance before we had a chance to flee.
Its first shot took out all five rings of our BHD and the second shot, from less than a kilometer away, overwhelmed the active skin. We were dead within one minute of the scenario's beginning.
Crew A33 was much more prudent in their approach. They kept a distance while laying out three active nukes. They then attempted to draw the alien fighter in to where the active nukes were laying. The strategy failed and crew A33 spent the next hour simply running around trying to keep their distance from the fighter. The timed scenario ended with an alien victory
A statement was soon released through the White House with minimal details. Another alien craft had been destroyed. They were then down two. The media was in a frenzy trying to get details but none were forthcoming. We were at war and that information was privileged.
As a consequence of our small victory the remaining two alien fighters soon joined forces. They also began making random movements. Our active nuke strategy was now useless. I wondered how it was that the planners had not foreseen that event.
It seemed such an ingenious method for taking out the remaining three and it had been largely wasted on one. When we left the Battle Room that was the exact discussion going on between all the Tacticians. Some of the words being exchanged were very heated.
We returned to our DSim to continue our training. Level three brought with it a new twist. We would be competing blindly against another crew. Level three had 126 scenarios to choose from. The crew with the most points would earn credits to be used at a later date. We weren't told what those credits would be for, but we were assured they were indeed useful.
The first DSim scenario selected was called "Moonbase Run". We would lift off to a designated point at which time we were to put into action our own battle plan. The "Moonbase Run" scenario consisted of first getting past an alien fighter and then attacking an alien base. More specifically it was to destroy a designated drone factory on the Moon.
We had no idea if the aliens even had such a factory, but it was thrown into a scenario and we wanted a chance to destroy it. We had been paired up with crew A33 who were much further along in their DSim training than us. I was excited by the chance to take on another team but wondered if we were being set up. A33 had just finished level-five.
The Moon base itself was backed up against a steep crater wall and was defended by much more powerful gravity weapons than the ones on the alien fighters. We had been given two hours to plan our strategy before the scenario would begin. After scratching our heads for most of the two hours we were left with no real plan of action.
We would be winging it as we went. This earned some grumbles from Red, but he had been directed to stay out of our way. It was a test of not only our skills of flying, but of thinking on our feet. As the scenario began I tried to ensure the others that we were going to win. All I received in return was empty stares.
When both ships had reached their initial rally points the scenario began. There was not just one alien fighter, but one that we each had to do battle with. As soon as we headed towards the sitting alien craft it began to move in a random pattern. Whip had one active nuke ready so we decided to take pot luck shot with it.
As soon as the nuke was launched the alien fighter turned hard in our direction and came on at full speed. I flipped our ship and pushed the throttle to full. We slowed dramatically and then began a rapid acceleration. In level-three scenarios we had use of 50% throttle. But our spur of the moment plan was not well thought out and the alien fighter soon came within striking distance before we had a chance to flee.
Its first shot took out all five rings of our BHD and the second shot, from less than a kilometer away, overwhelmed the active skin. We were dead within one minute of the scenario's beginning.
Crew A33 was much more prudent in their approach. They kept a distance while laying out three active nukes. They then attempted to draw the alien fighter in to where the active nukes were laying. The strategy failed and crew A33 spent the next hour simply running around trying to keep their distance from the fighter. The timed scenario ended with an alien victory
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