Read Online The War of Pawns (The Human Chronicles -- Book Three) by T.R. Harris - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: T.R. Harris
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began to slow noticeably, allowing the distance between the Juireans and themselves to close rapidly. As the Juireans drew closer, everyone on the bridge waited for the next round of bolts to lash out. But none came forth.
“They think they’ve got us,” Chris commented, more to himself than to the others.
Adam leaned down next to Kaylor’s ear, and very calmly said, “Okay, dissolve the forward well, and engage the strongest back-well you can manage. Do it…now.”
The entire ship began to vibrate, as the internal gravity wells fought against the sudden shift in inertia. The ship didn’t actually reverse course, but rather it slowed at an incredible rate. As planned, the five Juirean ships shot past them at incredible speed, with their own ship slipping very close to two of the Juireans in the process.
Two strong jerks were felt throughout the battlecruiser, as the gunners let loose a barrage of 10 bolts on each side of the ship, the maximum that could be fired broadside at a time. All the people on the bridge looked up at the larger tac screen on the forward bulkhead, just as the graphic showed where four of the bolts had struck home.
They all let out a cheer as they saw one of the ships suddenly drop out of the pattern and drift off to the right. The other ship that had been hit continued on with its companions, although the strength of its well could be seen dropping off rapidly.
They were now behind the Juireans, and Chris shouted into a comm link, “Fire at will!”
The ship began to rock as more bolts shot out from the great battleship’s myriad of gun turrets. These first bolts were absorbed by the Juirean screens, but the secret to ship-to-ship combat came with repeated hits in the same location. The bolts continued to trail off from Adam’s ship.
On the screen, the Juireans could be seen making wide arcing turns to double back and engage Adam’s battleship. But just as they were in their turns, their own screens began to detect the two Klin ships ahead of them. Confused, the four remaining Juirean ships hesitated in their turns, and two of them returned to their original course, heading for the Klin.
But before they knew it, the Klin were within their ranks, and strafing the Juireans with bolts of intense energy. Adam watched the dance on the tac screen, thankful for any help he could get – when suddenly the entire tac screen washed out.
“What happened?” Chris asked.
“Nukes!” Jym yelled. “Both the Klin ships have exploded! Nuclear explosions – very intense! Impact approaching!”
Adam’s heart leapt into his throat. Then as the polarizing filter kicked in, the tac screen cleared up. Filling the entire screen was the blue and yellow wave of an approaching nuclear explosion. It was only seconds away.
Adam dove for Kaylor’s controls and shoved him out of the chair. Then grabbing the controls for the gravity wells, forward and aft, he cranked them both up to max. Instantly, the ship felt as if it was being torn in half, as an intense, rumbling vibration coursed throughout the ship. Next, he cranked up the internal wells as high as they would go. These were much smaller than the drive wells, but still the effect with immediate and dramatic.
Everyone throughout the ship was thrown to the deck, pulled down by the increased gravity, and feeling as if an elephant had suddenly stepped on their entire body. Screams were forced out of collapsing lungs, and through his bloodshot eyes, Adam could see Kaylor and Jym lapse into unconsciousness on the floor beside him.
And then the wave hit them. Through the affects of vertigo, it was as if the ship was tumbling over and over, as lights flickered and bulkheads strained. Darkness came upon the bridge, and even the battery backups fought to maintain their charge as the electronic magnetic pulse swept throughout the ship. The tumbling sensation and crushing gravity continued for what felt like an eternity, and the cries from those on the bridge
“They think they’ve got us,” Chris commented, more to himself than to the others.
Adam leaned down next to Kaylor’s ear, and very calmly said, “Okay, dissolve the forward well, and engage the strongest back-well you can manage. Do it…now.”
The entire ship began to vibrate, as the internal gravity wells fought against the sudden shift in inertia. The ship didn’t actually reverse course, but rather it slowed at an incredible rate. As planned, the five Juirean ships shot past them at incredible speed, with their own ship slipping very close to two of the Juireans in the process.
Two strong jerks were felt throughout the battlecruiser, as the gunners let loose a barrage of 10 bolts on each side of the ship, the maximum that could be fired broadside at a time. All the people on the bridge looked up at the larger tac screen on the forward bulkhead, just as the graphic showed where four of the bolts had struck home.
They all let out a cheer as they saw one of the ships suddenly drop out of the pattern and drift off to the right. The other ship that had been hit continued on with its companions, although the strength of its well could be seen dropping off rapidly.
They were now behind the Juireans, and Chris shouted into a comm link, “Fire at will!”
The ship began to rock as more bolts shot out from the great battleship’s myriad of gun turrets. These first bolts were absorbed by the Juirean screens, but the secret to ship-to-ship combat came with repeated hits in the same location. The bolts continued to trail off from Adam’s ship.
On the screen, the Juireans could be seen making wide arcing turns to double back and engage Adam’s battleship. But just as they were in their turns, their own screens began to detect the two Klin ships ahead of them. Confused, the four remaining Juirean ships hesitated in their turns, and two of them returned to their original course, heading for the Klin.
But before they knew it, the Klin were within their ranks, and strafing the Juireans with bolts of intense energy. Adam watched the dance on the tac screen, thankful for any help he could get – when suddenly the entire tac screen washed out.
“What happened?” Chris asked.
“Nukes!” Jym yelled. “Both the Klin ships have exploded! Nuclear explosions – very intense! Impact approaching!”
Adam’s heart leapt into his throat. Then as the polarizing filter kicked in, the tac screen cleared up. Filling the entire screen was the blue and yellow wave of an approaching nuclear explosion. It was only seconds away.
Adam dove for Kaylor’s controls and shoved him out of the chair. Then grabbing the controls for the gravity wells, forward and aft, he cranked them both up to max. Instantly, the ship felt as if it was being torn in half, as an intense, rumbling vibration coursed throughout the ship. Next, he cranked up the internal wells as high as they would go. These were much smaller than the drive wells, but still the effect with immediate and dramatic.
Everyone throughout the ship was thrown to the deck, pulled down by the increased gravity, and feeling as if an elephant had suddenly stepped on their entire body. Screams were forced out of collapsing lungs, and through his bloodshot eyes, Adam could see Kaylor and Jym lapse into unconsciousness on the floor beside him.
And then the wave hit them. Through the affects of vertigo, it was as if the ship was tumbling over and over, as lights flickered and bulkheads strained. Darkness came upon the bridge, and even the battery backups fought to maintain their charge as the electronic magnetic pulse swept throughout the ship. The tumbling sensation and crushing gravity continued for what felt like an eternity, and the cries from those on the bridge
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