Read Online War of Alien Aggression 4 Taipan by A.D. Bloom - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: A.D. Bloom
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responding to orders?"
"There are no comms issues," he said. "The problem is not on this end. The signal is getting out. Our command and control relay net is cutting through the jamming and any storm noise. The squadron leaders of the 133rd and the 55th appear to be ignoring us."
"Since the Lancers and the Hellcats engaged that ship," Dana interjected, "there's been a 47% reduction in fire density faced by your other squadrons. The 133rd and the 55th are cutting your losses."
Witt said, "What those pilots don't understand and what you don't seem to understand is that I needed those fighters where they were . That's why I gave them orders to hold position. Their presence was preventing the alien from breaking orbit in that direction. Look. Look at it now." Witt pointed at the alien warship. It was damaged and half-toothless, but it was very clearly accelerating and getting under way.
Dana confirmed it on the NAV console. "The alien is accelerating and moving to a higher orbit now. It's going to break away from the planet. It's running."
"Now, do you see?" Witt said. "It's making for the hole left by the Lancers and the Hellcats. If they'd followed orders, then this wouldn't have happened. Now, my only option is to chase it and peck at it while it steams away. It'll outrun Hardway's bloody ore haulers, that's for sure."
She meant Hardway 's junks and Biko took visible offense to that. "A junk is not an ore hauler, Ms. Witt. Our torpedo junks and the boarding parties have plenty of speed to catch that alien ship."
Witt looked to Dana at NAV. "Ms. Sellis, can the junks with the torpedoes catch the alien cruiser?"
Dana looked at Cozen first and shook her head before she answered Witt's question. "Not before it reaches the Pollux-Denebola Transit."
"Any Squidy ship that size can breach space by itself and escape the system," Witt said. It was true.
"New signal on the Squidy-band frequencies," Biko said. Patched through the speakers, it sounded like insects underwater. "Now that they're clear of the electrified magnetosphere around the planet, I think they're calling for help."
Matilda Witt said, "We won't have time to board that ship now, not if they've called their friends to help them." She turned and spoke to Morrisey. "Order the junks to launch two-dozen, fusion-tipped warspites to finish the enemy off. Pull the fighter squadrons back and bring in Hardway 's junks as quickly as you can. We're done here." She turned and began to cross the bridge, making for the lift. "Harry," she said as she passed the command chair, "set a course to rendezvous with my carriers at the Groomsbridge Transit immediately. It's time to bloody go." The elements of the tactical display projected from Morrisey's glasses vanished. Witt said, "Mr. Morrisey, have Taipan send a longboat to Hardway now to secure my prisoners when they land."
"Yes, ma'am."
Cozen said, "What prisoners? What are you talking about, Matilda?"
"The squadron leaders, Harry. The squadron leaders of the Hellcats and the Lancers. Discipline must be reestablished."
"How do you intend to do that?"
"I intend to shoot them."
Chapter Seven
The doors of bay 12 opened for Gold Coast , and Chief Lee called Ram Devlin on local suit comms with fear in his voice. Salty redsuit Chiefs like Lee don't get scared without a good reason. "Mr. Devlin, you've got to get inside fast. Matilda Witt's personal Guards came from Taipan . They took Jordo and the other one... the Hellcat squadron leader."
"Where are they now?"
"Primary bays, Deck One."
Ram didn't have to tell Pardue; she knew what to do. "I'm landing hot," she said, "Chief, tell your redsuits to clear bay 12 if they don't want to get crispy." She scraped off some paint coming in and fully cooked the bay with her jets. The four nacelles blasted the bulkhead with plasma and blew jets of molten steel mist in all directions as they filled the bay with fire that rocketed out for 30 meters before Pardue cut the
"There are no comms issues," he said. "The problem is not on this end. The signal is getting out. Our command and control relay net is cutting through the jamming and any storm noise. The squadron leaders of the 133rd and the 55th appear to be ignoring us."
"Since the Lancers and the Hellcats engaged that ship," Dana interjected, "there's been a 47% reduction in fire density faced by your other squadrons. The 133rd and the 55th are cutting your losses."
Witt said, "What those pilots don't understand and what you don't seem to understand is that I needed those fighters where they were . That's why I gave them orders to hold position. Their presence was preventing the alien from breaking orbit in that direction. Look. Look at it now." Witt pointed at the alien warship. It was damaged and half-toothless, but it was very clearly accelerating and getting under way.
Dana confirmed it on the NAV console. "The alien is accelerating and moving to a higher orbit now. It's going to break away from the planet. It's running."
"Now, do you see?" Witt said. "It's making for the hole left by the Lancers and the Hellcats. If they'd followed orders, then this wouldn't have happened. Now, my only option is to chase it and peck at it while it steams away. It'll outrun Hardway's bloody ore haulers, that's for sure."
She meant Hardway 's junks and Biko took visible offense to that. "A junk is not an ore hauler, Ms. Witt. Our torpedo junks and the boarding parties have plenty of speed to catch that alien ship."
Witt looked to Dana at NAV. "Ms. Sellis, can the junks with the torpedoes catch the alien cruiser?"
Dana looked at Cozen first and shook her head before she answered Witt's question. "Not before it reaches the Pollux-Denebola Transit."
"Any Squidy ship that size can breach space by itself and escape the system," Witt said. It was true.
"New signal on the Squidy-band frequencies," Biko said. Patched through the speakers, it sounded like insects underwater. "Now that they're clear of the electrified magnetosphere around the planet, I think they're calling for help."
Matilda Witt said, "We won't have time to board that ship now, not if they've called their friends to help them." She turned and spoke to Morrisey. "Order the junks to launch two-dozen, fusion-tipped warspites to finish the enemy off. Pull the fighter squadrons back and bring in Hardway 's junks as quickly as you can. We're done here." She turned and began to cross the bridge, making for the lift. "Harry," she said as she passed the command chair, "set a course to rendezvous with my carriers at the Groomsbridge Transit immediately. It's time to bloody go." The elements of the tactical display projected from Morrisey's glasses vanished. Witt said, "Mr. Morrisey, have Taipan send a longboat to Hardway now to secure my prisoners when they land."
"Yes, ma'am."
Cozen said, "What prisoners? What are you talking about, Matilda?"
"The squadron leaders, Harry. The squadron leaders of the Hellcats and the Lancers. Discipline must be reestablished."
"How do you intend to do that?"
"I intend to shoot them."
Chapter Seven
The doors of bay 12 opened for Gold Coast , and Chief Lee called Ram Devlin on local suit comms with fear in his voice. Salty redsuit Chiefs like Lee don't get scared without a good reason. "Mr. Devlin, you've got to get inside fast. Matilda Witt's personal Guards came from Taipan . They took Jordo and the other one... the Hellcat squadron leader."
"Where are they now?"
"Primary bays, Deck One."
Ram didn't have to tell Pardue; she knew what to do. "I'm landing hot," she said, "Chief, tell your redsuits to clear bay 12 if they don't want to get crispy." She scraped off some paint coming in and fully cooked the bay with her jets. The four nacelles blasted the bulkhead with plasma and blew jets of molten steel mist in all directions as they filled the bay with fire that rocketed out for 30 meters before Pardue cut the
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