Planet Predators Read Online Free PDF Page B

hard right and moved away from the second group of Scouts, “What about fusion missiles?”
    “We won’t have time to use them. If my switching works like I’ve designed it, our force field will only be down a hundredth of a second as our beam is fired and will be right back up at full strength using both reactors. If we can disable several of their ships close together one fusion missile could blow them all up.”
    “Can our force field handle that many hits?”
    “Using both our reactors, it will for a short time. I’ll monitor the strength and when it gets to ten percent I’ll let you know so you can retreat for it to regain power.”
    “How are you going to time the beams?”
    “I won’t; my software will do it. I have the sensors slaved to the program and the weapons will operate with the readings.”
    Arvolo looked at his display with the location of the eight pursuing scouts, “So what’s the best way to do this?”
    “Lt. Anders, have you trialed this program you’re describing?”
    Arvolo and Kenny jumped at the sudden announcement. Kenny looked at Arvolo and said, “Sir, We’re sending the feed of this fight to Fleet. It appears they are listening to our conversation.” He pressed his board and said, “No, sir, I have not.”
    “You’re taking a mighty big risk with a five billion dollar starship.”
    “The Blue Giant Scouts will eliminate that as a concern shortly if we don’t do something. Unless you have another idea, we have nothing to lose.”
    “Is there no way for you to jump away?”
    “Sir, this solar system is the size of a beach ball in Sierra Space. All the Scouts have to do is have a ship above and below it and we’ll be bumped right back into normal space before we can even start to escape. We are forced to fight it out here.”
    “I’m considering sending ships to support you.”
    “Sir, I don’t think that would be wise.”
    “Why not?”
    “I suspect that is exactly what they’re hoping we’ll do. If they can damage one of our ships and examine it they will be able to find our home world and determine our level of technology. I really believe reinforcements for them are very close by. They certainly out number us by the thousands.”
    “Do you think this new software will work?”
    “It’s the wiring harness that makes it work. The only way to find out is to turn it on and allow Captain Arvolo to do his magic.”
    Jeff looked around the table and no one said anything. Jeff keyed his board and said, “Godspeed Sailors.”
    Arvolo sighed and took the Havana vertical as eight missiles passed under them, “Let me ask you again; how do we do this?”
    “The best possible solution is for you to get in among several ships and allow them to fire at us. If a break in the action happens, even for a micro second, we’ll fire back. I’ll announce the power remaining in the force field and you run when it’s down to ten percent.”
    Arvolo looked at his display and said, “I hope you continue to hold your number one ranking. Fire it up. Let me know when the system is on line.”
    Arvolo turned ninety degrees and ten missiles couldn’t make the turn with the Havana and sped by over them.
    “The system is now in control of my board. The ship is yours.”
    Arvolo smiled, “Hold on to your hat.” He hit reverse thrusters and the Havana came to a sudden stop. The four scouts chasing it came roaring up and fired their beams as they blew past. Arvolo hit rear thrusters and the Havana rushed forward into their formation. Two intense, narrow beams fired from the Havana’s hull and two of the Scouts suffered explosions and stopped dead in space. The other two ships fired again at the Havana and Arvolo heard Kenny in the back of his mind, “70 percent, 50 percent, 25 percent, 15 percent….”
    When Kenny reached fifteen percent, the Havana fired at the other two ships and they suffered explosions in their reactors and stopped dead in space. Kenny launched a fusion missile