The Prodigal Sun Read Online Free PDF Page B
Author: Sean Williams
observations had been acute: she did want to be on the bridge, instead of watching the action impotently from her room; and Klose had indeed waited too long to act. Her heart beat faster; she was reluctant to take her eyes off the screen for fear she would miss the crucial moment.
When it came, however, it surprised her. The Dato raider to starboard of Midnight was the first to fire—not the Marauder. A salvo of flicker-bombs, dropping in and out of hyperspace with intermittent flashes of light, lashed toward the green dot at the center of the telemetry screen. Fast in its wake came a wave of A-P fire.
The first of the missiles struck the aft disrupters, making the ship shudder. Roche flinched automatically.
“Lucky,” said Cane, as Klose finally ordered the firing of the Midnight’s laser and A-P cannon. The power in Roche’s room flickered at the same time as spears of light darted across the telemetry screen in the direction of the dots representing the Dato ships. “If the trailing ship had fired first, a missile could have passed through the afterwash shields and blown the engines.”
“So why didn’t it?”
“I would have thought that was obvious,” he said. “They don’t intend to destroy us.” He glanced at her and the valise in turn. “There’s something aboard the Midnight they want.”
She ignored the unspoken implication. On the screen, the battle was proceeding rapidly. The lights flickered again, followed by wave after wave of subtle nausea as the Midnight weaved for position. Two of the fighters vanished as they engaged the Dato; outnumbered by ten to one, the Midnight’s contingent would not last long.
The Marauder, however, had not fired once. Under combined fire from the three raiders—two were easily a match for the aged frigate—the tiny singleship fighters were little more than target practice. A steady stream of missiles battered the Midnight’s disrupters and E-shields, gradually weakening them. It was only a matter of time before the shields failed entirely, leaving the frigate open to direct assault—or a boarding party.
Klose was no master tactician, but Roche doubted she could do any better herself. Besides, she had other priorities to consider.
The lights went out entirely for a split-second, then returned in emergency red. A tang of smoke filtered into the room, and the pit of her stomach rolled disturbingly. The last COE fighter fell with a flare of light. On the screen, the Dato raiders swooped nearer, harrowing the beleaguered frigate.
Roche came to a decision.
“Okay,” she said, swinging the valise into a more accessible position. Cane watched curiously from his position nearby, and she reverted to subvocals.
she said.
said Roche dryly.
she snapped impatiently. Then, more calmly, she added,
The Box seemed almost to be enjoying her discomfort.
When it came, however, it surprised her. The Dato raider to starboard of Midnight was the first to fire—not the Marauder. A salvo of flicker-bombs, dropping in and out of hyperspace with intermittent flashes of light, lashed toward the green dot at the center of the telemetry screen. Fast in its wake came a wave of A-P fire.
The first of the missiles struck the aft disrupters, making the ship shudder. Roche flinched automatically.
“Lucky,” said Cane, as Klose finally ordered the firing of the Midnight’s laser and A-P cannon. The power in Roche’s room flickered at the same time as spears of light darted across the telemetry screen in the direction of the dots representing the Dato ships. “If the trailing ship had fired first, a missile could have passed through the afterwash shields and blown the engines.”
“So why didn’t it?”
“I would have thought that was obvious,” he said. “They don’t intend to destroy us.” He glanced at her and the valise in turn. “There’s something aboard the Midnight they want.”
She ignored the unspoken implication. On the screen, the battle was proceeding rapidly. The lights flickered again, followed by wave after wave of subtle nausea as the Midnight weaved for position. Two of the fighters vanished as they engaged the Dato; outnumbered by ten to one, the Midnight’s contingent would not last long.
The Marauder, however, had not fired once. Under combined fire from the three raiders—two were easily a match for the aged frigate—the tiny singleship fighters were little more than target practice. A steady stream of missiles battered the Midnight’s disrupters and E-shields, gradually weakening them. It was only a matter of time before the shields failed entirely, leaving the frigate open to direct assault—or a boarding party.
Klose was no master tactician, but Roche doubted she could do any better herself. Besides, she had other priorities to consider.
The lights went out entirely for a split-second, then returned in emergency red. A tang of smoke filtered into the room, and the pit of her stomach rolled disturbingly. The last COE fighter fell with a flare of light. On the screen, the Dato raiders swooped nearer, harrowing the beleaguered frigate.
Roche came to a decision.
“Okay,” she said, swinging the valise into a more accessible position. Cane watched curiously from his position nearby, and she reverted to subvocals.
she snapped impatiently. Then, more calmly, she added,
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