“Command, we have detected an anomaly in Sector Bravo 4.”
“Fell Defender Three, you are authorized to investigate the anomaly.”
Fell Defender Three and Fell Defender Four, a pair of Deathsabers, slowly arced towards the anomaly. With the increased production of the starfighters, Deathsabers had increasingly been assigned to patrol the edges of the Fyre Sola instead of the thinning ranks of Contenders. Many officers justified the complete switchover from Contenders to Deathsabers because of the latter’s utility compared the Contenders. Still, the process was expensive, taking years to get the S9’s components easily manufactured for mass production needed to fill the Kashan Fleet’s switchover mandate.
“Four, that doesn’t look right.”
“I don’t see anything.”
“Look at your electromagnetic spectrum.”
Fell Defender Four toggled the sensor screen output. It showed a power signature where according to the electro-photo sensors, was nothing. Four shook his head. The inconsistency of what he was seeing and what the sensors saw was unnerving. Four’s eyes squinted as he checked out the other sensor readouts.
“It’s not showing up on our Electro-photos though.”
“But it’s also showing up on the radiation meter as some sort of ion drive emissions. I’m guessing that’s a low-level stealth craft of some sort.”
As they neared, their fears were confirmed; it was a stealth craft. Specifically, a Vibre-class Assault Cruiser, a ship that was normally used by Imperial forces. Thus far, the Fell Defenders had been using tightbeam transmissions in order to not give away their position. Unfortunately, tightbeam transmissions had a range problem. Thus, if they called for reinforcements, they would be detected and the Vibre would flee.
“Three, we don’t appear to have been detected yet. I say let’s go for an alpha strike at her engines.”
“I agree.”
The Deathsabers approached warily from the rear and released their payload into the engines. Typically, a Deathsaber was loaded with two ion torpedoes, two concussion missiles, and two space bombs. But in the case of the patrolling Deathsabers, they had been fitted with four auxiliary fuel tanks instead of the missiles and bombs. The ion torpedoes slammed into the engines and ionized the area, allowing the Deathsabers to fire their laser cannons into the engines for actual physical damage.
“Command, we have a hostile Vibre-class. We need reinforcements.”
“Three, what is the status of the Vibre?”
“We’ve heavily damaged her engines; they’re out of commission.”
“Very good. We’re are scrambling more forces to assist you. Keep that ship there until they arrive.”
The Deathsabers soared over the beetle-shaped hull of the Imperial ship. As they did, the hostile ship attempted to return fire with its own laser cannons, but failed horribly. But that was merely a diversion as spacetroopers poured out of the vessel’s hull.
“Three-”
“I see it. Set lasers to flak mode.”
The starfighters pulled an Immelman maneuver and headed to intercept the vacuum-suited troopers. Before they could get in typical laser cannon range, the Deathsabers came to a sudden halt. The four wingtip cannons flashed bright bursts of light into the enemy formation, devastating them without fear of reprisal. Spacetrooper after spacetrooper died in the barrage.
“Four, look.”
A mighty Seraph-class Cruiser and its accompanying starfighters moved in for the final blow against the Imperial interloper. But just as suddenly as the new ships had appeared, they disappeared. The starscape vanished before their eyes. A bright light flooded the cockpit.
“Pretty good cadet. Perhaps you can show us some more on your next simulation run…”
“Fell Defender Three, you are authorized to investigate the anomaly.”
Fell Defender Three and Fell Defender Four, a pair of Deathsabers, slowly arced towards the anomaly. With the increased production of the starfighters, Deathsabers had increasingly been assigned to patrol the edges of the Fyre Sola instead of the thinning ranks of Contenders. Many officers justified the complete switchover from Contenders to Deathsabers because of the latter’s utility compared the Contenders. Still, the process was expensive, taking years to get the S9’s components easily manufactured for mass production needed to fill the Kashan Fleet’s switchover mandate.
“Four, that doesn’t look right.”
“I don’t see anything.”
“Look at your electromagnetic spectrum.”
Fell Defender Four toggled the sensor screen output. It showed a power signature where according to the electro-photo sensors, was nothing. Four shook his head. The inconsistency of what he was seeing and what the sensors saw was unnerving. Four’s eyes squinted as he checked out the other sensor readouts.
“It’s not showing up on our Electro-photos though.”
“But it’s also showing up on the radiation meter as some sort of ion drive emissions. I’m guessing that’s a low-level stealth craft of some sort.”
As they neared, their fears were confirmed; it was a stealth craft. Specifically, a Vibre-class Assault Cruiser, a ship that was normally used by Imperial forces. Thus far, the Fell Defenders had been using tightbeam transmissions in order to not give away their position. Unfortunately, tightbeam transmissions had a range problem. Thus, if they called for reinforcements, they would be detected and the Vibre would flee.
“Three, we don’t appear to have been detected yet. I say let’s go for an alpha strike at her engines.”
“I agree.”
The Deathsabers approached warily from the rear and released their payload into the engines. Typically, a Deathsaber was loaded with two ion torpedoes, two concussion missiles, and two space bombs. But in the case of the patrolling Deathsabers, they had been fitted with four auxiliary fuel tanks instead of the missiles and bombs. The ion torpedoes slammed into the engines and ionized the area, allowing the Deathsabers to fire their laser cannons into the engines for actual physical damage.
“Command, we have a hostile Vibre-class. We need reinforcements.”
“Three, what is the status of the Vibre?”
“We’ve heavily damaged her engines; they’re out of commission.”
“Very good. We’re are scrambling more forces to assist you. Keep that ship there until they arrive.”
The Deathsabers soared over the beetle-shaped hull of the Imperial ship. As they did, the hostile ship attempted to return fire with its own laser cannons, but failed horribly. But that was merely a diversion as spacetroopers poured out of the vessel’s hull.
“Three-”
“I see it. Set lasers to flak mode.”
The starfighters pulled an Immelman maneuver and headed to intercept the vacuum-suited troopers. Before they could get in typical laser cannon range, the Deathsabers came to a sudden halt. The four wingtip cannons flashed bright bursts of light into the enemy formation, devastating them without fear of reprisal. Spacetrooper after spacetrooper died in the barrage.
“Four, look.”
A mighty Seraph-class Cruiser and its accompanying starfighters moved in for the final blow against the Imperial interloper. But just as suddenly as the new ships had appeared, they disappeared. The starscape vanished before their eyes. A bright light flooded the cockpit.
“Pretty good cadet. Perhaps you can show us some more on your next simulation run…”