VC Chapter 16-Dragon's Lair

Sector 1400

Planet 1411

January 22, 2052

“Full speed ahead!” Stein barked his order as the Tachyon Industries came into view.

Keeping his eyes on the combat turrets, Stein had ordered his fleet of Exodus cruisers into a line formation to absorb all the incoming fire for the fleets following behind him. Behind the row of Exodus cruisers was another line of Rancor battleships with the markings of “NB Remali” loaded with medium weapons.

“Full shield strength to the front.” Stein inputted some data in his command chair.

Meanwhile in the command centre of the the Tachyon facility, Yale had already contacted his hidden reinforcements hidden below on the planet.

“Fire those new puppies.” Yale pointed at a few incomplete combat turrets equipped with the thermal beam.

“Sir, they are not finished.” the station defence officer replied uneasily.

“Get out of here. If you don't turn it on, we'll be finished.” Yale shoved the officer off his seat as he took control.

As the line of Exodus cruisers approached closer to the facility, the plasma chargers had already begun firing its explosive rounds into space. A few rounds hit the hull of the cruisers and were easily absorbed by its shock shields. Suddenly, four armour-less turrets that appeared to be deactivated lit up and turned its weapons to aim. A slight hum was heard as four streams of hard light hit the ship farthest to the right and nearly demolished the ship into oblivion.

“Break away formation and concentrate fire on those laser turrets.” Stein watched as two ships from his fleet got destroyed by the thermal beam turrets.

“Sir, we're losing shields!” the shielding officer announced as one Tachyon beam turret fired on Stein's ship slowly draining its shields.

“NB Remali, you are up. Our escort objective is done.” Stein broadcasted to the Rancor battleships as his ships turned to retreat.

The row of Rancors split into groups of threes and parted opposite ways as it began to circle around the base. The battleships fired a barrage of hex missiles mixed with gauss drivers towards the Tachyon beam turrets. Small explosions easily ripped the basic metal plating off and shorted the turrets resulting in an explosion from the power source. The collateral damage of the turret spread to nearby turrets and started a chain reaction of fireworks. One by one, the Tachyon beam turrets were taken out quickly by wave of missiles and projectiles from the Rancors. Only three thermal ray turrets remained with a plasma charger loaded on the command bridge.

“Haha, yes!” Stein cheered at a distance as the Rancors began to snipe the thermal ray turrets from a distance.

 Just when the fight seemed to favour NB's side, a fleet of three Apocrypha cruisers loaded with thermal beams speed into the battle from the nearby planet. The tides have turned...