VC Chapter 17-Diversionary Fire

Sector 1400

Planet 1411

January 22, 2052

The three Apocrypha cruisers focused fire on the nearest Rancor battleship and zapped it with his thermal beams into space dust. It wasn't a fair fight as the weapons on the Rancors only scratched the paint of the cruisers due to its strong shielding.

“NB Gaven to NB Remali, time to pull out and let the big guys take care of it.” Stein broadcasted on the NB channel.

With only two Rancors left from the retreat, it was certain that a big assault ship was needed to counter the Apocryphas. Once in clear space, NB Gaven and NB Remali warped out of the battle scene as a new warp took place next to them. A Revelation cruiser with five Exodus cruisers emerged from the warp and immediately fired their weapons. The cruiser were loaded with the strongest disruptor rays possible and charged towards the Apocrypha defenders.

“NB Slider, assault force engaging. We won't be able to hold them off long. NB Sharpe make it quick.” Tarbuck sat in his command chair in the bridge of the Revelation cruiser and watched as a beam of hard light hit his dual spectral shields.

“Yes Admiral, we're on our way.” Wicker replied as his fleet of six Talon frigates emerged from warp behind Tarbuck's fleet.

“Focus fire on the closest Apoc!” Tarbuck ordered as he saw Wicker's Talons fly over him.

The assault cruisers focused their concentrated fire on the lead Apocrypha and took out its shock shields leaving the ship open to a steady stream of laser rays. As the Apocryphas retaliated back on the cluster of Exodus cruisers, one shot of concentrated thermal rays nearly annihilated a cruiser as low spectral shields gave in easily.

“Wicker, I can only buy you a certain amount of time for you to make the drop.” Tarbuck broadcasted as he watched one his Exodus cruisers split into two.

“Sir, we lost ship two.” an officer reported as the split Exodus cruiser fell towards the planet's atmosphere.

“At least we can hold out longer with our spectral shields equipped on our fleets.” Tarbuck watched as another Exodus marginally survived after one stream of thermal beams.

“Sir, enemy lead ship is at quarter health!” the weapons officer announced as the lead Apocrypha's hull showed weak hull integrity as the disruptor rays ripped holes in its armour.

“Switch formations. Less shield strengths to the back and full shields to tank the damage.” Tarbuck watched as another Exodus got split into two.

 Tarbuck watched as his cruisers changed formation to absorb the incoming fire and continue their non-stop fire at the first Apocrypha. From a distant, Wicker's fleet of Talons flew closer and closer to the facility as it sprayed with plasma chargers. One of the Talon got its engines taken out and crashed into the facility creating a small hole at one of their ship labs. Things weren't looking good for Wicker's fleet as another Talon exploded on its flight path when an explosive round hit its command bridge. A loud explosion occurred next to the Revelation cruiser as another Exodus cruiser got demolished from the three Apocryphas. Time was running out.