Storm' Fury: The Shenkar War by Seth Libby

             
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    December 26 th , 2013 2:36am
                                                        EDF Okinawa, Terran system
     
                  “Captain, the Reagan has been severely damaged, she is dead in space.”  
                  Captain Dvares studied the overhead tactical display. The flagship of the fleet, the Ronald Reagan was floating dead in space, her engines severely damaged. Several sections of the ship showed large hull breaches, venting atmosphere and crew members into open space. A Shenkar battlecruiser and Shirec light cruiser continued to fire salvos of energy into her side. Under the current punishment she was sustaining she would be finished soon. The symbol the Reagan provided was enormous; it would be demoralizing if she were lost. Not to mention his friend, Fleet Admiral Saunders, was aboard. They could not afford to lose the fleet admiral as he was a brilliant tactician and a veteran of the first Shenkar assault.  If they didn’t act now then the flagship of the fleet would be destroyed.
                  “Helmsmen, set course two three six, all ahead full. Fire control, load all forward torpedo tubes and get me a targeting solution on that cruiser that is targeting the Reagan .”
                  Within seconds the Okinawa had changed direction and was speeding towards the two warships targeting the Reagan . Seconds ticked by as they closed the distance.
                  “We have weapons lock upon the Shenkar cruiser,” announced fire control.
                  “FIRE!” commanded Captain Dvares, not wasting any of the precious time they had.
                  Four torpedoes surged forward, quickly closing the distance. The Shenkar cruiser had no time to act as all four torpedoes slammed into her side. The Shenkar cruiser cracked in half and exploded in a brilliant flash.
                  Captain Dvares gave a silent cheer to himself but he knew the Reagan wasn’t safe yet. The Shenkar battlecruiser was continuing her assault upon the damaged flagship. There was also another problem; they wouldn’t be able launch two salvos in the time it would take to destroy the Shenkar battlecruiser before the Reagan was destroyed. Captain Dvares made his decision, he knew it was a risk but he couldn’t let the Reagan be lost.
                  “Load the torpedo tubes again and immediately fire then initiate Prometheus shell,” Captain Dvares said in a level voice.
                  At the captain’s orders, several of the bridge crew turned to look at their captain.
                  “You heard the captain, now MOVE IT!” commanded Commander Sukita.
                  Captain Dvares understood his crew’s reluctance at the orders, if only there another option.
                  Human scientists had been working to improve on Meshtrell technology. Much to the Meshtrell’s chagrin, they were being very successful. The Prometheus shell was one of those successes, but more to the exact point it was created by Steve Barrows, a Templar knight and husband to his commander. Taking a page from the times of great sea battles, Steve had designed a shell of interlocking heavy armored plates to cover the entire bow of a heavy cruiser. Normally these plates would be spread along the hull of the ship until activated. Once initiated, the heavy armored plates moved forward and interlocked with each other. Interlocking several times over would create a hardened battering ram that, in theory, could be used to ram enemy ships….in theory. However, it was primarily designed to ram the wreckage of foes, not one with most of their shields and armor in place. A major drawback of the Prometheus shell was all forward energy cannons and torpedo