fire.
Scientists and engineers had been working on the concept of
space-based weaponry since the early days of spaceflight. Human initiative
works on the principle of ‘How do I travel through space?’ Closely followed by
the thought of ‘How do I shoot somebody else who is trying to travel through my part of space?’ Guns would not work in space as the propellant would require
oxygen to combust and hence push the shell down the barrel. Hence the earliest
space base weaponry was based on the concept of a Rail Gun. This simple
weapon, invented late in the 20 th century used electro-magnets to
accelerate and propel a projectile out of the barrel. The two point defence
guns on the Eternal Light worked in much the same way as these early
weapons but approximately a hundred times quicker. While the first space based
Rail Guns could fire one round, usually solid depleted uranium, per second.
The guns on the Eternal Light could fire almost one hundred rounds per second.
As these were propelled by electro-magnets and fired from space: where heat
dissipation was really, really good it could keep firing until it ran out of
ammunition. Which the guns promptly did 4.8 seconds later…
*****
Miranda watched in open mouth disbelief as the shuttle sent
the first missile spinning uselessly out into the void followed a few seconds
later by the complete destruction of her second missile. “No way!” She
cursed, “No fucking way!” As she watched the shuttle slip into the quickly
approaching asteroid field ahead. With a roar of anger she kicked the fighter
into full thrust and followed the shuttle into the asteroid field, at far too
high a speed for any sort of safe navigation of the field.
*****
What followed for the next ten minutes was a dangerous game
of cat and mouse among the asteroid belt, the Eternal Light used them
for cover to the best of its ability; while Miranda constantly cursed that she
was unable to get a good shot or a target long enough for her remaining
missiles to get a target lock.
Meanwhile Jon had long since come to the conclusion that he
had a problem, a serious problem. The pilot in the pursuit craft was good,
very good. Not as good as him… but almost. His slight advantage in piloting
skills however, was completely offset by their respective ships. While the Eternal
Light had been heavily upgraded and no shuttle could match her, not even
the old navy heavy assault craft, she was still a shuttle, while behind was a
heavily armed fighter designed for speed and manoeuvrability. The only reason
that he and the Eternal Light were still in one piece was the cover
given by the asteroids. While he had to be lucky every single time, it was
only going to take one lucky shot or a missile. His point defence guns were
now out of ammunition, and he was going to be smeared across one of these
asteroids. He needed a plan and he needed one quickly!
Deciding that he only had one shot at this, Jon started slowly
to reduce velocity to close the gap between himself and the fighter already
close on his tail. He then activated his own weapon systems on the Eternal
Light . A small part of him had hoped that his opponent would just decide
to call it a day and retreat. However, as time went by and the shots got
closer and the armour more and more damaged, he came to the conclusion that the
other ship was not going to withdraw and it was going to be his life or the
other’s. Therefore it was with no regret that Jon armed the concealed missile
and waited for confirmation from the targeting computer of a lock. Once the
computer confirmed a solid lock Jon reduced velocity even further praying that
the armour would hold up just a few seconds longer. Finally when the enemy
ship was almost on top of the ‘Light, Jon hit the launch control to
release the missile and put the ship in a steep dive.
*****
Miranda froze when she heard the scream of
Scientists and engineers had been working on the concept of
space-based weaponry since the early days of spaceflight. Human initiative
works on the principle of ‘How do I travel through space?’ Closely followed by
the thought of ‘How do I shoot somebody else who is trying to travel through my part of space?’ Guns would not work in space as the propellant would require
oxygen to combust and hence push the shell down the barrel. Hence the earliest
space base weaponry was based on the concept of a Rail Gun. This simple
weapon, invented late in the 20 th century used electro-magnets to
accelerate and propel a projectile out of the barrel. The two point defence
guns on the Eternal Light worked in much the same way as these early
weapons but approximately a hundred times quicker. While the first space based
Rail Guns could fire one round, usually solid depleted uranium, per second.
The guns on the Eternal Light could fire almost one hundred rounds per second.
As these were propelled by electro-magnets and fired from space: where heat
dissipation was really, really good it could keep firing until it ran out of
ammunition. Which the guns promptly did 4.8 seconds later…
*****
Miranda watched in open mouth disbelief as the shuttle sent
the first missile spinning uselessly out into the void followed a few seconds
later by the complete destruction of her second missile. “No way!” She
cursed, “No fucking way!” As she watched the shuttle slip into the quickly
approaching asteroid field ahead. With a roar of anger she kicked the fighter
into full thrust and followed the shuttle into the asteroid field, at far too
high a speed for any sort of safe navigation of the field.
*****
What followed for the next ten minutes was a dangerous game
of cat and mouse among the asteroid belt, the Eternal Light used them
for cover to the best of its ability; while Miranda constantly cursed that she
was unable to get a good shot or a target long enough for her remaining
missiles to get a target lock.
Meanwhile Jon had long since come to the conclusion that he
had a problem, a serious problem. The pilot in the pursuit craft was good,
very good. Not as good as him… but almost. His slight advantage in piloting
skills however, was completely offset by their respective ships. While the Eternal
Light had been heavily upgraded and no shuttle could match her, not even
the old navy heavy assault craft, she was still a shuttle, while behind was a
heavily armed fighter designed for speed and manoeuvrability. The only reason
that he and the Eternal Light were still in one piece was the cover
given by the asteroids. While he had to be lucky every single time, it was
only going to take one lucky shot or a missile. His point defence guns were
now out of ammunition, and he was going to be smeared across one of these
asteroids. He needed a plan and he needed one quickly!
Deciding that he only had one shot at this, Jon started slowly
to reduce velocity to close the gap between himself and the fighter already
close on his tail. He then activated his own weapon systems on the Eternal
Light . A small part of him had hoped that his opponent would just decide
to call it a day and retreat. However, as time went by and the shots got
closer and the armour more and more damaged, he came to the conclusion that the
other ship was not going to withdraw and it was going to be his life or the
other’s. Therefore it was with no regret that Jon armed the concealed missile
and waited for confirmation from the targeting computer of a lock. Once the
computer confirmed a solid lock Jon reduced velocity even further praying that
the armour would hold up just a few seconds longer. Finally when the enemy
ship was almost on top of the ‘Light, Jon hit the launch control to
release the missile and put the ship in a steep dive.
*****
Miranda froze when she heard the scream of
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