The Eission Raid
A Desperate Gamble
Every defense alarm in the solar system screamed when the four lance-shaped starships slammed out of hyperspace on top of the 3rd planet and shimmered into view. The hyperspace shockwave sent an orbital shuttle dock reeling out of control and flaming into the atmosphere. Ground level structures on the near side of the world flattened as the hyperspace wave whiplashed across the surface. Beyond the fifth planet’s orbit, a pair of outward-bound Naplian frigates trimmed energy output and came about to intercept the raiders. Further in, a Naplian battlecruiser wallowed in the orbit of the second planet as it got underway.
Aboard the raider flagship, the heavy cruiser RBS Turquoise, Admiral Parl took stock of the situation. Three enemy ships were in the system, but none were in a position to interfere with his operation. The fuel Shuttle dock had been knocked out on entry as planned but the orbital defense station, with its spine-mounted particle guns, was orbiting on the far side and had escaped the shockwave. The surface refineries were in flames, but the underground storage facilities showed no sign of damage.
Parle watched with a sense of satisfaction as each Briddarri vessel went about its assigned task. The Turquoise maneuvered into position above the planet and fired her forward gun tubes. Five blue-white balls of energy raced to the planet surface and impacted above the largest serjaum fuel depot in the Rimward Reaches. Ten torpedoes followed in quick succession, fired from the sister ships Saphir and Rubis. The fourth raider, RBS Diamant, raced to meet the Naplian orbital defense station just breaching the sun-ward horizon. The station opened fire with its heavy batteries, sending projectiles the size of freight trains rushing past Diamant. Her captain, keeping the Diamant's bow pointed toward the station to present the smallest silhouette possible, sent three torpedoes blazing into the massive hull of the station. As they reached their target, there was a series of flashes from the concussions of the torpedoes, and then a brilliant starburst as the station broke up.
"Hit the magazine," Parl said under his breath.
A pair of stealth ships shimmered into view nearby, skimming low orbit, seeking out and blasting any surviving installations. When Parle was satisfied that the mission had been accomplished, he flashed the command to withdraw, and the Briddarri squadron jumped away as the first Naplian frigate arrived on station.
Want To Know More?
The Eission Raid was the pivotal event that brought the Terran Empire into the Emperor's War. Want to know more? Read the Takamo Universe novels.
I recommend that you read Empire's Rift first, then take up the anthology, For God and Mars, followed by Rhats! Then sink your teeth into the dual stories of Aphelion. After that, the multiple volumes of Project Aeon An Enduring Sun, and Dark Star, with four additional volumes still in production. After that, Rhats Too!, Last Run of the Ice Duchess, and The Ice-Cold Heart. By the time you have made it through all that, we should have plenty more in print.
I recommend that you read Empire's Rift first, then take up the anthology, For God and Mars, followed by Rhats! Then sink your teeth into the dual stories of Aphelion. After that, the multiple volumes of Project Aeon An Enduring Sun, and Dark Star, with four additional volumes still in production. After that, Rhats Too!, Last Run of the Ice Duchess, and The Ice-Cold Heart. By the time you have made it through all that, we should have plenty more in print.
Don't wait! Click on the ebook links at the top of the page.
END TRANSMISSION
Copyright 2018
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