The Key

  Chapter 27

  "Angel, I need an update on those repairs." Captain McWilliams shifted in his seat.

  "The repairs are still in progress sir." the hologram flickered slightly then solidified next to the Captain. "Shields are holding at sixty-three percent. The damage to the hull has been repaired. Captain there has still not been any contact from the surface."

  "Understood. What are the frags doing?" Jason rubbed his stubble covered chin.

  "Frags sir?" Angel looked puzzled.

  "The Ta'Reeth." he shook his head.

  "Oh." Angel shimmered slightly. "The frags are 'licking their wounds' sir. The same as we are." Angel grimaced. "Sir, the Ta'Reeth are active again. It appears that they are losing interest in us and moving back to Olcai."

  "Well, we can't let that happen. Helm, take us between the armada and the planet. I want to be there yesterday." Jason clenched his jaw. Redemption's engines fired, glowing bright as the ship accelerated towards the planet. "Weapons Officer, activate the nuclear ordinance."

  "Yes sir." the weapons officer replied crisply.

  "Captain the Ta'Reeth are moving to intercept with their cruisers. The battleships are continuing as before." Angels face showed no expression as she told her captain.

  "Ready all weapons." Captain McWilliams replied. Redemption hurled through space directly at the Ta'Reeth cruisers. The distance between the ships closed rapidly. Redemption's shields glowed blue in the darkness of space.

  Dozens of fighters erupted from the spiraling arms of the Ta'Reeth ships. Once free of the mother ship, the fighters streaked towards Redemption, firing on her before they reached optimal weapons range.

  Blasts from plasma cannons spattered against Redemption's shields as she raced for Olcai. Her particle cannons dispatched the fighters methodically and then worked on the cruisers. As the distance closed she brought heavier weapons to bear on the enemy ships.

  The first Ta'Reeth cruiser opened fire on Redemption. Massive plasma cannons hurled balls of fire at the mighty ship. Plasma cascaded over Redemptions shields, eating away the valuable protective layer.

  "Captain the shields are failing. They are at fifty eight percent and dropping." Angel informed her Captain.

  "Thank you Angel." Jason kept his eyes transfixed on the three dimensional display of the battle. Redemption sprinted between four Ta'Reeth cruisers, taking damage from all sides. Her particle beam tore massive furrows in the enemy cruisers from nearly point blank range.

  "Weapons officer, target the week points on those cruisers and fire the nuclear ordinance." Captain McWilliams ordered, his face grim.

  The weapons officer targeted the wounds left from the particle beams. A moment later four nuclear weapons launched from the railguns.

  Redemption sped past the cruisers as the nukes found their targets. The warheads slammed into the Ta'Reeth ships at nearly the speed of light, and penetrated deep into the ships before they exploded in a furious cascade of light. Chunks of charred hull pounded Redemptions shields.

  "Captain the Ta'Reeth have launched more fighters." Angel paced the bridge. Her ethereal form glided across the deck inspecting the different crew stations. "Sir, we are in no condition to fight those battleships."

  "Tell me something I don't know." Jason replied as he studied the enemy ships.

  "Alright. I am detecting an unusual energy signature from the Ta'Reeth flagship. It is unlike anything I have encountered before."

  "How long has it been there?" Captain McWilliams asked.

  "It showed up exactly two point one seconds ago Captain." Angel paused near the weapons console. "This is troubling sir." she looked at the Captain, her expression befuddled.

  "Captain!" Angel yelled a split second before the ship trembled from an enormous impact. Bulkheads began to buckle. The screech of ripping metal tore through the ship.

  "Evasive action!" Captain McWilliams ordered at the top of his lungs. Redemption lurched heavily to starboard.

  "Captain we don't have enough power to break free." Angel reported. "If we do not break free in two minutes, we will die."

  "What is that thing, and where is it coming from?" Jason asked.