Free Ghosts of Lyarra by Damian Shishkin

recognize and the images were all in red; something was wrong, yet no one paid it much attention.
    Then her attention returned to the proceedings, and the room began to fuss about some goings on with Terra Sol. Lyxia perked up and leaned in to hear more. She watched as Council Sara Foster shared a viewpoint she was watching and played it for all to see on the overhead screens. As if to replay a moment from five years ago, the entire room gasped in fear as they looked upon the fearsome sight of a Husk ship on an inbound vector to the human planet!
    This one was much smaller the marauder that pummelled Terra Sol not so long ago, but the only one in the room without a look of panic or fear was the Terra Sol Councillor. Last meeting, she had gone on record about the defense network that slowed visitors to the picturesque world. She fielded complaints, but was adamant on the fact that this was the way it would be. There were no apologies from Terra Sol, just a promise that what had happened five years ago would never happen again!
    Then it came to her; the humans were about to demonstrate their might! Lyxia knew that Terra Sol had taken a beating politically for some of the concessions they had been granted in their inclusion in the Empire and that many other worlds envied the abundance of riches held by them. Jealousy and greed had shown their faces as there had been requests to share the riches or sell the rights to them; all of which had been answered with a stern no. Council Sara must have felt a show of force was necessary and Lyxia for one, was glad this time had come. She stood silent and watched as the scene unfolded.
    —
Geneva, Switzerland; Earth Council Headquarters
    “Witness what we are seeing right now!” Sara spoke loudly as she showed the live images for all watching to see. “The ship arrived in system a half hour ago and has not responded to our requests for it to stand down. It was conveniently missed by the Imperial watchdog out on the perimeter, but our early warning scouts detected it shortly after it arrived. You are looking at live images from one of those scouts which has taken up a synchronous flight path so you all may watch.”
    The image then split to show a camera angle looking up at a massive white PA cannon. Many recognized them as the same that held a defensive perimeter around a multiple of the Imperial worlds, but these ones looked different.
    “What you are now seeing is the Jovian defensive ring - the first ring of our modified PA Cannons - that protect our planet and all the assets we control. These cannons have an increased range from the standard issue and will reach out to the ice fields that surround the Sol System.” Sara continued.
    The room watched as the cannon came to life and began to search for its new target. There were a few clicks of radio interruption as another voice joined the transmission from the weapons control.
    “ Earth Control this is Jupiter Command ,” the voice crackled over the airways. “ Tracking target nearing Neptune space and closing at a hundred kilometers per second .”
    “Jupiter Command this is Council Foster, please advise when you have target lock.”
    “ Yes sir, Councillor !” was the reply. There was a quiet, few seconds before it spoke again. “ Target acquired; awaiting orders .”
    Sara hit the link to mute her connection and turned her attention back to the Council.
    “Five years ago a ship like this made us cower in fear. From what I have read in the logs, it did much the same for all of you as well. Now, we fear little; as I promised my people that what the Husk did to us would never be repeated and today I will show you why Terra Sol will not tolerate any threats.” She said standing tall and proud. She tapped the comm line with the weapons command to regain communication.
    “Jupiter Command you may fire at will! Send those bastards to hell!”
    “ With pleasure sir !”
    The base of the cannon began to spin; accelerating in a