Free Gray Panthers: Dixie by David Guenther Page A

on the next target. Commander Poland, you have the flight deck.” Johnson exited before anyone could ask questions.

Dixie fleet, approaching planet Dixie
    30 October 2128
    Admiral Pierre Gustave Toutant-Beauregard had spent the last five days waiting for his fleet to get home to Dixie. The fleet consisted of twenty heavy warships that had deployed to Earth to repel a Libra Alliance invasion fleet.
    “This is the Admiral. When we drop back into normal space, I want First Squadron to attack the enemy battleships. Second Squadron will close in on the cargo ships so they cannot get away. Third Squadron, you will hold in reserve until we know where you are needed. The enemy’s main goal was to get captives for use in their army, so we must go on the assumption that some of the cargo ships may have Dixians aboard them. After we destroy the battleships, we will board the cargo ships to look for captives.”
    The admiral had thought hard about where to drop back into normal space, since they couldn’t see what was going on until they were actually back in normal space. If they returned a safe enough distance to avoid materializing into an enemy ship, it would give the enemy enough time to get away. He had decided the risk was worth returning as close as possible to Dixie and the enemy fleet.
    “Admiral to fleet. We are dropping back into normal space now. God bless, and good hunting.”
    The ships materialized between the enemy fleet and Dixie, and immediately went on the attack. The heavy warship Bull Run immediately engaged the closest enemy battleship using the information gained from Earth. Getting close enough to the enemy ship to prevent it from using the FTL, the Bull Run let loose with all weapons. Other ships closed in as well, in support of the Bull Run’s attack.
    The remaining battleship began to fire and maneuver. The first jump by the battleship was almost into the heavy warship Chattanooga. The captain of the Chattanooga took the opportunity and rammed into the side of the battleship, locking the two ships together.
    The reinforced armored hull of the Chattanooga began to lose pressure in half a dozen areas. The battleship’s hull began major venting, and both ships switched from trying to destroy the other to saving themselves. Dixie ships pounced on the wounded battleship while avoiding the Chattanooga. The battleship’s captain surrendered after only minutes of the onslaught, in an attempt to save his crew.
    The Bull Run continued to slug it out from point-blank range while other ships continued to fire into the stricken battleship. As it began to communicate its surrender, the damaged ship exploded and tore in half. The Bull Run tried to put distance between them.
    Second Squadron had less luck, and the cargo ships began to disappear after only three had been stopped. The Dixie ships were hard pressed to avoid firing into the cargo ships as they began to take fire. To avoid major damage and possible loss of life to any captives, their only option was to return fire on the ships’ actual gun positions.
    Admiral Toutant-Beauregard sent a communiqué on all channels to the enemy. “This is Admiral Pierre Gustave Toutant-Beauregard. I commanded the fleet that destroyed your fleet at Earth. Surrender now, and you will not be harmed. If you resist, you will be destroyed, with no mercy shown. Signal your intentions now, or I will destroy all ships in two minutes.”

Unclaimed lands, planet Dixie
    30 October 2128
    Lieutenant Semmes couldn’t stop sweating and his legs were starting to ache. He realized that he must be close to running out of water. Then he realized that the old man and the captain were humping full-sized packs, whereas he and his scouts had only light loads. Not only were the two of them keeping up with his scouts, they seemed annoyed by the slow pace being maintained.
    The scouts ahead all dropped down into the weeds, becoming invisible. Scotty kept his head down, waiting for some type of