Free Chronicles of Athena Lee 6 Imperial Subversion by T S Paul Page B

Captain Van der Decken the same briefing. Take her out of here!” His Marine guard carried the now kicking and screaming Commander off the bridge.
     
    The rest of the bridge crew kept their heads down so not to draw the attention of the crazy man in charge.
     
     
    Up on the screen the Station continued to hit and destroy the oncoming missiles. Bright flashes of light surrounded the station. It was almost pretty, like a sparkling holiday display.
     
    Commodore Vakulinchuk was incensed. His whole battle plan was falling apart! “Communications, signal the tug fleet. Tell them to start slinging those rocks at the planet. Let’s see if they can stop those too.”
     
    The line of ships surrounding the aging battle cruiser parted making a firing hole for the tugs.
     
    Using their tractor beams in unison the space tugs could ‘throw’ a large mass in one direction. That momentum would be magnified by the world’s gravity and ‘pull’ the rock straight down like a very large missile. The first group of tugs grabbed the smallest of the rocks and ‘chucked’ it in the direction of the planet.
     
     
     

Chapter 15
     
     
     
     
    I looked at my sister, who was still staring at the blank view screen in disgust. “If it means anything to you, that ‘Officer’ - and I say that with the utmost sarcasm, has got to be the biggest dill hole in the fleet!”
     
    Min nodded her head and then shook it. “He never even made any demands. Who does he think he is?”
     
    “Ma’am, that fleet is moving to present broadsides. Intelligence believes we should expect a missile barrage.”
     
    She turned to her XO. “Thank you George, good work. Weapons, ready counter-batteries.”
     
    Missiles began arcing in from the Imperial fleet. The fire was steady but not the overwhelming deluge that we had expected. It was possible that they did not have a large load out of missiles to use against us. “Wilson, anyway you can see what their orders are? Check their ammunition stores too. If you have to hack in, do it.”
     
    “OK, Athena, I’ll get right on it.”
     
    The station’s counter-battery fire was working well against the missiles. Those few that we missed were picked up by Joshua and the support platforms. There just didn’t appear to be enough incoming fire to overwhelm our defenses.
     
    “Ma’am, we have movement. The fleet is dividing up and creating a space in the middle. I think they’re going to bombard the planet!”
     
    “George, notify the Allied ships that we have kinetic strikes inbound. Coordinate with my father and watch for ground based fire. Athena, fire up those engines we may have to use them.”
     
    I walked over to the rarely used engineering station on the bridge. There was a control panel that said engine controls. I called my crew down below in Engineering and let them know what we were doing. Pressing the button I said a small prayer to the Gods, both above and below. The whole station began to shimmy. It was a faint vibration that made your teeth chatter. This went on for a few moments as the engines started to spool up.
     
    “Athena, what is happening why is the station shaking?”
     
    “It’s the big engines starting up, they’ve been cold for longer than we have been alive.” The vibration stopped and then the shaking began.
     
    I called down to Engineering. “Chief is everything OK, why is the station dancing?”
     
    “Lieutenant, the engines both started up. That model just takes over a minute for the fusion engine to ‘turn over’ give it time.”
     
    The Station shook for a moment more and then the vibration stopped completely. Maybe it was just my imagination, but I would almost swear that I could hear a faint hum.
     
    “Ma’am, they have fired the first rock.” We all turned and saw the first Kinetic Strike used against a planet in over 15 years. When the other galactic governments found out about this, they would certainly bring sanctions against the Empire of