THE OLD GUARD
STARDATE 02.09.22
SECTOR 50
The Old Guard circled around the wounded Babylon Battlecruiser like a Gladiator circling an injured opponent in the Arena.
“Mr. Bacchia, Heading 348 Mark 10. Keep our Third Shield to the other Battlecruiser, but do not give them our Fourth Shield.”
“Yes, Captain. Coming Around.”
The Old Guard tilted like a bald eagle soaring high in the sky with its wings spread. But its prey turned as well.
“Captain Severick!” Garrett Catharnaigh exclaimed. “They’re matching ah’r turn tah protect their down shield!”
“Stay with them. We’ll catch them because their Warp Drive has been damaged. Remain calm everyone.”
Captain Severick pushed a button to activate the Intercom to Engineering. “Mr. Freeman. Increase our Warp Speed. We need a boost to reach the proper firing position.”
“Ja, Captain,” the German Engineer responded. “Ze engines are running hot, but I think I can get a little more out of zem.”
“I expect no less,” Captain Severick replied sternly. “Did you make the preparations I ordered, Mr. Freeman?”
“Ja, Captain. All iz ready. Reserve Power iz standing by.”
“On my command and no sooner,” Captain Severick said as he shut off the intercom.
The battle-hardened Europa Captain stared at the View Screen, noting the position of both Babylon Battlecruisers. His eyes squinted with grim determination. Both of Captain Severick’s sleeves were rolled up, revealing the two tattoos on his forearms. On his right forearm was a tattoo of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. On his left forearm was the Twilight Tattoo. Underneath his shirt, tattooed across his chest, were the words “Noli Me Tangere,” which meant “Touch Me Not.”
The engagement with the two Babylon Battlecruisers started off well enough. The Old Guard immediately ended up in an advantageous position. Both Babylon Battlecruisers were unaware of the Refit the Old Guard received six months ago. Apparently, their information networks had failed them. The 360 Degree Defensive Phaser was removed and replaced with one of Europa’s new Drone Racks. This allowed the Old Guard to launch a surprise Scatterpack as the two Babylon Battlecruisers closed in. Caught completely off guard, the targeted Battlecruiser tried desperately to shoot down the incoming Drones before they struck. They were only partially successful. The remaining Drones slammed into the Battlecruiser, knocking down one of their Shields and scoring internals which damaged their Warp Drive.
Now, the Old Guard was in a race to capitalize on the vulnerability.
The Old Guard shook from Phaser Fire. Her Shields stood firm against the assault.
“Third Shield down to seventy percent,” Mister Iblis, the Science Officer, reported. Two horns protruded from his short, neatly cut hair. A pointed goatee hung down from his angular face.
“Return fire, Captain?” the Tactical Officer asked loudly.
“Negative, Mr. Schuler. Reserve our Phasers for a concentrated strike against our current target. Hold the Overloaded Photons until we reach our position.”
“Yes, Captain Severick,” William Schuler replied. His hands stood ready on his console, quivering with anticipation of the coming command.
The wounded Babylon Battlecruiser could not win the circling race. Finally, it gave up its Down Shield.
“Now, Mr. Shuler. Fire All Phasers and Overloaded Photon Torpedoes at the First Babylon Battlecruiser!!”
Red beams of light combined with two bolts of glowing white energy. They dug deep into the Battlecruiser’s hull, ravaging its systems, weapons, and engines. After several explosions, the Battlecruiser’s lights went dark. It floated silently through space like a dead whale at sea.
“Captain!” Descry Brookside reported from a nearby station. “The second Babylon Battlecruiser is on an oblique attack course. She’s at thirty thousand kilometers and closing! Her Disruptor Bolts are Overloaded!”
“Take the hit on our Fifth Shield!” Captain Severick instructed. His bulging eyes stared at the Babylon Battlecruiser that was large on the View Screen. “All Crew, brace for impact!!”
The second Babylon Battlecruiser unleashed its Overloaded Disruptor Bolts at close range, collapsing the Old Guard’s Fifth Shield. To the Battlecruiser’s surprise, the Old Guard absorbed the blow quite well due to the amount of extra Armor it had built up from years and years of battle damage. Having already spent its Phasers, the Babylon Battlecruiser had no other weapons to fire through the Old Guard’s Down Shield.
Suddenly, the Old Guard spun around like an agile dancer on ice skates. Its fresh Forward Shield was now directly facing the second Babylon Battlecruiser. Once its High Energy Turn was completed, the Old Guard attached a Tractor Beam onto the Babylon Battlecruiser. The Battlecruiser tried desperately to get away.
“Captain, they are trying to break our Tractor Beam,” Mr. Diabolos reported while staring into a binocular device attached to his Science Station.
Captain Severick quickly communicated with Engineering. “Mr. Freeman, Reserve Power to the Tractor Beam. Do not let them break free. Launch the Suicide Shuttle and one Drone. Well done with the High Energy Turn.”
A Shuttle and a Drone flew out of the Old Guard. Desperately, the Babylon Battlecruiser tried to escape, but it was caught like a fly in a web. It had no more weapons to fire at the incoming Seeking Weapons.
The Drone knocked down the Battlecruiser’s Shield while the Suicide Shuttle seriously damaged the Battlecruiser, reducing it to only a minor threat. The Old Guard dropped its Tractor Beam.
Captain Severick turned to his Communications Officer. “Mr. Symski. Open a channel to the Babylon Battlecruiser. Audio only.”
“This is the Europa vessel Old Guard. We both know this fight is over. Our Overloaded Photon Torpedoes and Phasers will completely destroy your vessel. But I have no wish to extinguish your lives. Signal your Surrender now, and I will transport your remaining crew over to the Old Guard. They will be treated well and delivered to a Babylon Base where you can live to fight another day. Your damaged Battlecruiser, however, is now the property of Europa.”
YOU HAVE TEN SECONDS TO DECIDE. LIVE OR DIE…IT’S YOUR CHOICE.
