THE OLD GUARD
STARDATE 11.02.22
SECTOR 50
The Old Guard shook from long range Phaser fire. The barrage was coming from two different directions, hitting two adjacent Shields. There were ships flying in all directions on the battlefield. The black night sky of space was filled with red Phaser fire.
Captain Stephanos Severick sat in his Anti-Grav Wheelchair watching the View Screen with an intense gaze. His eyes did not blink. Mentally, he was keeping track of the positions of enemy and friendly vessels. Periodically, he would check the display attached to his Command Chair. He had multiple Comm lines open: to Engineering, to Sickbay, and to other Europa Vessels.
“Shall I return Phaser fire?” William Schuler, the Tactical Officer, asked in a loud voice. His eyes were glued to his tactical display which was lit up with lights like a Christmas tree.
“Negative, Mr. Schuler,” Captain Severick replied calmly. “Prepare to fire another burst of Photon Torpedoes. Coordinate the strike with the Colosseum, the Parthenon, the Basilica, and the Stonehenge.”
“Yes, Captain!”
A few moments passed, which seemed like an Eternity, then two white bolts of photonic energy shot out of the Old Guard. At the exact same moment, Photon Torpedoes emerged from three other Europa Cruisers and a Europa Dreadnought.
In the distance, a Babylon P3A Battlecruiser felt its forward Shield collapse, followed by a terrible ravaging of its internal systems. Several explosions rocked the Battlecruiser, which shook violently with pain, and then tilted at an abnormal angle in space. Streams of plasma were leaking from its engines.
“Captain!” Garrett Catharnaigh, the Navigator, yelled with excitement. For Garrett, like most of the young crew aboard the Old Guard, this was the first major engagement of his entire life. “Incoming Drones off ah’r Bow an’ Starboard side!!”
“Stay calm, Mr. Catharnaigh,” Captain Severick instructed in a cool voice. “Your emotions will only lead to mistakes that will cost lives. Prepare to fire Phasers at the incoming Drones and ready a Tractor Beam.”
“Yes, Captain!”
Beams of red light shot out of the Old Guard, destroying the Drones before they could reach her. One Drone survived and it was caught in a Tractor Beam by the Old Guard.
The Europa Offensive to destroy the Babylon P10A Battleship designated XERXES did not begin well. Somehow, Babylon was aware of all of Europa’s plans, fleet formations, and attack schedules ahead of time. They were well prepared. Captain Severick knew that it was the Traitor aboard the Old Guard who had transmitted vital Europa strategic information to Babylon ahead of time. Who knows how many other Babylon Operatives had infiltrated other Europa Starships, just like the Old Guard?
To make matters worse, Babylon enlisted the aid of the Black Flock. The Black Flock’s constant barrage of Quantum Wave Torpedoes steadily degraded the Shields on all the Europa Vessels. Europa was able to convince the Romans to contribute a few starships to the Offensive, but they were few in number.
Suddenly, the Europa Cruiser Basilica exploded in a fiery ball of death. Near to it, two Europa Destroyers, the Conwy and the Bodiam, suffered similar fates.
Captain Severick thought of who the Captains were on those lost vessels. He gritted his teeth and inwardly said a quick prayer for their souls and the souls of their crew.
Then the unthinkable occurred. The Europa Cruiser Parthenon suffered from concentrated Babylon and Black Flock fire. Turning desperately to protect her Shieldless sides, the Parthenon was forced out of Europa Fleet Formation. Isolated from her companions and wounded by enemy fire, the Parthenon would be easy prey. Enemy Babylon and Black Flock Starships closed in on her.
The Captain of the Parthenon was Melina Dequest, Stephanos’ old love.
Captain Severick acted instantly without thought. He was driven by instinct and emotion.
“Mr. Bacchia, adjust course! New Heading 289.4 Mark 22!”
The Old Guard spun around and raced toward the Parthenon and her foes.
Captain Severick’s First Officer, Descry Brookside, quickly spoke up. She was shocked and in disbelief.
“Captain Severick, what are you doing?!? Our orders are to protect the Stonehenge until we reach our fleet rendezvous point. You are breaking formation! I must protest!!!”
“Your objection is noted,” Captain Severick said in a grim voice. He stared at the Parthenon on the View Screen like a man possessed. “Stay the course.”
I’M COMING, MELINA. I WON’T LET YOU DIE.
