It took the experienced Command Officer only
moments to line the cruiser's three deadly forward beams on his
stricken vessel. "Weapons at cross point," he announced, "medium beam.
Will fire on your command."
51 "Discharge all tubes!" Morn ordered. North pressed the firing stud.
The three beams struck the ship, slicing through its weakened shields
and in an instant reducing it to vapor. It disappeared in a bright
flash as the remainder of its positive/negative fuel merged. Then, the
tiny new star went out, the gasses that remained drifting off in all
directions.
52 Morn looked to his friend, who seemed to be routinely reading the
instruments, but Morn could feel the pain inside. "Total destruction,"
North announced, then, stopped for a moment, swallowed, and then
continued. "Good cloud dispersement. Within ten hours the radiation
will have safely dissipated so she'll present no danger to navigation."
53 North rose. "You may retake your position. Firing Control," Morn
ordered. Helm, plot a course for the rendezvous position. I want to
disperse the injured among all leap capable ships, then proceed to the
nearest colony with full medical facilities. Communications, set up a
full relay to all ships. Acknowledge when operational."
54 In a few moments the Communications Officer announced, "Ready, sir!"
55 Morn activated the microphone of his command chair. "To all ships,"
he began, "from Squadron Commander and especially to the crew of The
Lord's Vengeance, well done! We have fought a battle today that we
could not win. Yet through courage and dedication we accomplished the
impossible. I would say in the future that it will become part of
legend.
56 I express my grief at the loss of our beloved comrades and our
valiant vessels. One of our writers, ages ago, said it far better than
I could.