Tarizon, Conquest Earth, Tarizon Trilogy Vol 3 Page 11

Lt. Lethrow called Captain Cystrom to advise him the ship was ready for takeoff. Cystrom went to the bridge to witness the departure. When he arrived, Vice Admiral Brunns was giving final instructions to his crew.

  “When we are two thousand feet above Earth’s Destiny, open fire with your laser cannons on the open cargo holds. We’ve loaded each one with enough explosives to blast the ship all the way to Shisk.”

  “Yes, sir,” they said together and scampered off to their duty stations.

  Vice Admiral Brunns nodded when he saw Captain Cystrom arrive on the bridge.

  “What about the rest of the base, Vice Admiral?” Captain Cystrom asked.

  “The other attack cruisers will take care of that.”

  “Very good, sir.”

  Vice Admiral Brunns took the command seat and said, “Take us to Earth!”

  The big attack cruiser rocked as it disengaged from its holding pad. In a few tiks his first officer, Lt. Rohl Hanze, reported they had reached the appropriate altitude.

  “Open fire!” the Vice Admiral said.

  At the same moment he issued the order, a laser blast shot outward from one of Earth’s Destiny’s weapons turrets and struck the ship. The ship lurched violently, nearly knocking Lt. Hanze onto the deck. A second blast caused the instrument panel to dim and then blink off and then on again. Captain Cystrom looked on in extreme shock and dismay.

  “What in the name of God is happening?” the Vice Admiral yelled.

  “We’re under attack, sir,” Lt. Hanze advised.

  The Vice Admiral looked at Lt. Hanze like he was a lunatic. “By whom? Earth’s Destiny is empty.”

  “So I thought, sir. But—”

  Another jolt hit the ship and it listed badly.

  “Don’t just sit there like an idiot. Return fire!”

  “Yes, sir,” Lt. Hanze said, “but if we take another hit at this distance, the ship could be seriously damaged.”

  “Get us out of here, then! We’ll destroy Earth’s Destiny with missiles from a safe distance.”

  “Yes, sir.”