• Sklyer fumed onto the bridge, racing for the command chair as he strapped himself in. “Report!”
    Ahead, the tactical display projected nine targets, each of them closing fast.
    “They’re Axephulum sir,” North replied. “They have us surrounded.”
    “The Indomitable is requesting assistance,” Muse called from her station. “They’re taking heavy damage sir.”
    The visual monitor displayed the O.N.E. battleship, the barrier of its energized shielding overthrown by a massive brilliance of firepower. Each of the Axephulum ships opened fire in unison against the vessel, literally crushing it’s hull with overwhelming force. Suddenly the monitor was lit, the remains of the vessel exploding from the engines.
    “Stand-by on main gun,” Skyler ordered. “Fan out the other ships to our left and right flank- three and three.”
    “Yes sir,” Muse relayed the order.
    “Gunner,” Skyler called.
    “Main gun ready sir,” Dodson replied as the tactical projected the targeting array.
    “Take as many as you can.” Skyler had been looking forward to the opportunity to test the new weapon. Now- it was time. “Fire when ready.”
    “Eisman,” Dodson called sharply.
    “Synchronizing,” the pilot replied.
    The bow of the Independence turned, facing towards a pair of Axephulum Juggernauts, soon joined by a third. As Skyler had anticipated, they were feeding into the window they gave them for approach- straight down the path of their cannons. The other six remained engaged with their guardian vessels.
    And just as soon as all three ships fit into the array, Dodson fired the guns.
    Ahead, the twin beacons lit, drawing on power from all over the ship as they arced in a storm streaming fast.
    The Independence shook as the screen ahead was brightly filled with destructive, arc-radiant force.
    Skyler grinned, overcome by a sense of power. He’d won battles using tactics alone, but having the bigger guns made that job a lot easier.
    The light vanished, leaving only a few remnants of heated metal to drift like embers in the night.
    “Tell me,” Dodson said excitedly, “we can do that again.”
    “I didn’t know we could do that,” Harris, Dodson’s assistant gunner, was clearly elated.
    “Stay sharp,” Skyler ordered, holding fast to his chair.
    Ahead was another pair of Axephulum ships, but they were fast to change course, resuming their engagement with the others.
    “Oh what is this load of bull?” Dodson slapped his terminal. “Cool down commencing? A three minute countdown!”
    “What did you expect,” Harris shrugged, “fully-automatic?”
    “It would help,” Dodson glared, shaking his arms in frustration.
    “Calm yourselves,” Skyler barked. “Harris, I’ll need you to assist as much as you can with long-range support.”
    “Coordinating,” Harris replied. “Mind helping until your egg timer is done?” He glanced across the terminal.
    “Sure thing,” Dodson made ready to assist, laughing to himself, “egg timer- I like it.”
    “Boiled eggs,” Harris grinned.
    “I wouldn’t eat those,” Dodson made a sour face, aligning the weapons on the grid as they both engaged their enemy.
    “I thought you ate anything,” Harris said quietly.
    “I have standards,” Dodson replied. “The idea of Axephulum on a menu is also unsettling.”
    “You didn’t have standards last night.”
    “What are you talking about?”
    “I saw who you were with,” Harris raced his hands over the controls, shooting at every opportunity, however distant.
    “Gentlemen,” Skyler’s tone was threatening.
    “Sorry sir,” the both said in unison, forcing themselves not to laugh.
    It was always amazing to Skyler and some of the other members how these two could laugh at anything, even in the face of death.
    “It’s just this isn’t very challenging sir,” Harris remarked.
    “Shut up you,” Dodson tried to say it under his breath, failing miserably. “Remember, we’re always working -hard-. We need a raise.”
    “Doesn’t this remind you of something?” Harris looked narrowly at the monitor and the long streams of energy that flowed from them to their targets.
    “Golf?” Dodson winced, trying to make sense of it.
    “You know it does,” Harris agreed.
    “Long drive for the win,” Dodson fired, but the shot missed as the Axephulum target moved hard to it‘s port.
    “Looks like some putting might be in order,” Harris laughed, landing a series of bursts.