>>5609263>>5609204>>5609061>>5608986A bead of sweat rolls down your forehead as the distance to the incoming torpedoes ticks down. You check and double-check your calibrations as you know each of your gunnery crew must also be doing, their daily training on the simulators finally put into practice.
Each is MASER set to a half second burst, scything a narrow beam across the path of their designated target. Only the computer can calculate the precise vector and exact timing required for the intercept being performed at relativistic speeds and thousands of kilometres removed, but at such a scale constant manual compensation for something even as small as engine vibrations can mean the difference between a hit and missing by a mile.
With only twelve point defence MASERs available and ten targets you will be hard pressed to hit them all. Even your best estimate only has the crew landing half their shots. You'll need to hope you can catch multiple torpedoes with one of the scything arcs of fire. If a single one makes it through, an unlucky bomb-pumped GRASER beam could cripple the ship, or even come shearing right through the viewport - ending you and your crew.
The final second ticks away and you can just make out the orange pinpricks of the approaching torpedoes' drives splitting into five groups, aiming to spread out your fire. The viewport darkens as actinic red flares of light spear out wildly in response, the automatic systems finally triggering the point defences as their targets enter maximum possible range.
>Rolled 8 successes, 2 crits. 10 torpedoes destroyed.Half a second later and a blinding flash of light forces the port to blacken fully lest your eyes risk damage. You wince in pain at the brief glimpse of 10 new stars being born, brighter than the harshest fusion warhead detonating point blank, let alone at a lightsecond away.
"Confirmed hits on all enemy torpedoes, Captain." Your Tactical officer is the first to break the silence that has descended on the bridge.
You can hear Isobel mumbling expletives under her breath at just how close a call that had been. However, she quickly resumes a reassuring facade and begins to talk rapidly while flicking between internal channels.
"Those weren't standard attack torpedoes, Sir." Your Science officer is the next to speak, "The yield on those were…" she seems to be at a loss and simply shakes her feathery head in denial of what her sensors are reporting. "Suffice to say, we should be glad not even a single one made it closer to the ship than they did. Even at this range they've all but melted my instruments!" She finishes with a huff.
"Tactical, launch everything long range we've got at those remaining targets. I want interceptors, attack and E-War in the void before we even know about their first launch. We strike first and we strike hard!" You order, emboldened by the successful defence and not wanting to waste even a moment.
