The Slaver Wars: First Strike (The Slaver Wars Book Four) Read Online Free

information back, then honor might yet be forthcoming. He
felt his ship shake violently, and more red lights appeared on the damage
control console.
    -
    Thomas felt
the StarSearch shudder as an enemy missile penetrated a weak spot in the energy
screen and detonated against the ship’s hull. Glancing at the damage control board,
he saw that only minor damage was being reported. The new energy screens were
holding up against the Hocklyn weapons fire. However, the Hocklyn energy beams
were causing the screens to fluctuate and allowing some ordnance to penetrate.
    On a side
viewscreen on the front wall, he watched as the two Devastator missiles launched.
The two were separated by a five-second firing interval. More missiles erupted
from the other six missile tubes, targeting the same location on the Hocklyn
ship’s shields. The six Klave class missiles contained high explosive penetration
warheads. The shield was already wavering under the intense fire from the
lasers.
    Occasionally a
laser or an explosive round would strike the Hocklyn cruiser, causing even more
damage. Large areas on the Hocklyn ship’s hull were showing heavy damage with deep
jagged holes. Weapon emplacements had been blasted away, and numerous fires
were burning inside.
    “Swanson is
reporting severe damage,” the communications officer reported, looking over at
the commander. “They have numerous fires that are out of control and heavy
casualties. They are requesting permission to withdraw.”
    “Denied,”
Commander Thomas spoke with pain in his voice. “He had to keep the pressure up
on the two Hocklyn warships even if it meant sacrificing the destroyer.
    It was at that
moment that the first Klave missile detonated against the Hocklyn’s shields,
followed seconds later by one of the Devastators. The ten-kiloton warhead finished
what the lasers had nearly completed; the Hocklyn’s energy shield went down.
The second Devastator missile and the rest of the Klaves detonated against the Hocklyn
ship’s hull and the resulting nuclear explosion washed over the main
viewscreen. When it cleared, the Hocklyn ship was gone.
    “Hostile One
destroyed,” reported Major Mason.
    “Target Hostile
Two,” Commander Thomas ordered, his eyes shifting to the two green icons on the
tactical display that represented his destroyers. They had to help them before
he lost one; they were not designed to take on a Hocklyn escort cruiser by
themselves.
    “Swanson is
down,” the sensor operator reported suddenly as a brilliant flash covered the
main viewscreen. “Argyle is reporting that they are taking on heavy weapons fire
and their shields are close to failure.”
    “Bring our
heavy lasers to bear and fire two more Devastator missiles,” ordered Thomas, feeling
numb at losing one of the destroyers and over two hundred men and women. This
was the first time he had lost anyone in combat.
    Moments later,
the second Hocklyn vessel vanished in multiple nuclear explosions as it
activated its self-destructs.
    “Hostile Two
is down,” the sensor operator reported with obvious relief in his voice.
    “Communications,
contact the Argyle and see if they need assistance,” ordered Thomas, allowing
himself to take a deep breath. Looking over at Major Mason, the commander continued,
“Check on our casualties, Glenn; we lost some good people today.”
    “Yes, Sir,” Mason
replied. He let out a long breath and glanced around the Command Center. Everyone looked shaken but were going about their assigned duties.
    Thomas looked
over at the communications officer. “Communications, after you have contacted
the Argyle, send a message to Fleet Command in the New Tellus system. Inform
them that the two Hocklyn ships have been destroyed, but we lost the destroyer
Swanson.”
    -
    Down on the
planet, Lieutenant Krandle stared with open relief at the long-range sensors
that showed both Hocklyn ships had been destroyed. She also noticed with
sadness that one of the green icons