RoustWriter: Blog

This week with Arlene and Jeff:

...Just before Ship fired again, several things were ejected from the alien ship. Whatever they were, one was quite large and had several very bright flashing lights on the exterior. Two smaller objects were also ejected, all with strobes illuminating their presence.

Suddenly, the alien ship, trailing escaping air and debris, went to warp.

"Shall I follow and finish it?" Ship asked.

"As slow as that thing is, we can always do that later. What are those things that were ejected?"

"I am reading life forms from within each of them. I assume that they are escape pods," Ship concluded.

"Could it be a trap? Mines or something similar?" the Prime wondered aloud.

"I am not reading any large energy weapons, and there are numerous beings in the larger pod. There are several beings in the smaller pods as well. Orders?" she asked.

"Retrieve my interceptors first. Then we'll decide what to do about the pods."...

Have a goodun;

Roust

This week with Arlene and Jeff:

...He was barely clear of the runway since he was last after all the later-model, high-speed fighters that had been given preference, and was just past 2000 feet as he began his turn toward his assigned area. As he continued his climb, one of the alien Paladins' dove past him at enormous speed. Because of its shields, it had not appeared on his radar until it was almost upon him.

Nevertheless, one of the Paladin gunners fired at him as they dived at the base. His A10 shook and seemed to stagger in the air, but it was a Wart Hog, so it kept flying. The Captain barely noticed, his blood up, as he banked hard to fall in behind just as the Paladin slowed abruptly and began firing at the planes lined up on the ground.

The gunners either didn't notice him or disregarded his ugly craft as they poured bolt after bolt toward the airfield below. The Wart Hog has a rudimentary sight that the pilot uses, but mostly he just points his plane at the target and hoses it with the Avenger's tremendous rate of fire. The gun uses 30 millimeter depleted uranium cannon shells capable of burning through thick tank armor since the depleted uranium is much harder than steel, and the huge projectile is rocking along at 1013 meters/second or roughly 3323 feet/second.

The shields of the Paladin could easily shrug off a cannon shell, but a stream of them made of depleted uranium wasn't in the same ballpark. Halfway through the first second, the Paladin's shields failed, and most of the rest of the rounds in that two-second burst chewed up the fuselage, motor, energy system and… aliens - although it was certainly debatable if they ever knew that they were under attack before they ceased to exist. Since the Captain had started firing a quarter-mile before he caught up to the hapless Paladin, the blast only rocked the Hog...

Have a goodun;

Roust

This week with Arlene and Jeff:

...Back on Earth, there was panic in certain areas, but more often than not, the attacks provoked anger that continued to gain momentum. There were record numbers of people volunteering for the armed services the world over, although a soldier stood little chance of even seeing one of the Paladins, much less in being able to do anything constructive toward downing one of the things.

The Earth's skies had more fighters in groups searching for an enemy than had been the case since World War II. Unfortunately, many of those pilots died as the Paladin Commanders seemed to take great pride in destroying the Earth jets. But two more of the Paladins went down as groups of fighters rained missiles on the alien machines. Since the Miadax had never faced a race to give a no-holds-barred response to being attacked, they had never developed sufficient countermeasures to break the lock on incoming missiles. There had never been the need before. Now that the fighter pilots understood that they could down the alien craft by repeated multiple hits from missiles, they went after the Paladins with a vengeance. Still, many pilots died, but for every one who died, it seemed there were two more volunteers willing and able to avenge his/her death.

The Earth was taking a beating, but attrition was taking its toll on the alien craft as well...

Have a goodun;

Roust

This week with Arlene and Jeff:

...Ship spoke. "The aliens began launching their Paladins thirteen minutes and ten seconds ago. (The alien ship was still a long way from Earth.) The Wing Commander's tight-beam message said that she took only two other interceptors with her, and they are maintaining their shields at maximum in the hopes of remaining unseen while the alien fighters approach. She intends to lie in wait and will attack when her chances are optimum."

"Shit!" Jeff snarled as he came to his feet. "What the hell is she thinking? I thought she was on a reconnaissance mission."

Diana came over to take his hand. "She knows what she's doing," she tried to assure her husband, but her trembling hand spoke otherwise.

"Dammit, we need a better communications system. Having to wait for a message to get here is a bitch."

Before he could ask, Helen spoke up. "We tried, Jeff. So far, we haven't progressed very far, but after this is over, we will have more time to spend on the subject. And yes, I know. We need faster than light communications now, but not even Ship or her people managed to develop a communication system that was faster than the speed of light."

"I know. I know," he said as he slumped back into the command seat, "but I still want to know what's happening to Arlene and Ann."

"Not to mention the others," Diana reminded...

Have a goodun;

Roust

This week with Arlene and Jeff:

..."Recommendation," Arlene's AI broke in to say.

"Tell me," Arlene replied as adrenalin surged in her bloodstream.

"Their shields appear to be very strong, but due to their impulse engines' configuration, the shields are weakest there. I suggest that you use my guns' narrowest aperture to produce the tightest beam while firing at their engines whenever possible. Those engines seem to have a high energy output; therefore, I suggest that you use me to initiate the first phase of your escape after a successful strike on a Paladin engine."

"In other words, humans are too slow, right?"

"I did not intend insult," the AI began.

A chuckling Arlene interrupted, "Any time we are too near an engine that is about to blow, you may feel free to get us the hell out of Dodge without taking time to ask permission," she teased.

"I do not… oh, that was a joke. I will be certain to comply, and with your permission, I will inform Eight and Thirteen."

"Yes, let them know," Arlene agreed, deadpan.

Time drifted slowly onward as Arlene gave the Paladins time to get well away from the monster ship before her little group attacked.

Finally, she deemed the Paladins far enough away from the mother ship that it would not be able to interfere. Arlene spoke, her voice tight, "Ready Thirteen?"

"Do it," Bill said.

Arlene's command never even made it to her lips before the AI picked up on her thoughts and went to a quarter light with Bill and Kathy's craft a little to her right and slightly behind...

Have a goodun;

Roust