Chapter 10: Combat

I'm writing this after the fact. We had a test of our close-in weapons systems. Six Cigarette-style cutters blew past our ten-mile perimeter setting off our alarm. Angie was on duty. I scampered up the stairs to the bridge, grabbed a HUD helmet off a wall peg and kept on climbing. I clicked the intercom on. "Talk to me Angie."

"They're coming right at us, six boats, high speed. They're about seven miles out headed on an intercept course."

I opened a case of Starstreak missiles, dropped the first one into the launcher and concentrated on my heartbeat until they came into visual range. I stabilized myself by leaning my forearm across the railing. I looked over. The Browning was still buttoned up. I leaned down and unlocked the turret access hatch and threw it back, then re-steadied the Starstreak. I caught a glistening point at the horizon. They were about two miles out. I wished that the HUD had a magnifier, dammit. My target broke into six individual elements. Just a little closer now ... There. I triggered the first missile and held the viewer on target. Success!

I quickly loaded a second round, acquired my target and squeezed the trigger. Hold it, hold it--Gotcha! I quickly loaded my third missile and scanned for a target. They were getting close. I couldn't afford to miss at this range. I carefully acquired my aiming point and gently squeezed off my round. Zzzip-Bang! ... That was close. I set the launcher on top of the open missile case.

I hooked my hands around the steel shell and dropped into the seat. I palmed closed the seat belt then slammed and dogged the hatch closed behind me. I checked the ammo type--good. The big machine gun was loaded with tungsten penetrators. I stretched my shoulders, put the helmet on and looked for targets of opportunity. They were within maximum range--just at 3/4 mile.

I matched the heading on the HUD and elevated the gun for maximum range. I then fired off a couple of rounds to see where they hit. I was a bit long so I started walking the rounds in. Ahh, got one. I slewed over a few degrees and kept the same elevation. I bracketed the next ship then ran a burst across him. Fireball. The third boat was jigging all over the place to make him a harder target but it slowed him down. I ran a burst across where I thought he'd be and shredded his bow.

We got a little closer and our ship started taking some small arms fire. I ran a long burst across each of the two boats still in the fight. The small arms fire stopped. Angie rode us right over them, sending their boats to the bottom. I sat back in the saddle and wiped the sweat off my forehead. My ears were ringing despite the noise reduction built into the helmet. I threw off the seat belt, un-dogged the hatch and stood up. I'd used about half a can of ammo, maybe a little less. I brought up a spare ammo can and locked it into the turret, then replaced the weather cover over the open top. I put the Starstreak aiming/firing mount and the last missile back into the shipping pod. I marked a big 1 / 4 on it.