Writing

Excerpt from "Opposing Forces" (novella)

The Gaian fighter came out of nowhere, streaked over Lieutenant Leslie An Flena’s tiny Starburst fighter. Through her clear plastisteel canopy, she noticed distinctive green stripes on the fuselage, the pilot’s mark of ownership.

Jerking her control stick to one side, she slid away from the attacking ship, her movement signaling her squadron mates to spread out. The ships around her scattered in a random pattern, intended to hamper the Gaians as much as possible and keep the enemy Battlecruiser away from the Earthforce Destroyer they protected.

It was the third year of the Earth-Gaian war. What had started as a simple attempt to keep a rebellious colony from seceding had turned into a nightmare for Earth as the upstart Gaians whittled away Earthforce’s far superior fleet. Superiority in strength and numbers didn’t mean much when your opponent could disable your equipment at a distance.

Since the introduction of the Gaian’s new weapon, a beam capable of incapacitating the mighty Earthforce ships, deactivating all systems and essentially paralyzing them, Earthforce had turned to the use of small fighters, two-man Moongrabbers and single pilot Starbursts to run interference. A cloud of small ships could keep a Gaian Battlecruiser at bay while the Earthforce Destroyer lay down offensive fire, damaging the Battlecruiser before it could use its weapons.

Recently it had been the only effective way of fighting the Gaians.

Not this time. As she finished her turn, Leslie saw the lights on the rest of her squad blink out, the symptom of the paralyzing beam. Frack it, they must have adjusted the beam to affect fighters. She jerked her controls and slid away before her ship fell into the path of the beam.

Bright arching light scattered across her canopy. The green-striped fighter was back, the pilot deliberately raking her fighter with tracer rays. The bastard obviously intended to herd her into the path of the paralyzing beam. With a muttered growl Leslie threw the stick back, causing her ship to perform a perfect loop, coming down behind her opponent. For an instant the green-striped rear was in position. She opened fire with her phase guns. The Gaian twisted out of her way – a thin trail of vapor showing it had been hit.

Two new Gaian fighters appeared around her, again raking with tracers. She lay down a flood of phasing fire, scoring one of them before she shot by. Once in the clear she began a wide circle, the end of which would bring her back to the battle scene.

As she returned, she realized it was too late. The Earthforce ships lay adrift, no lights showing on any of them, only the dim red emergency lights glowing in the ports of the destroyer. As she watched, a Gaian fighter used a tractor beam to push one of the disabled fighters into the docking bay of the Earthforce Destroyer.

Just like all the other battles. For months now, Gaian forces had won against the advanced firepower of Earthforce. Leslie’s squad had been one of the few task forces to win a skirmish, using the fighter cover to attack Gaian ships before they could use their paralyzing beam. Now that was over.

The Gaians never released prisoners. No one knew where those they captured were taken. For a moment she drifted above the scene, wondering what to do. Surrendering didn’t sit well.

Again bright beams decorated her canopy, washing her face in translucent color. The green-striped tail of her nemesis streaked above her. The pilot wanted to force her down amongst the others.

Fury gripped her. No, she would not allow herself to be captured. Decision born of desperation, Leslie accelerated from the scene, toward a small planetary system far ahead of her, putting distance between her ship and her enemies.

As she sped away, something relaxed inside her. It felt so good, the freedom of flight. Open space was around her, beckoning her onward. This was what she’d dreamed of when she’d joined Earthforce. Still, she couldn’t stay in her little fighter forever; a Starburst wasn’t intended for long space flights. She would need to find a place to hide. One hand danced over the keyboard of the computer, inquiring about the sun and worlds before her. The fourth planet’s signature indicated it might support life. She set a course for the tiny ball ahead.

After she landed, she’d see about setting herself up for rescue. Since she knew the coordinates of the battle, she might be able to help Earthforce find the prisoners the Gaians had taken.

The fourth planet grew larger, became a ball of blue and green partially hidden by a swirling white clouds. Her sensors picked up information and she filtered it through the computer, looking for a likely landing spot. She’d taken the basic survival course, knew she’d need water, a source of food. There, near the edge of one of the large blue areas, a stretch of bright rich green, a thin wavy line indicating a stream of fresh water. She keyed in the location.

The ball filled her canopy, generating a sense of awe. Leslie stared at it, bemused with the thought she was truly going to land there.

A jolt to the rear of her ship jerked her from her reverie. Someone had followed her! Slowing to prepare for the descent into the atmosphere had given her enemy the opportunity to catch up. Over her head came the familiar green-striped rear of her nemesis from the battle. Deliberately she slowed even further, then pulled a quick turn that once more put the Gaian in firing range. Without hesitation, Leslie fired on the back of her enemy’s ship, a burst of flame answering. The Gaian ship slowed, running lights winked out.

Relief mixed with exultation. She’d disabled it.

Once more Leslie made a slow loop, watching the other ship. Through the transparent canopy she could see the pilot, the darkened faceplate of the helmet facing her. Her thumbs rested on the firing mechanism of her guns. She could destroy the Gaian’s ship, kill its pilot; she should, the Gaians were Earth’s enemies – her enemies. Still, she hesitated. Never had she killed in cold-blood, only when threatened. It was no effort to pull her hands away from the triggers.

Let the Gaian live, as long as the disabled ship would support life. Maybe he’d be able to call for help and the others would come for him. By then, she’d be on the ground and hard to find. She pulled away from the disabled ship, moved back on course for the planet.

Again she activated the computer, verified it still held the coordinates she’d selected. Activating the auto-landing procedure, she leaned back into the seat for the ride to the surface. In a ship this small, it was bound to be exciting.

Just after she released control to the computer, she saw the Gaian ship behind her fire its damaged engines. Helplessly, she watched as it followed her into the atmosphere.