“Take us to battle stations, Lieutenant,” Roberts commanded. “And bring us completely online.”

“Aye, sir,” the lieutenant replied, tapping in a command code. “Sealing the bridge now.”

The incredible view offered by the transparent battle steel vanished as the armor shifted to block all wavelengths.

“Activating screens.”

Rolls of transparent plastic slid down from the recessed ports in the ceiling, the thin film covering the walls with a milky coating for a moment before they flickered, and the external view once again returned in an ultra-high-definition display filtered through the computers and overlain with an electronic HUD.

Roberts finished clipping in his restraints just as the ship rumbled, the screens lighting up with the red on red of a direct fire warning.

“Status!”

The main bridge of the Odyssey shuddered and rolled as the crew gripped tightly to their seats and consoles.

“Damage reports coming in!” Ensign Lamont yelled over the screeching of tearing metal that could be heard right through to their teeth.

Weston grabbed for the console and slid it over as he punched up the damage control code, bringing the reports up on his own screens.

Not good. We’re venting atmosphere from the forward weapons stations. He ground his teeth. “Get damage-control crews down there!”

“Aye, Captain!” Lamont said, her hands already keying into the emergency channel as she spoke quickly and calmly over the emergency frequencies.

“Incoming!” Waters yelled.

“Take us up! All power to vertical thrusters!” Weston ordered, leaning forward in the command chair. “Pitch us forward! Bring the primary array and the forward HVM banks to bear!”

“Aye, Captain!”

The NACS Odyssey clawed for vertical altitude relative to its opponent, climbing above the lethal beam that scorched vacuum just shy of their position. As they did so, Ensign Waters stood on the proverbial stick as he pitched the nose down while the ship climbed.

Slowly, the Odyssey’s forward laser array came back into targeting range of the enemy just as her forward hyper-velocity missile (HVM) banks slid open.

As it climbed and twisted in space, the cutting beam of the Drasin laser followed suit, tracking its wayward target through space.

The forward bow of the Odyssey erupted as its laser array flashed to life just as her HVM banks were flushed. The gleam of the charging banks cast an eerie glow on the plasma exhaust of the HVM launch as both weapons tore out of the Odyssey and sought out their target.

The Drasin laser scorched the lower keel of the Odyssey, vaporizing metal and venting atmosphere as it blew out her lower flight deck.

Inside the Odyssey, the deck rocked as a five-person team tried to make its way down the zero-g corridor in hard suits.

“Shit!”

“Belay that chatter!” Chief Petty Officer Corrin growled, her harsh voice echoing over the suit intercoms of each man. “Move it, you pansies!”

The team kept moving, occasionally bouncing off the walls as the ship rocked around them, but finally got to their positions.