Starstorm (Starstorm Saga) by Billy Bennett Page B

shooting to start.
    “Alright guys” said Trey. “As soon as we get the order we go in hot and fast. Stay in formation as long as possible! We’ve got to keep those fighters occupied long enough for the fleet to complete its mission. Keep calm and stay focused.”
    “Hey, don’t worry Trey.” said Red. “We got it in the bag. Isn’t that right Jack?”
    Jack remained silent. He gulped hard and braced himself for the fight.  Finally Doran’s order came.
    “Attack!”
    The Carrier Yorktown followed by the destroyers Apache and Daredevil, plus 56 Star Swords zoomed at full speed toward the enemy fleet. The many plasma cannons bristling all over the carrier and her two escorts came alive firing a rain of plasma beams into the enemy cruisers.
    All the Star Swords of all the battle groups leapt into the fray and engaged the Zidian fighters. Battle groups one and two flew into the battle. They plowed into the formation of alien ships like a dull knife trying to pierce the hide of a large animal.
    Jack, Red, and Trey were the spearhead of battle group one. The five Star swords of their squadron stayed in tight formation till the last possible second then split up and went after the enemy. Jack fell in behind one of the enemy fighters and opened fire. His first few shots missed but his next burst of fire hit the aft side of the enemy ship. The Zidian ship veered to the right, Jack kept close behind. He fired again. His plasma burst glanced the side of the Zidian’s energy shield. The fighter began to swerve wildly from side to side trying to avoid Jack’s fire but he stayed close behind. In his cockpit, Jack could see his opponent’s lack of self-control at being trapped because of the wild way he was trying to get away. Red would do the same thing in that situation. Jack pulled the firing triggers again. This time the Zidian craft took a hit and its force field dropped completely due to the damage. Jack was relentless. He fired again. His plasma burst impacted against the rear of the now unprotected Zidian fighter. The enemy ship’s engines burst into plasma flames as its leaking fuel left a fiery trail in its wake followed by Jack’s Star Sword. The Zidian ship had now lost all ability to maneuver. Jack fired away and the Zidian ship exploded.
    “Nice one Jack!” said Trey. Jack’s squadron commander was, himself, maneuvering through the sea of ships trying to avoid getting hit and getting off as many shots as possible. Shots were being fired in all directions. He could see a carrier he was pretty sure was the Yorktown firing its many plasma cannons at an enemy cruiser. The Zidian cruiser was large. Roughly 250 meters long, it was constructed of a red-orange metal. Both its sides had an engine that ran parallel to the main hull. The engines were connected to two pair of forward swept wings that resembled blades and jutted out of the sides of the main hull. Its shields were not blocking even half of the fire being thrown at it by the Human carrier.
    All around them, ships were zooming and firing and exploding. Trey had never seen anything of this intensity during the Pirate Wars, but he was still calm and in control.  He watched in dismay as the Yorktown took a couple of major hits. Two gaping holes had been blown in her side but it still she fought on. He turned his Star Sword away from the duel between the Yorktown and the Zidian cruiser. He immediately fired at an oncoming Zidian fighter. He was just barely able to avoid a collision. He pulled his ship around to go after the enemy craft he had just passed but suddenly his Star Sword shook violently and he spun out of control.
    Another Star Sword had exploded just as it passed beneath him, and the shock wave had sent him careening toward none other than a Zidian cruiser. Smaller laser cannon emplacements on the Zidian cruiser were firing at Trey’s Star Sword. He struggled to regain control of his craft. He gripped the controls tight and hit his thrusters. He