Fortunately for the crew of the Invictus, that was but one massive hunk of ice amongst thousands and Alyssa simply followed the Ice belt around the, putting more distance and more Ice between them and the marauding pirates. They sailed past huge formations of ice that reflected the bright re from the sun, spreading multi hued prisms of light in front of them.


    “You know this would actually be quite beautiful if we weren’t running for our lives” Alyssa said, smiling appreciatively at the natural wonders the gxy had to share.


    The other girls nodded appreciatively and John looked at her fondly.


    “Perhaps we’ll do some sightseeing sometime,” he said. “but for now we better focus on the job at hand. Sparks, how are the shields?”


    “We’re back up to 47%.” She said with relief.


    “Cra, what about the pirates?” he asked the brte.


    “The destroyer is hanging back with the heavy cruiser. The four corvettes and the frigate are in pursuit.” Cra said, highlighting the enemy ships on the tactical map.


    “That’s right, split your forces you dumb bastards.” John said, with a predatory grin. “Sparks, let me know when we’re above 90% shields and it’s going to be payback time.”N?velDrama.Org owns all content.


    “Will do John.” she told him, grinning.


    Alyssa kept the ship on an even keel, but reduced their speed slightly so they wouldn’t get too far ahead of the pursuing pirate ships. By the time the shields had regenerated, they were around on the other side of the from the initial ambush site.


    “88… 89… 90% John!” Sparks called out as their shields grew stronger in power.


    Alyssa didn’t need to be told what to do, as she pulled up the nose on the Invictus, executing an Immelmann turn and putting them on a direct course towards the pursuing corvettes and frigate.


    “20 seconds until we’re in range.” she called out.


    Sparks powered up the weapons, diverting away power from the engines, but kept the shields regenerating.


    Cra narrowed her eyes as she sighted the vicious pirates and gently depressed the trigger, firing the assault cruiser’s beamsers. The six bright shafts of energy scorched the tiny ice crystals in their path before searing into the frigate. The pirate ship’s shields were no match for the mighty power of the beamsers and winked out an instant, allowing the beams to st right through the ship, leaving it a hollowed out ruined shell.


    The Invictus trembled a secondter as the rail guns fired, the hyper warp shells mming into two of the corvettes. Normally ineffective against shielded targets, the shells still had sufficient momentum to send the tiny corvettes spiralling out of control, each one colliding with massive chunks of Ice that were drifting nearby. The shells detonated secondster and the explosions ripped apart the badly damaged ships. Finally closing toser cannon range, the two remaining corvettes fired back with turretedsers as they turned to try and escape from the vengeful wrath of the Invictus. Alyssa dodged their poorly aimed shots with deceptive ease and then Cra eviscerated both small ships with broadsides from their own batteries ofser cannons.


    “Shields up to 100% John.” Sparks said informatively.


    “Now it’s your turn.” John said, staring at the representation of the Heavy cruiser as it circled the, staying well clear of the Ice belt.


    “Ok full power to engines, we want to close as fast as we can to execute Alyssa’s n.” John ordered.


    “We’ll take out the destroyer as soon as it’s in range and then it’s just us and that cruiser” he continued.


    Nodding their understanding, the girls followed hismands eagerly. Alyssa swung the ship about, putting them on a direct intercept course with the Heavy Cruiser. Cra pressed some buttons on her tactical console and weapon fire arcs and ranges for the Stalingrad appeared, oveid on the bulkymand ship.


    “They’ll fire as soon as we get in range” the astute brte told Alyssa. “I’d get ready with evasive manoeuvres the second we hit their maximum field of fire”.


    The blonde nodded her head, appreciative of Cra’s tactical knowledge.


    “I’m diverting all power to engines at the moment, but I’ll bring the weapons back online just before we close on the destroyer.” Sparks warned the Latina.


    All prepared, they watched the tactical map as the Invictus closed inexorably on their target. The Stalingrad was cruising along at a right angle to them, keeping them directly facing the full might of its broadsides. The apanying destroyer pivoted and began to move forward to engage.


    As predicted, the Stalingrad opened up with everything it had the second the Invictus closed within beam and heavy cannon range. Forewarned, Alyssa executed a sharp dive with perfect split second timing and the assault cruiser ducked below the blistering hail of energy beams and heavy shells. Explosions ripped through space behind them, but the shells had overshot and caused no damage. Sparks powered up the weapons, just as Alyssa brought up the front of the Invictus to face the iing destroyer.


    The Destroyer fired their own two beamsers, both of them striking the Invictus as it flew directly at them, causing the shields to glow brightly as the arcingnces ofser energy shed across the front of the charging assault cruiser. Cra fired back and the Destroyer’s shields flickered out, overwhelmed by the mighty power of the beamsers, as five of the six beams carved glowing furrows into the thick armour on the blocky front of the ship. The beams had done their job however, knocking out the shields and leaving the target vulnerable to the Mass drivers. The four enormous maic railsunched their shells at incredible velocity and all four struck the front of the pirate vessel at the same time. The tremendous impact knocked the ship upwards as though reeling from an uppercut and when the shells detonated a secondter, the explosions vaporised the front of the doomed ship.


    The massed ranks ofser cannon turrets on the Stalingrad opened up as the Invictus closed with them relentlessly, lighting up the tactical map as they sent a curtain of redser bolts in the assault cruiser’s direction. Alyssa rolled the Invictus and yawed to port, heading towards the rear of the enemy cruiser and causing roughly half of the iing fire to sail wide. Cra returned fire with the twelveser cannons on their starboard side, all shots causing rippling energy cascades as they struck the side of the slowly moving Heavy Cruiser.