Lasers slammed viciously against the starship's electro magnetic pulse causing shudders to run throughout the superstructure. Warning sirens wailed throughout the starship. Emergency crews were on standby.
On the bridge captain Lucinda tried to come up with the best way to manouvre. But looking up at the scenario displayed on the giant computer monitor, it seemed hopeless. Whichever direction in which she went she was sure to run into a hail of lasers.
A situation that did not inspire much confidence in her from the crew. As quietly waited for her to give the orders that would extract them from their untenable position. The blank stares told of their impatience. Though they were too professional to challenge her openly. A quality that had that been drilled into them at Space command academy.
She could feel the added pressure of expectation in the silence on the bridge. It was like an invisible forcing her to want to act recklessly just for the sake of action. But then a wiser voice, more mature voice in her conscious cautioned her that any rush attempt to lower the shield without a solid plan would result in the starship being blown away.
She was wishing she was a bit like captain Maguire, when strode onto the bridge walking quickly. He paused a little while to study the situation giant computer monitor. Then he began to issue to fresh orders,
"Pilot set course correction, 6, 4, 5, 6!", he ordered lieutenant Tashinga at weapons control.
"Setting course correction", confirmed lieutenant Tashinga
"Weapons, standby to lower electro magnetic pulse shield on my command, and fire from weapons at the same time!". He had to shout above the sound of wailing sirens and the constant shuddering of the starship from pummeled relentlessly by the alien ships.
"Captain' your seat", graciously said captain Lucinda getting up from the commander's chair and shifting to the visitors' chair next to it. She stood up with a sense of relief from the super comfortable chair. Appreciating that in the last few minutes that had seemed an eternity, she had been tested and found unworth.
It was a relief to give it up in the presence of its rightful owner.
Captain Maguire was too busy to acknowledge and settling himself back in his chair of command kept his eyes glued on the giant computer monitor. It was as though the fate of the starship and the lives of everyone onboard rested upon his unwavering attention. Which it did, he wanted to make that the alien ships were remaining exactly where they were before making his move. Everything depended on it, the quickness of his mind, on the efficiency of the bridge crew to execute his orders.
He first needed to assure himself that the scene was set right, that the crew were ready.
Most of the crew had served under him ever since graduating from Space Command Academy. They grown to quite accustomed to their eccentric captain and sometimes only required one look, a signal from him.
The same type of look that he gave lieutenant Tashinga, at the flight control post. The pilot's fingers flew over the console before him sending the starship shooting into a rapid climb at a an acute angle. Immediately escaping the encirclement by the alien ships.
Several of the alien ships accidently blasted each other with their lasers before realising that their target had moved out of range. Images of exploding alien ships on the giant computer produced wild celebrations from the crew.
Captain Maguire on the contrary remained calm, his mind focused. They were not out of danger yet. Although they had fooled the alien ships into firing on each other, they were still out numbered.
Their only ally was the element of surprise and having ascended above the alien ships he intended to make the most of it. At just the right moment he shouted, "Now!"
Everything depended on the seamless co-ordination. There could be no delay between the time that the order was issued and the time it was execute. Lieutenant Alex Bara's fingers moved over with lightning speed over the weapons control console.
Everything happened very quickly, the shield lowering and almost in the same instant the Sandawana's lasers opening firing. An even spread of lethal lasers smashed into remaining alien ripping them apart in brilliant supernova explosions.
Images of burning alien hulks falling to the surface in flames appeared on the giant computer monitor like a miracle. Making the bridge scream uncontrollably with joy. Even captain Maguire could not suppress a broad smile.
"Well done captain", captain Lucinda graciously congratulations him.
"That was amazing captain", she remarked admiringly. At that moment he saw how truly beautiful she was. Seeing her smile ever so prettily since the first time they met at Space Command Headquarters.
"Full credit goes to the crew for a job well done", he remarked humbly.
"I 'm not denying that", she said sweetly, "it was due to your quick thinking, captain".
There was something he liked about the way she said, "captain" at the end of the statement. Though he could not quite put his finger what exactly it was.
"Quick thinking alone can not win battles without metculous execution", he countered.
"I 'm only saying you are the glue that holds all together. You must know your crew they worship you, to them you are not just their commanding officer. You are also their hero and no one can ever replace you. I learn't that today".
Captain Maguire was beginning to wonder of she was still the same fierce woman whom he had met earlier that day at Space Command. When he was called out of the monetary distraction by, lieutenant Tanaka reporting a fast moving object approaching from the surface.
"What do you mean object?", captain Maguire asked for clarification.
"Ship's only are picking up something approaching and it is large", replied lieutenant.
"Apart from which there is no other information", reported lieutenant Tanaka.
"Weapons, stand by for action", captain Maguire ordered lieutenant Alex Bara at the weapons control console.
"Captain, it's neither a missile or a starship", suddenly announced lieutenant Tanaka.
"On screen", ordered captain Maguire.
The big screen monitor came alive and captain Maguire rose to his feet, his jaw dropping with shock at what he was seeing before him.