This is the 67th in a series of 365 Flash Fiction stories I’m writing. You can find out more about the challenge here.
The Adjustment, by Jonathan L. Lawrence, 2nd February 2013
Word count: 816
The story:
“Most of you will have read the briefing,” John Lucas stated, “But if you’ll indulge me I’ll recap.”
The collected Admirals of the Star Core, politicians of the Commonwealth, and business men from all over the known systems all nodded their head in consent. many having been too busy to read the briefing packs before arriving.
“This,” John indicated the seven foot, model just behind him, “Is your standard S five hundred thirty medium range phased gun. It is the main stay of the Star Core defensive and offensive weaponry. It fires slugs of metal up to three quartet light speed through the use of a Keeling field, which reduces the mass of the shot. It’s am awesome and terrific gun. It’s also one of the most accurate guns fitted to ships.”
John walked to a console in front of a seven foot screen.
“This footage, unfortunately it’s real,” he said sombrely, “Is from the GX Twenty-three Hundred C3 that was on patrol in orbit around Orion Sierra Alpha.”
The footage played, the video showed the POV from the guns, the Orion’s gun camera. It spins around, and clear in view is a speck. John pointed at the screen, and then spread his fingers and the image enlarge losing the barrels as it zoomed past.
The speck became a ship, the halo caused by it’s engines clearly visible even at the range.
“As you can see, this was the renegade ship that breached the security cordon around the Shortle Collective’s cluster of planets and stations. It carried no weapons, so wasn’t flagged as a concern. It did however enter into a high burn. The brave and intelligent pilot who’s gun camera caught these pictures has seen the threat, now he’s analysing it, and trying to raise the ship on comms. Exactly as he should.”
The ship in view was getting larger as it approached.
“Satisfied this is a significant threat, the trajectory and speed of the ship is obviously kamikaze. He chooses to open fire,” John waves his fingers and the image zooms out, the guns are visible, suddenly the guns flash causing light wash on the image.
Continue reading “Daily Flash Fiction Challenge 67: The Adjustment”
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