[Dracus]

+++++++"Death all around" cont...+++++++++

Just as Amber reached the ops station, a bright flash caught her eye. She quickly turns toward the starboard window.
The mines hitting the port side have caused the ship to twist on its axis just enough to see the Warp point starboard from the command deck.

Amber is able to make out the shape of the first sweeper as it emerges.
Over her shoulder, she hears ops report; “Mines inbound 1 minute to impact!”
Amber does not respond; mumbling a good luck to the sweepers under her breath, she turns from the window and returns to her command chair.

****Aboard sweeper 001****************************

Capt. Robert Black looks at his clock, “Prepare to exit! Bring the magnets Online and charge the rods!” he orders.
The sweeping units have never been tested on live mines before. The crews aboard sweeper 001 are about to take on their first live mission.
The timing for charging the units have to be carried out with precision; Too soon and the ship will be torn apart as the magnets react with the fields in the warp channel; Too late and the ship may not be able to handle the mines.
“We are exiting the channel sir.” Reports the hem.
Just then the blue glow began to fade and the darkness of space could be seen once again.
“We are out sir.”
“I have a fix on the Little Thunder and there are a group of mines heading straight for her!” yells Ops.
“Then lets go to work!” Replies Robert
The Sweeper heads in and cuts across the path of the mines. As It Travels across the bow of Little Thunder, The magnets begin to draw in the mines.
“Take them out!” orders Robert.
The harmonic impulse spreads from the ship and starts to cause the mines to explode.
“The other sweepers are entering the zone sir and more mines are heading our way.” Reports ops.
“Good lets clean house then.” Replies Robert.
Just then there was a flash Sweeper 003 disappeared from the scanners.
“We just lost number 3 sir.” Reports ops.
“Number 5 is reporting failure in two if its harmonic rods Sir.” Reports the comm. Officer.
“Number 5 has been lost sir.”
“Scanners show most of the mines have been cleared.” Reports Ops, “also 2 and 4 are reporting heavy damage.”
“A cluster of mines are heading for little thunder. “
“Take us in!” Replies Robert.
In the control room---
As 001 engages the Last cluster of mines, The Rods begin to overheat.
”Captain, We have to shut em down or we will lose them all!!!” Tim screams into the mike.
“Keep running, take out as many as you can before they burn up!” comes the reply.
“Alright boys, you heard the Capt. Keep em hot!” Tim shouts to his crew.

Back on the command deck-----
“We just lost all the rods!” comes a voice through the speakers.
“There are still 12 mines in route!” reports ops.
“Well let’s go shake hands then!” replies Robert.


++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +++++++++++++
next----the fate of sweeper 001 and little thunder…………….