The End is Just the Beginning

As the ESS Destiny pulled into orbit around the large earth like planet they were scheduled to survey, a dark ship appeared and started firing on them without warning.
’Red Alert! All command staff report to the Battle Command Centre‘ came the voice over the ship wide intercom. The Ship's command crew left their posts and headed for the Battle Command Centre.

*****

Within seconds of the Red Alert sounding, the Destiny took a direct hit from an energy weapon that ripped through the shields and took out the front of the ship. Major Lambert tried to dive out of the way as his wall mounted computer fell towards him bringing the wall with it. He was too late and vanished under a mass of rubble. Before the bridge crew had chance to react the viewing wall ripped open and they were sucked out into suffocating vacuum of space.

*****

Lt. Colonel Johnston awoke with a start as he was flung out of bed by the force of the explosion. 'What the!?' he said out loud as he skidded across his quarters, banging his head against the shower room's metal door . As he came to his senses he heard the final part of a ship wide alert before glancing over to his desk to see that his computer screen was flashing red. His eyes focused on the words that had appeared on the screen. 'RED ALERT all command crew report to the Battle Command Center we are under attack from an unknown enemy.' He grabbed his uniform and started to get dressed as he barged out of his quarters and headed down the corridor. He pulled on his clothing, trying not to trip as he ran.

*****

Colonel Eden took his seat as the rest of the assembled command crew took their stations. He pressed the internal COM system switch and started to speak. 'All decks Damage report' came Colonel Eden's voice over ship wide intercom just as Lt. Colonel Johnston ran through the door into the Command Center.
'We've lost the main bridge' came a voice from his left just as another large explosion rocked the ship, violently tipping Colonel Eden out of his chair.
The Colonel regained his seat before asking, 'Can you seal off the breach?'
'I've managed to get the Atmosphere force shield activated but I don't think it will last for long, Colonel.'
Colonel Eden pressed a button an the arm of his chair activating the emergency broadcast channel before saying 'SOS. This is Colonel Eden, of the Earth Starship Destiny. We are under attack and have sustained heavy damage.' He looked over to his Chief Communications Officer. 'Send first contact message on all frequencies.'
'Already done sir but they have not responded to any of my attempted communications.' Replied the young woman with long brown hair fastened into a bun just as the crew were flung around as the force of another explosion ripped through the ship.
The intercom buzzed 'Colonel that last hit got engineering we've just lost main engines and the auxiliary engines could overload and cause a meltdown if we try to run or we are hit in engineering again. I'm trying to seal off the area but the bulkhead doors won't close even using the manual override.'
'Keep trying Captain and tell me if we should evacuate.'
'Lieutenant' the Colonel said looking to his right.
'Our weapons aren't even making a scratch sir. We have no chance. We should get as many people off the ship as possible.'
'What's to say if we launch the pods they won't attack them?' replied the captain. 'I'll only take that option if it is all we have left and we are still able to fight at the moment. See if you can get more out of the weapons and check sensor readings for energy and shield fluctuations when they fire.'

*****

Captain Black lifted his left arm to his face, shaking he wiped the sweat from his forehead as he kept trying to close the engine room's Bulkhead door. Taking a deep breath to calm his nerves, he removed the cover from the door's control panel. Just as he looked to see what was wrong, it exploded in his face sending him flying across the corridor and smashing him into the wall on the other side.
Looking at up to see Lieutenant James coming towards him, Captain Black gestured in refusal of any help. Wiping the blood from around his mouth he hoisted himself to his feet then started moving back over to the engine room.
The ship rocked with the force of another energy blast that hit just in front of the engineering section, nearly knocking him off his feet again. He steadied himself against the wall before looking over to his team. ‘Get to the escape pods’ he said. Seeing that his second in command was about to argue he continued 'Thats an order!' As he reached for the wall panel and hit the COM system switch he watched his team turn the corner and vanished into the main corridor.

*****

On the bridge the intercom buzzed and Captain Black's voice came over it sounding grave 'Colonel that last shot hit the engine section and the containment shield is at critical. I can transfer power from none essential systems to give use a little more time. I’ve sent me team to the pods already.’
‘How much time?’
‘I can only guarantee a few minutes. Hopefully enough time to abandon ship. I’ll stay here as long as I can to try to give the crew more time. You should put out the call now now.' he said working on the control panel as he spoke.
Colonel Eden pressed the ship wide com 'All hands abandon ship.' his voice rang across all decks.
With in seconds of the abandon ship going out the crew members were heading for the nearest escape pods.
Colonel Eden told the bridge crew to make there way to the escape pods with the rest of the crew and get to safety.
‘Sir!’ came the voice of his second in command
‘You heard me Lieutenant Colonel get the crew to safety they are yours now.’
Lt. Colonel Johnston looked at his commanding officer with a sad look on his face
‘Go! I have to stay I’ll try and get the other ships attention while the escape pods launch.’
The Lt Colonel looked at his commanding officer once more saluted him then turned towards the door and left.

*****

Colonel Eden stood at the weapons control station lined up the guns and set them on automatic blanket fire. He walked over to his command chair sat and his thoughts turned to the loved ones he had lost ten years before. In his mind he pictured his two sons playing and is wife sat next to him watching them. Tears started to roll down is face and he whispered, 'I'll be with you soon my love. We will all b together again.'
The proximity sensor buzzed brining the Colonel out of his thoughts. He checked his viewer to see the familiar shape of another ESA Starship coming to a stop. He pressed the external com switch but all he got was a buzzing sound and a message flashed up on his screen reading; External visual and audio communication are off line text communication only. The Colonel started typing and sent a message detailing what had happened and about the enemy ships shield fluctuation.
Just as he finished the message and pressed the send, the internal com buzzed into life.
‘Colonel’ came the voice of Captain Black
‘Go ahead.’
‘I’ve done all I can the ship is about to blow.’
‘Get yourself to a pod and get down to the planet Captain.’
‘What about you s?’
Colonel Eden cut Captain Black off and pressed the com panel for a ship wide broadcast.
‘This is the final call escape pods must be launched.'

*****

Realizing he had been cut off Captain Black punched the wall with such force that the metal buckled. Shaking his head violently to bring himself back to his senses he checked the computer once more to see how much time was left for him to get to the pods. As he took one last look at his beloved engine section a tear ran down his face. He wiped his eyes before turning and heading to the nearest escape pod. He had a sick feeling in his stomach knowing what is commanding officer was about to do. ‘I could never do it. I could never give my life the way the Colonel is about to do.’ He thought to himself as he dived into an already packed pod just in time. The release switch was pressed and the pod set off on its way locking on and heading to the planet the Destiny had been orbiting.

*****

As the ship exploded behind them the escape pods entered the planet’s atmosphere. As they made their way towards the planet the outside of the pods started heating up and the occupants watched through the window as flames started flying over and engulfing them.
The pods landed with a thump and the occupants were shook around in their seats. A green light lit up on all the pods control panels telling the occupants that the planet’s atmosphere was safe to breathe.