The hyperspace drive alarms were going off and the ship was shaking badly. Conrad started

checking his board, trying to figure out what went wrong. The ship wasn’t back into normal space but

this wasn’t hyperspace either. They’d obviously hit something just after entering hyperspace. Whatever

it was, it couldn’t have been too hard or very big, they were still in one piece. 

 The alarms shut off. His friend Ben Hill, the engineer, at least did that much. He didn’t fix

whatever was causing the shaking yet but at least the ship wasn’t in immediate danger. The captain was

going to ask for explanations soon so he’d better come up with some answers. He was the astrogator

and the captain would expect him to know where they are and what they hit.

 “Mister Hill,” the captain shouted, “status report.”

 “The hyperspace drive is partially out and stuck on. I’m trying to shut it down. All other systems

are still functional.”

 The shaking stopped and they popped out into normal space. “Mister Jones, do you have any

idea where we are?” the captain asked.

 “I’m working on it, Captain.” Conrad replied. “Wherever it is, it’s not where we were trying to

go. We’re not even on any charts.”

 “Terrific,” the captain said. “Not only is our hyperspace drive broken but we’re also lost. Why

can’t anything be simple and straightforward?”

 “Captain,” Allison interrupted, “we’re being hailed. It seems someone lives in this star system. It

looks like a war party. One thousand one hundred twenty seven warships in what looks like a defensive

posture.”

 “Helmsman, slow us down and veer off a little.” The captain seemed to be calming. “ I don’t

want them to think we’re hostile. Allison, can we understand them?”

 “They’re not speaking any known language.” Allison answered. “The computer’s working on a

translation.”

 “Great,” the captain replied. “We’re heading for potentially hostile aliens who are obviously

expecting trouble and we can’t talk to them. What’s next?”

 “I found out where we are.” Conrad broke in. “Whatever we hit threw us about forty five

degrees off our intended course and took us approximately two hundred light years out of our way. At

least now we know where home is.” he put a star chart on the main screen. “The red dot is our present

location, the green one is New Home, our intended destination and the amber one is home.”

 “Might as well be a million light years away with the hyperspace drive inoperable.” the captain

groused. “Mister Hill, is it repairable and do you have an estimate on how long the repairs will take?”

 “Yes captain, it’s repairable and I have four good men working on it right now. I would guess it

will take eight to ten hours to finish the repairs then another two hours to test it.”

 “So, approximately twelve hours before we can leave.”

 “Yes captain,” Ben answered, “if our friends out there give us that much time.”

 “We’re not supposed to have adventures like this,” the captain said. “We’re traders, not

explorers.”

 Allison was trying to coax her computer into translating the hail from the alien ships faster. She

didn’t want herself and her friends to get shot as an enemy when their intentions were non-hostile. Her

computer was finally starting to show some progress. It had been trading information with the alien

ships ever since their first hail. At least now it could make out a few simple words. Soon, it was making

out simple phrases.

 “Captain, they’re asking where we’re from.” she informed him. “Perhaps you should answer

them. Keep it simple, the computer isn’t up to any complexities yet.

 “Mister Jones, put your star chart showing our home system and the distance from here on the

main screen. We’ll broadcast that to them. Can the computer handle that much complexity, Missus

Jones?”

 “Yes, visuals play well and don’t require translation so they’re not tricky at all.” she sent the

visual image from the main screen and that seemed to satisfy their hosts. The aliens sent back a visual

showing some of their ships jumping to a nearby system and being attacked by some alien ships of a

radically different design. It had the look of a recording. 

 The aliens then sent another visual that was obviously a dramatization, showing something they

expected to happen. It showed a large group of ships of the same design as the ships that attacked their

expedition to the nearby system jumping into this system, attacking their fleet and enslaving the

population of the inhabited planet.

 “It looks like they’re having some serious trouble with an unfriendly neighbor.” Conrad observed.

 “Too bad the rules we operate under don’t allow us to actively aid them.”

 “Mister Hill, you saw the weaponry and defenses of both groups of aliens.” the captain said. “Do

you think we could survive an attack by either group?”

 “Yes captain. As long as there weren’t more than about twenty ships from that hostile group.”

Ben thought a bit. “Unless we modify our shields. I could turn them into parabolic mirrors with an

adjustable focus. Then, any lasers fired at us would give us some very formidable offensive weaponry.”

 “How long would it take you to effect this modification?”

 “Two hours, give or take a few minutes.”

 “And how would that affect the repairs to the hyperspace drive?”

 “Give me two of your cargo handlers to replace Benz and Aaronson and it won’t even slow it

down.”

 “Missus Jones, send Ryan and Smith to the drive room.” the captain commanded. “Mister Hill,

start making your modifications.” 

 Captain Rodriguez keyed his board, “this is the captain speaking,” he addressed the ship, “we

somehow jumped a bit farther and in a different direction than intended. Our hyperspace drive is

damaged and we can’t leave the star system we’re in for at least ten hours. There are friendly aliens

here and unfriendly aliens on the way. 

 “This is the home system of the friendly aliens and the unfriendly aliens are about to attack and

enslave them. Since we’re stuck here and we’ll be attacked too the laws covering such circumstances

allow us to come to the aid of the friendly aliens. That is just what we’re going to do. Mister Hill is

modifying our shields to make offensive weapons out of them. That will allow us to survive the

upcoming attack. That is all.”  

 Ten minutes later Allison’s computer finally got the translation down to ninety nine point nine eight

percent accuracy. “Captain, the translation program is finished. We can talk with the aliens now.”

 “Put them on the main screen. Allison, thank you.” The captain swivelled his chair around to face

the main screen. “Greetings, we are the independent trader, Bon Chance, our intentions are peaceful. I

am the captain, Julio Rodriguez. You are obviously expecting trouble. Can we be of assistance?”

 “Your name is hoot?” a saurian asked. “I’m sorry, I don’t think I’m pronouncing it right. You

made some sounds that I can’t make. I am Admiral Ssln#*^k of the Ssno@*^, and I doubt you can 

pronounce that. Our ship  is Hss#*%&%. You are just a trader? Your ship is much more powerful than

our entire fleet. Did you watch the visual we transmitted showing the unprovoked attack against a small

group of explorers we sent to the nearest star system?”

 “Yes, although we couldn’t understand what was being said.” Captain Rodriguez replied. “Your

language and the language of those other aliens are both new to us. Our computer just completed the

task of learning your language so now we can talk with you. And you’re right about pronunciation

problems. Can we call you Slink and your people the Sno?”

 “Yes, that will work.” Slink replied.

 “We didn’t intend to come to your system,” Captain Rodriguez continued, “we hit some kind of a

worm hole while trying to jump to a system much closer to our home. But since we are here, we’d like

to trade with you. It looks like we’ll have to help you get through your trouble first.”

 “They gave us an ultimatum.” Slink replied. “Surrender and become our slaves or resist and we

will destroy your world and enslave the survivors. Our people do not wish to be slaves so we will fight.

We were excited when we developed a hyperspace drive. We thought interstellar travel would bring

many benefits. It has brought disaster instead. If you help us and we survive, you will be rewarded well

indeed.”

 “We noticed your shields are very inefficient, about twenty percent of whatever hits them leaks

through to your ships and they fail under what seems a light attack to us. Can you send a schematic for

them to us? We may be able to suggest improvements. Our shields are far from the best our people

have but they’re much better than yours.”

 “Yes,” Slink answered, “we couldn’t scan your ship and we had no trouble scanning the enemy’s

ships. Your shields must be much better than their’s. We have very clear scans of their ships. But, what

is this ‘sh*^t@’ that you asked for? That word doesn’t translate.”

 “It’s a drawing of an electrical system that shows the components and how they function

together. Can you also send us copies of your scans of the enemy ships? They would be very helpful

when we have to fight this enemy.”

 “Yes, of course,” Slink responded, “know your enemy’s vulnerabilities and capabilities. One of

the basic precepts of warfare. We are sending both now.”

 “Mister Hill,” Julio said, “can Benz and Aaronson get by without you for a little bit so you can

take a look at the information our new friends just sent us?”

 “Of course captain.” Ben replied. “They’re doing most of the work right now and I’m definently

interested in the scans of the enemy’s ships.” Ben gave a quick look at the scans then looked at the

schematic for the saurians’ shields. He wasn’t surprised when he didn’t recognize any of the symbols

the aliens used in their schematic. “Captain, we have a little problem with this schematic. The symbols

our new friends use are alien, I’ll need to consult with their engineer and work out a translation.”

 “Very well Mister Hill.” captain Rodriguez addressed his engineering officer. “Slink, our

engineering officer would like to consult with your engineering officer. Your schematic symbols did not

translate and he can’t understand them. Between them and their computers, they should be able to

translate your schematic.”

  Slink looked to his right and made some noises the computer didn’t translate. A different saurian

was looking at Ben. “I am the engineering officer of the Hss#*%&%. Call me Rock, you can’t

pronounce my name just like I can’t pronounce yours. So our schematic symbols don’t translate?”

 “No, the symbols just don’t look like ours at all. If you could show me visuals of you components

coupled with their symbols, we can come up with the necessary translation.”

Rock’s face disappeared and was replaced by some alien looking electronic components

coupled with the alien symbols from the schematic. 

 “Rock, what is the function of this component?” Ben asked, highlighting one of the alien

components. 

 Rock looked at the highlighted component, “It allows electricity to flow one direction but not the

other.” 

 “A diode.” Ben identified it. “And this one?”

 Ben and Rock went through all the components on the schematic in this manner. When they both

agreed on the identities, Ben started studying the schematic to figure out how to improve the saurians’

shields. After twenty three minutes study, he found six ways to improve them. He sent that information

to Rock and asked him if he had the supplies to implement any of them.

 “Yes,” Rock answered, “I can implement all of them. Are they listed in order with the best first?”

 “Yes,” Ben replied. “The second one is just a little less effective than the first but should only

take about one tenth the time to implement. I see from our scans of your ships that you only have one

shield projector per ship. That is a big part of why they fail so easily. If you put ten projectors spread

like so, it will greatly improve their performance.”

 “Most of our ships only have three spare projectors. We have four ships with seven spare

projectors. If we implement your change number two and hook up the seven spares on those four ships

will that help?”

 “Yes, on the ships with three spares, place two forward and one aft of the existing projector like

so.” Ben sent him a diagram showing the placements he suggested. “And on the four ships with seven

spares, hook up four projectors forward and three aft, like so.” Ben sent another diagram showing this

suggestion. “Then I can show you how to use the shields of the four ships with eight shield projectors.    

as an offensive weapon. I need to get back to working out the details on my ship now so we can do it

and so I will have something to show you. I’ll call you just as soon as I finish. Talk to you then.”    

 Ben went back to modifying the shields and an hour and twenty three minutes later, he was

finished. He called Rock and spent the next hour and a half helping him modify his shields. Rock

broadcast Ben’s instructions to the other ships in his fleet who also modified their shields.

 The four ships with the eight modified shield generators started practicing. Some of the other

ships fired lasers at them and they concentrated and redirected that laser fire, giving them much more

powerful laser fire than their own lasers produced. The parabolic mirror trick Ben came up with

worked as well in practice as in theory.

 They continued to practice using computer simulations for the next hour and ten minutes. Their

practice was interrupted by three enemy ships popping out of hyperspace just three light minutes from

the nearest Sno ship. The enemy ships were backing away from the defenders, they were obviously  a

scouting party and didn’t want to engage the defenders just yet. The scouts stopped about fifteen light

minutes out from the nearest defenders and after about twenty minutes observations one of them

winked out leaving the other two watching. 

 A dozen of the Sno ships started moving toward the enemy ships, spread out so they could

surround them. The enemy ships didn’t like this and tried to maneuver out of the trap. When this didn’t

work they winked out, leaving the Bon Chance and the Sno fleet unobserved.  

 They resumed their computer sims and Julio and the command officers discussed tactics and

strategy. “When the enemy fleet gets here, “Slink suggested, “let’s keep our more powerful ships in

reserve at the start and keep that parabolic mirror trick as a secret weapon. It is better if they don’t

know our full strength and our best weapon at the start of the battle.” 

 “An excellent suggestion.” Julio agreed. “Then we’ll have the element of surprise when we do

have to use it.”

 “Yes,” Slink replied, “if they’re smart, they’ll keep something back at the start of the battle also

so they will have a nasty surprise for us if the battle doesn’t go well for them. That will also give us a

chance to learn more about them before committing our main strength.”

 After three and a half more hours of sim practice fifty seven enemy ships popped in about twenty

three light minutes from the Bon Chance’s position. Slink sent two hundred twenty three of his ships to

meet them. The enemy ships engaged this force and tried to maneuver around them and engage more of

the Sno ships. 

 The improved shields helped, the Sno ships were holding their own against the smaller force of

enemy ships and even giving a little better than they were getting.  Three Sno ships approached an

enemy ship from different directions, firing lasers as they came in, and two more joined them, adding

their laser fire and all five ships started firing missiles. The enemy ship was able to shoot the missiles,

making them explode outside their shield at first but as the missile fire continued first one then several

exploded against the shields, causing them to fail. That ship exploded and those five ships joined in an

attack against another enemy ship. The Sno ships kept whittling away at the enemy in this manner,

getting a few of their ships damaged in the process, and soon the enemy winked out, leaving eleven

badly damaged and seventeen destroyed ships behind.

 The crew of the Bon Chance was not idle during the battle. They made careful observations of

the battle and made their own much more detailed scans of the enemy ships.  Ben found an interesting

looking weapon he’d seen in the Sno scans of the enemy ships, one the enemy had not used yet. The

Sno scans were low resolution and Ben was unable to figure out what the weapon did. His scans of

them had much better resolution. It was now obvious they were some sort of particle beam weapon

that looked pretty powerful. As long as the enemy had their screens on he could not make out the fine

detail on the microchips, leaving Ben in the dark about just how the weapons worked. Fortunately,

there was a brief few seconds after the survivors on the damaged ships turned off their shields and

before they destroyed the microchips that Ben’s computer was able to get a detailed scan of the chips. 

 “Captain,” Ben sent the scans of the particle beam weapon to Julio”s screen, ‘here’s something

we should let our friends know about before the enemy uses it on them.”

 “A particle beam weapon?” Julio asked. “They didn’t use it.”

 “They only had two ships equipped with one projector each and it would take at least three fired

in unison to knock out the improved shields on the Sno ships. We wouldn’t be in any danger from them

unless they had ten firing on us at pretty close range. Even then our parabolic mirror trick will work with

that weapon too.”

 “Forewarned is forearmed. I better let our Sno friends know about this weapon. Lt. Jones, get

Slink on the radio.” 

 “Aye captain.”

 “Can you make one?” Julio asked Ben.

 “I could put together everything but the main microprocessor. Unfortunately, I can’t make it

work without that and we don’t have a chip production plant onboard.”

 “Do you have all the information we’d need to make them once we’re home where we have

access to chip manufacturing facilities?” 

 “Yes, that last scan has all the details on the chips.”

 “Slink is on now captain.” Allison informed Julio.

 “Admiral Slink, my engineer just informed me about a weapon the enemy has that they didn’t

use. It’s a particle beam projector. I’m sending you the information we have on them.” Julio made a

few keystrokes. “It should prove useful. At least it will keep them from surprising you with it.”

 “Thank you captain Hoot. We saw that weapon but couldn’t figure out what it was. This

information will be very useful.”

The allies resumed watchful waiting for the next two hours and forty seven minutes. Then an

enemy fleet popped in numbering five hundred ninety seven ships. Five of them were huge, over ten

thousand meters long. It didn’t look good for the defenders. 

 “What are we up against Mr. Hill?” Julio asked. 

 “Only one of the large ships has more than one particle beam projector but it has ten. They all

five outgun us by a factor of ten so we’re in for a tough battle. Most of these ships have less shielding

than the Sno ships that have only three shield projectors so things aren’t quite as bad as they look.”

 “I’ll send that information over to Slink. I’m sure he’ll find it useful.” 

 “I have a list marking the position of each enemy ship and indicating how it’s armed and

equipped. I’ll keep it updated as the battle progresses.” Ben volunteered.

 “Admiral Slink is on the radio captain.” Allison said.

 “Thank you, Lt. Jones.” Julio turned to the screen. “ Admiral Slink, we have some scans of the

enemy ships we’re sending over to you. Just let us know how you want us to aid you in this battle.”

 “Thank you captain Hoot. Yes, these scans are much better than ours. They will definently help. I

am going to keep you in reserve for now but I’ll want your help with that large ship that has ten particle

beam projectors. We have twelve new ships coming out from our shipyards. Ten are equipped with

eight shield projectors and the other two have ten shield projectors each.”

 The Sno ships nearest the enemy gathered into three groups, spread out so they could meet the

enemy fleet from three separate angles. The enemy were coming in fast in an apparent attempt to

overwhelm the defenders before they got set. Two hundred sixty five Sno ships from across the system

jumped out. Other Sno ships started heading for the enemy leaving one hundred ships spread out

around the star system and one hundred twenty seven ships and the Bon Chance in reserve.

 The forward elements of the enemy fleet met the closest Sno ships and opened fire with lasers

and missiles. The shields on the Sno ships were able to handle this fire easily. They returned fire,

concentrating the fire from three ships per each enemy ship fired on. The enemy’s shields were holding

at first but when the missiles started arriving they weakened fast and the ships were destroyed. More

and more of the enemy ships were engaging the Sno ships and it was becoming harder to concentrate

fire in an effective manner.  

 The four ships with eight shield generators jumped out just to reappear two minutes and fifteen

seconds later very near the enemy ships. They maneuvered near two of the large ships with a single

particle beam projector each and opened fire on them. The enemy ships fired back with all their

weapons, including the particle beam projectors. The Sno ships used their parabolic mirror trick and

the enemy’s shields were weakening. When the first missiles arrived and exploded against the enemy’s 

weakened shields the shields failed. The Sno ships raked the two large enemy ships with the reflected

particle beam fire with devastating results, knocking out missile launchers and lasers. The missiles

started exploding deep within those ships so the Sno ships started directing the reflected particle beam

fire against other nearby enemy ships. A missile took out the particle beam projector on one of the

enemy ships so the two Sno ships attacking it broke off their attack, leaving it to the other Sno ships

near it and went after one of the other enemy ships with a single particle beam projector. 

 The two hundred sixty five Sno ships that jumped out earlier popped back in very near the

fighting. It took them just minutes to get into position in the center of the three groups who initially met

the enemy.  Unfortunately they were attacked by the large enemy ship that had ten particle beam

projectors and it was destroying about one ship a minute.

 The four ships with eight shield generators left the ships they were attacking and converged on

the one with ten particle beam projectors. They used their parabolic mirror trick and fired all their

weapons that they could bring to bear on it but their shields were weakening under the attack by this

ship. When the enemy missiles started arriving they reflected the explosion back at the enemy ship and

it’s shields couldn’t stop all the assaults they were receiving. Most of the damage it was taking was just

surface damage but some of it’s weapons were also being knocked out. Eleven other enemy ships

attacked one of the Sno ships and weakened it’s shields to where it was taking some damage. It broke

off it’s attack on the big enemy ship and moved up and away from it, concentrating it’s weapon fire on

the new threat. Once it got out of range of the big ship’s weapons it’s shields started recovering and it

destroyed it’s attackers. 

 The other three Sno ships continued their attack on the big ship. Some of it’s fire was getting

through their shields and they were getting damaged. The shrapnel from the missiles they were directing

back at the enemy ship was tearing holes in the enemy ship and occasionally knocking out some of it’s

weapons.  One of their missiles got through and exploded inside the enemy ship and it’s shields went

down. It still took over twelve minutes to finish it off.  They returned to the other large ships they were

battling before they broke off to attack the one with ten particle beam weapons. 

With the bulk of the Sno fleet engaged with this enemy fleet one hundred eighty four more enemy

ships jumped in to the system well inside this group. There were seven of the ten thousand meter ships

in this group two with ten particle beam projectors, three with four and two with two. Fifteen of the

smaller ships also had one particle beam projector each. The reserves were still between them and the

planet and maneuvered to a defensive position. The defenders accelerated towards the planet so the

enemy ships wouldn’t just fly right past them. Captain Rodriguez positioned the Bon Chance to meet

one of the ships with ten particle beam projectors. The Bon Chance was slightly ahead of the twelve

Sno ships who were flanking it and providing covering fire.

 As the enemy ship approached the Bon Chance Captain Rodriguez fired a missile at it. The

missile went about halfway to the enemy ship and stopped accelerating, continuing in a straight line.

Julio fired another missile and started approaching the enemy ship. The ships holding station on  the Bon

Chance fired thirty missiles at the enemy ship.  

 Julio fired his masers and the enemy fired back with it’s masers, missiles and particle beam

projectors. The shield technicians directed the reflected fire back at the enemy ship, concentrating it at

one of the particle beam projectors. The enemy shields were holding for now but they were weakening

fast. The missile that stopped accelerating halfway to the enemy ship was ten kilometers from the enemy

ship and it started accelerating again. It was too close for the enemy gunners to take out now and when

it exploded against the shields it knocked them out. The reflected particle beam fire hit the particle

beam projector, destroying it. The technicians directed the reflected fire at the next particle beam

projector and quickly destroyed it also. It took them another seven minutes to destroy the rest of the

particle beam projectors on that ship. 

 The Bon Chance and half their escort ships went to the next ship with ten particle beam

projectors. The Bon Chance and it’s six escorts opened fire on the enemy ship and it returned fire,

firing all it’s particle beam generators at the Bon Chance. With only six ships providing extra fire at the

enemy ship its shields were holding. Captain Rodriguez fired two missiles at the enemy ship and the

escorts fired two missiles each. The enemy gunners destroyed half of the incoming missiles and when

the remaining missiles exploded against the shields it weakened them. A well focused reflection of one

of the enemy missiles that exploded against the Bon Chance’s shields knocked down the shields on the

enemy ship.

 The Bon Chance raked the enemy ship with it’s own particle beam projector fire, knocking out

it’s weapons one at a time. 

 The rest of the reserves were getting chewed up pretty badly. They couldn’t take fire from two

particle beam projectors at once. Julio sure wished the twelve new ships would hurry up and get out

here. They were badly needed. He could see them about three hours twenty seven minutes away. Far

too late to help the majority of the reserve forces. At the present rate of destruction the Bon Chance

would be about all that’s left. 

 The Bon Chance fired a missile at the last particle beam projector on the enemy ship and left it to

the nearby Sno ships. Just in time. One of the large enemy ships with four particle beam projectors had

five Sno ships in trouble. Julio rushed to the aid of the endangered Sno ships. The twelve new ships

disappeared into hyperspace, probably jumping to that stray planet near their system so they can jump

back in near the attackers. The Bon Chance fired missiles at the enemy ship while approaching it. The

enemy ship fired three of it’s particle beam projectors at the Bon Chance while it was still at extreme

range. The Bon Chance deflected that fire to a nearby enemy ship weakening it’s shields enough so that

the two missiles and laser fire from the Sno ship it was attacking got through, knocking it’s shields down

and taking out it’s weapons.

 As the Bon Chance drew closer it directed the reflected particle bean fire at the large enemy ship

that was firing at it. It’s shields were weakening but still holding. Julio added missile and laser fire and

the five Sno ships were already firing missiles and lasers. The combined fire knocked down it’s shields

after thirty six seconds. Julio directed the particle beam fire at a nearby enemy ship, quickly knocking

it’s shields down. Four of the five Sno ships started firing on smaller enemy ships nearby leaving only

the one the large enemy ship was firing one of it’s particle beam projectors at still firing at it.

 The enemy ship started firing a second particle beam weapon at the Sno ship, weakening it’s

shields. It fired a missile at the nearest particle beam projector, destroying it. Julio directed the particle

beam fire at the other particle beam projector that was firing at the Sno ship, destroying it. He quickly

took out the other two particle beam projectors and left that ship for the Sno ships to finish off.

Less than half the Sno reserves were left. If those new ships didn’t arrive within the next ten

minutes the Sno ships battling this group of enemy ships would be gone. 

 “Admiral Slink.” Julio called. “How soon will those new ships get here? Another ten minutes and

your reserve ships will be almost all destroyed. We can’t hold the enemy by ourselves.”

 “They should be there in about five minutes if they don’t run into any problems.” Slink answered.

 “Can you hold out that long?”

 “I can.” Julio replied. “But your reserves will be decimated by then.”

 “Thank you for our concern my friend.” Slink responded. “Their families will appreciate it.

Thanks to you their deaths will insure the survival of our people.”

 Five minutes later the Bon Chance was approaching one of the ships with two particle beam

projectors. The new ships still hadn’t reappeared. The Bon chance opened fire with lasers and missiles

on the enemy ship and when it responded with particle beam projector fire the Bon Chance reflected

that fire back at it. The twelve Sno ships shadowing the Bon Chance also fired missiles and lasers at this

new target. It’s shields soon failed under this assault and it started taking damage. 

 Seven minutes had passed since Slink said his new ships should reappear in five minutes and here

were only a small handful of Sno ships still in the fight. Julio was getting worried. Finally, a half minute

later five of the new ships jumped back in near the enemy. They immediately started attacking the

enemy ships with devastating results. Julio didn’t think it would be enough with so many of the reserves

already destroyed. Perhaps if the other seven new ships showed up soon they could do some real

damage to the enemy. At least with these new ships aiding the remaining Sno ships they weren’t losing

any more ships.

 “Captain Hoot” Admiral Slink said. “We have a problem I wanted to make you aware of. Our

new ships ran into one hundred ninety seven enemy ships when they jumped to the stray planet we use

to move around our system quickly. They had to fight them to keep them from jumping into our system.

The other seven are still fighting them and I’m sending them reinforcements. Don’t expect help from

them any time soon.”

 “Thank you for that information Admiral Slink.” Julio replied. “I think we have the upper hand

here now. It’s just a matter of time before we have them defeated. It would be easier with those other

seven new ships but we can do it without them and it sounds like they have their hands full.”

 All the enemy ships with the particle beam projectors had been destroyed by now so it was just a

matter of destroying the remaining enemy ships one by one. The new Sno ships were definently better

than the Bon Chance at that. Their lasers were more powerful than even the older Sno ships and their

missiles had twice the explosive force.

 Twenty seven minutes later the enemy ships tried to disengage and flee. The Sno ships wouldn’t

let them. Julio didn’t blame them. Any ships that survived this attack were likely to return in a future

attack. Julio noticed that the ones farther out were also trying to flee. Some of them were popping into