He moved like some ancient god of lore, presiding over a battlefield of miniature mortals who couldnвЂ™t see him, but certainly felt his almighty hand.Д®xcept, if Dennison was a god, his specialty certainly wasnвЂ™t war. Dogfighting ships zipped around his head fist-sized asteroids shattered as he walked through their space, then reformed after he had passed. Blue met red, and the battle began in earnest.Дennison strode through the hologram, watching, giving commands, and analyzing-just as he had been taught. вЂњSend Squadron C to engage,вЂќ Dennison commanded, ignoring Brell.ДЄ group of four fighters broke off from the main fleet, streaking toward the asteroids. The action caused a stir amongst the bridge team, and Dennison caught a glare from Brell, his XO. вЂњNo,вЂќ Dennison said, waving the aide away. He seemed to be the only one who realized that fact. Each fighter bore a camera just inside its cockpit to relay a direct view.

The visor was the second way a commander could watch the battle. вЂњMy lord?вЂќ an aide said, stepping forward. He could see what the enemy commanders were doing he could sense their strategies. Memories of lectures and textbooks mixed in his head, enhancing the practical experience heвЂ™d gained during a half-dozen years commanding simulations and, eventually, real battles. At his disposal was all the formal military knowledge that came with a high-priced Academy education. Through the movement of their ships, Dennison could feel their battle strategy taking shape. Ahead, the pirates began to form up as well-though they stayed within their asteroid-cover. His order was transmitted directly to the various captains, and his small fleet broke into four smaller groups.

вЂњDivide the squadrons,вЂќ Dennison commanded. Well, Dennison thought, wouldnвЂ™t want to disappoint the good folks. Though they offered no obvious disrespect, Dennison could see their true feelings in their eyes. Noncommissioned aides and lesser officers had paused in their duties, eyes turned toward their youthful commander. There were about two dozen of them-not a large force, by Fleet standards, but bigger than he deserved. It had been five years since his brother Varion had re-established His MajestyвЂ™s law in this sector, and the rebellious elements should long since have been crushed.Дennison stepped into the hologram, walking until he stood directly behind his ships. Rebels in name but pirates in action, the group had thrived unhindered for far too long. Their red ships winked into existence as scanners located them amidst the rolling boulders of the asteroid field. He rose from his command chair and walked a few steps to the hologramвЂ™s edge, studying the enemy. This would be a battle between the smaller fighters.ДЄnd Dennison would lead them. The enemyвЂ™s ships were too weak to damage its hull, but they were also too fast for it to catch. The massive and powerful but far less agile leviathan probably wouldnвЂ™t see battle this day. The much larger blue oval of DennisonвЂ™s command ship hung a moderate distance above and behind the fighters. The hologram was on at the moment, and it displayed an array of triangular blue blips representing fighters flying about waist-high. The obvious method relied on the expansive battle hologram that dominated the bridge. While safe aboard his flagship, there were two ways for Dennison to watch the battle. Home В» Empire В» Books & Stories В» Firstborn

Endless sky fleet of furies