...by throwing it around sideways. The rest of a pattern of incoming weapons detonated, tossing the ship around like a cork floating in a gale blown pond.

Unidentifiable enemy fighters swarmed his shaken ship. Kelsey watched as directed energy beams slammed into the weakened shields. Fire from his ship became sporadic and uncoordinated. A flank shield buckled, and beams slammed into the ship’s skin, making a gaping, glowing slash. He could hear atmosphere exploding outward, and see glowing bits of molten metal spewing in a bright spray. Shield after shield began buckling.

A large explosion rocked the ship and knocked him from his station to the floor. Power feedbacks blew dozens of circuits on the bridge, filling the air with shrapnel. The lights went out, leaving the viewscreen and the fires the only source of illumination left.

Kelsey got to his knees, surprised that he was still alive. The whine of a phaser battery told him that at least one weapons platform was still firing.

(continued)