Southern Cross by Windstar

"Yes Ma'am."
She'd be damned if she relied on The Ranger's captain for support, but it didn't look like she'd
have much of a choice in the matter. Julie had bigger problems to keep her occupied at the
moment, like trying to stay alive long enough to stop the Bak'ra from reaching earth.
The Bak'ra fleet, wounded perhaps, but still six times the size of the combined Tiri fleet, was
racing towards the center of the system. Reports were still coming in from Mars, although what
little Julie had heard was not encouraging. The Bak'ra ground assault forces had landed just over
an hour ago. The red headed Guardian spared a good wish for
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"Southern Cross reports minor damage Ma'am."
Thank the Maker.
Outwardly all that the First Guardian did was nod in acknowledgment. As long as Julie was still
in one piece she could focus on her main problem. Namely the huge fleet that was between her
and Earth and destroying them before the Bak'ra did to Earth what they had done to Tiri prime.
"Time until Earth orbit?"
"Three hours twenty minutes."
Not enough time. There just wasn't enough time to stop them before the ships reached high Earth
orbit, before they entered effective missile range of the planet. Then it would be the job of the
newly installed, and even more recently tested, planetary shield and orbital fort network to hold
them off. To prevent them from doing to Earth what they had done to Tiri prime. There wasn't
much chance of them holding for long though, they all knew that. Despite the best efforts of Tiri
and Human those forts were vulnerable. They couldn't dodge, they couldn't evade incoming fire,
if they moved more than a few hundred meters from the spots they'd been chosen the massive
network of the planetary shield would falter, and then fail in the localized area where the fort
was.
Which meant a section roughly five hundred thousand square kilometers.
If a Bak'ra missile with a biological warfare warhead got through…
Emily tiredly rubbed her temple, trying not to think about the carnage that would insue. She
already knew the casualties they'd be facing if something like that happened over an inhabited
area. Millions dead if it happened over Europe, billions if it happened over China or India.
We just have to make certain it doesn't happen.
Easier said than done.