A Different Strategy

The Fitna drifted in space after a daylong battle against the Trikkarians. Sticky black acid blobs riddled the hull. Several blobs had already eaten through and caused several decks to be evacuated. Exhausted crews worked to patch the holes, and apply solvent which rendered the blobs inert for a few hours. A blob took out one of their laser canons and damaged the other, only ten minutes before.

“Captain, our last laser won’t be operational for six hours minimum. We are down to maneuvering with thrusters. Our main engines are offline indefinitely.”

“I know the situation, Montu.” The captain paused in thought. Why haven’t they finished us? Is that all the weaponry they have? Black goo?

“I suggest we maneuver to get in a last shot as soon as our laser banks are charged.”

“That’s just what they’d expect us to do,” Sh-Hara, the first mate, retorted, “Besides our canons aren’t very effective against their hull.”

“I think they’re just as damaged as us. That was likely their last shot, and they got lucky. I can tell their engines are damaged. We’ve been targeting them the whole battle. Their hull is too strong for our canons. There’s only one weapon I can think of that might break through. Call down to engineering and have them go to every known goo ball and apply the solvent then load it into all fifteen shuttles. Maximum capacity. I want anyone not working on the canons to work on this.”

“Captain?” Montu raised an eyebrow.

“It’s time to send this crap right back at them. The shuttles won’t be able to take that goo for long. It’ll break up and become a large blob. Once it eats through we’ll fire right through any holes it makes. Let’s see if they have any solvent!”


300 Words
Flash Story must contain the line: "That’s just what they’d expect us to do"