Invader From Infinity

A starship commander and his officers confront a mysterious, heavily armed spherical alien craft that has shattered planetary defenses. Ordered to destroy the intruder, the crew engages but sustains catastrophic hull damage when the alien's rays penetrate their screens; the commander orders a tactical withdrawal, then resolves to return and continue the fight. Men move through ruptured bulkheads to inspect dead sections and damaged systems, revealing tension between duty, pride, and fear as they prepare for further action. The narrative emphasizes command responsibility, the cost of combat, and the hard choices facing crews defending their system against an inexplicable, lethal intelligence.