“So we’re caught in between two waves of fighters?”
“Yes, sir. That’s the way it looks.”
“Any chance we can hold them off with rail guns?”
“A slim chance.”
“Damn it.” Nathan turned to Abby. “Abby, whenever you’re ready.”
“One minute.”
“What do you plan to do?” Jalea asked.
“I guess we’ll just have to keep jumping out of range until we can reposition and jump back into the vicinity of the Yamaro and finish him off once and for all. Then we can just stand off until those fighters run out of fuel and have to land.”
“Captain, is there no way that we can capture that ship in one piece?” Tug begged. “Even if she cannot be repaired, the weapons and technology on her could be added to your ship. It would be a big help.”
It was an idea that Nathan had already considered. But in light of new developments, he just didn’t see a way to make it happen, especially if the Yamaro was actually getting support from Corinair.
“I don’t get it,” Nathan said. “That ship was bombing them back into the stone age. Why would they come to their rescue?”
“Perhaps to prove their loyalty to the Empire, despite their treatment, in the hopes that the captain of the Yamaro might spare them out of gratitude.”
“Yeah, maybe.”
“We’re ready to jump, Captain,” Abby reported.
“Very well-”
“Captain, wait!” Jessica interrupted. “The incoming fighters aren’t adjusting their intercept course to stay on us.” Her eyes widened as she realized what was happening. “The fighters from the surface aren’t coming after us, sir! They’re going after the Yamaro’s fighters.”
“You’re kidding!” Lucky break number two, Nathan thought.
Although a few of them took passing shots as they streaked by, the Yamaro’s fighters mostly ignored the Aurora as they continued on and met the incoming Corinairan fighters.
“Yes!” Nathan exclaimed.
“The two groups are now engaged,” Jessica reported.
“What about the Yamaro?” Nathan asked. “Where is he now?”
“He’s trying to run behind Corinair, sir,” Kaylah reported.
“Josh,” Nathan started.
“I’m after him,” Josh interrupted as he changed course.
“Captain, if he gets too close to the planet, we won’t be able to jump in close any more,” Abby reported. “The planet’s gravity will make it too risky.”
“And he’s still got guns, so we can’t just run up to him at sub-light.”
“But he doesn’t know that, does he?” Nathan asked, not really expecting an answer. “Abby, plot a jump to put us behind him again. Let’s take advantage of his blind spot once more.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Comms, hail the Yamaro. I want to speak to Captain de Winter.”
“Yes, sir.”
“What are you going to say to him?” Jalea asked.
“I’m going to offer him a chance to surrender,” Nathan said.
“Nathan,” Jalea said, “I highly doubt he would even consider-”
“She is correct, Captain,” Tug interrupted. “His honor is at stake, as is the honor and security of his family.”
“So, he’d rather die than be dishonored?”
“Death before dishonor. It is the way of the nobleman,” Tug explained.
“Well, you may be right. But offering someone an opportunity to surrender is our way. It’s something that we consider honorable. In fact, we consider it just as honorable to surrender against inevitable defeat, rather than sacrificing your forces needlessly.”
“Also a noble sentiment,” Tug agreed.
“I’ve got the captain of the Yamaro on the comms sir.”
“On screen,” Nathan ordered. A moment later, the pompous image of Captain de Winter filled their main view screen once more.
“You’ve done surprisingly well for yourself thus far, Captain Scott. I congratulate you.”
“I’m offering you a chance to surrender, sir. There’s no need for you or your crew to die in the cold of space.”
“My, but you are an overconfident young man, aren’t you?” he said with a laugh, after which his transmission ended.
“I’m the overconfident one?” Nathan muttered.
“Jump is plotted,” Abby reported.
“Rail guns ready, Jess?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Josh, when we come out of the jump, flip us over and pull us in over the top of him. We’ll linger there as long as we can before jumping out.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Jess, concentrate fire on his guns. We need to remove his claws. Maybe that will deflate his ego a bit.”
“I wouldn’t count on it,” she answered.
“Abby, I’m going to need a really fast escape jump. Even a few light seconds will do.”
“Yes, sir.”
“All right then. One more time. Jump.”
“Jumping,” Abby reported.
Again the flash filled the bridge. Suddenly, the main view screen was filled with the image of the Yamaro, not more than a few hundred meters away, and the planet Corinair, which was now filling nearly half the screen.
“Whoa! Up and over, Josh!”
Josh pulled the nose up and rolled the ship over as they pulled up over the top of the Yamaro, matching her speed as he did so.
“Open fire,” Nathan ordered calmly.
The Aurora’s rail guns again began ripping apart the exterior of the Yamaro. Targeting her main guns, which were of no use to her at such close ranges, the rapid strikes of the explosive projectiles shredded the enemy’s weapons in seconds.
“She’s lost most of her main guns, Captain. Only about six of them left on her forward half,” Jessica reported.
“She’s launching more fighters!” Kaylah announced.
“Helm, back us away. Jess, re-target all guns on the fighters. Try to pick them off as they launch.”
Josh began shaving off speed in order to slowly back away from the enemy ship. Fighters began shooting out of her sides. The rail guns were able to pick of the first few fighters, but their pilots quickly caught on and began ducking down under the Yamaro for cover immediately after launch.
“It’s no good, they’re too fast,” Jessica admitted. “I can’t track them all.”
“Raise the Yamaro again,” Nathan ordered.
Again the main screen displayed the image of Captain de Winter from the bridge of the Yamaro. However, this time, the visual was distorted, as was the audio.
“You have one more chance to surrender, Captain.”
“I am a nobleman. Better to die in space than in a prison cell. You’ll have no surrender from me,” he responded before ending the brief transmission.
“Ready to jump, sir,” Abby reported.
“Captain,” Jessica said, appearing somewhat puzzled. “The fighters. They’re breaking off. They’re not coming after us.”
