However, the Wielder-of-Swords was no novice. A destroyer is much more maneuverable than a battle cruiser, and he was able to retreat with only moderate damage from Rekesh ’s awesome weaponry. Of course, “moderate” damage from a battle cruiser’s weapons was still serious. Kas had ordered his gunners to concentrate on the destroyer’s drive tubes and maneuvering jets. All he’d need do would be to slow her down a bit…
Experienced crews evidently manned the other destroyers as well. Instead of trying to decelerate to a halt and reverse course, which would take them light-hours away and give Kas time to destroy the flagship, the ships swung toward each other, describing a large circle and allowing them to again threaten Kas with encirclement.
Kas cursed. Unless the enemy began making mistakes, they would eventually succeed in their encirclement maneuver; and when they did, the battle would be all but over. If only Rekesh were fully manned, and carried pilots to fly her fighters…
No sense wishing for the impossible. Perhaps defeat was inevitable, but he would make it an expensive victory for the Glories.
He turned to To-Ling. “We’ve got to keep chasing that flagship. If we can force her to keep maneuvering we can keep them from completing the encirclement — and if we can interfere with her maneuverability, we’ve got her! They can’t encircle us with two ships. All we need is a few lucky hits.”
She looked at him, expressionless. “I don’t believe in luck, sir.” She leaned toward him and lowered her voice. “You know they’ll get us, eventually.”
He nodded. “I know. I’ve been thinking about getting Tremling to rig a self-destruct to at least keep them from getting a usable ship. But with civilians aboard, I’m not sure I have the right to make that decision for them.”
She shrugged. “You know what capture by the Glories means. Torture to force confessions of espionage and blasphemy, followed by ‘The Lord’s Mercy’; either death or imprisonment. Even those that survive are crippled for life. They’d be better off dead.”
Kas sighed and nodded again. “You’re probably right, San. But, damn it… All right. You get down to Engineering and have Tremling get busy on something that can trigger enough fusactors simultaneously to totally destroy the Rekesh. And hopefully to take one or two of those bastards with us…” There was a slight quiver as a nuclear missile impacted Rekesh ’s shields, and the viewscreen image faded for a moment. The Glories were using nukes to overload the shields. It was an effective tactic, and cut their available time. Kas and To-Ling exchanged a serious look, and To-Ling headed for Engineering. His order to build a self-destruct was not one he could trust to the intercom.
Kas returned his attention to the enemy. The one off to starboard had been tending to slowly close with Rekesh. If Kas could lure him just a bit closer…
“Engineering,” he called. “If we can bring that one bastard just a little closer, I think we’ll have him. Stand by. At any moment, Helm will signal ‘full starboard’. What I’ll want is maximum effort. Essentially, I want to fire every maneuvering jet and anything else that will move us in his direction quickly. I know maneuvering isn’t a battle cruiser’s specialty, but even if we can just jerk or lurch toward him, it’ll help.”
Again Tremling’s tone was crisp and military. “Aye, sir. We’ll give you everything she’s got.” Kas clicked off.
“Weapons,” he said, turning toward Lieutenant Commander Bru Raskin, “lighten up on the starboard destroyer slightly. We want to coax him in. But on my order, fire every projectile weapon on the port side, and then hit him with everything we’ve got on the starboard side. Maybe the recoil from the port weapons will help us move toward him. This’ll be our best chance to even the odds.”
“Aye, Skipper,” the outerworlder replied with a predatory grin. “We’ll get ‘im!”
Kas frowned at the man’s words, but said nothing. This was no time for commenting on a subordinate’s manner and speech.
“Helm,” he said, “On my command, full starboard. Ready… Ready
… Not quite… NOW!” he shouted. “Now! Now!” The helmsman muttered into his communicator.
There was momentary hesitation, then a sudden lurch. Retribution ’s captain suddenly found himself dangerously close to the big battle cruiser. He frantically ordered his helm to pull back but before the order could be obeyed, Rekesh ’s starboard side erupted in a storm of weaponry.
The destroyer’s shields blackened, flickered, then disappeared, overwhelmed by the might unleashed against them. In less than a second, the destroyer became a rapidly expanding ball of incandescent gases.
Kas did not stop to admire his work. “Helm! Full ahead. Weapons! Hit that flagship hard!”
However, the Glory Wielder-of-Swords was no amateur. Sword of Fire was already retreating quickly, swinging to circle to Kas’ starboard. Obviously, the Wielder was trying to catch Vir Rekesh between his two remaining vessels. Kas noted that the ship to port also retreated to a respectful distance, but they kept firing, probing for a weak spot in the battle cruiser’s shields. Sooner or later, they would find one. And from where he stood, Kas could glance at the weapons console and see the red lights announcing missile emplacements and mass drivers needing replenishment, and the blackened ones telling of weapons stations no longer operable.
To-Ling returned to the bridge and wordlessly handed him a switch that was obviously handmade. They exchanged significant glances.
“Ships, sir!” The cry made Kas whirl toward the sensor station. “Four… no, six vessels, sir! And Commodore!” The voice cracked with excitement. “Two of them are battle cruisers, sir!”
Hope surged. Only the Empire and the Alliance had that many battle cruisers. “Ident!”
“They’re Empire, sir! Battle cruisers are Dauntless and Tur-Kan. Flag is Tur-Kan. The others are destroyers Hawk, Eagle, Goshawk and K’Taun.”
Kas’ released pent-up breath in relief as he returned his attention to the screen and the remaining two Glories. “Keep firing. Those ships are still a couple of hours away, even at max boost!”
“ Tur-Kan calling, sir.” The com tech said. The sensor display on the main screen faded, and then lit to reveal a large, jowly man wearing the uniform of an Empire Vice Admiral. “Need some help, Commodore?” The man asked cheerfully.
Kas smiled. “Actually yes, sir. I’m a bit short-handed, and could use a hand shooing some Glory flies.”
The man’s answering grin was merry. “Glories, eh? My pleasure.” The grin faded. “You’d be Preslin. You’re one of Pankin’s bad boys. I’m Rol Tu-Ker.”
Kas nodded. “I know your reputation, sir.”
The merry grin resurfaced. “They could never prove any of it! But I’ve heard of you, too, of course.” The grin faded.
Tu-Ker straightened. “All right, Commodore. As soon as we get the Glories off your back, I know you will be busy dealing with damage and casualties. When you’ve finished, please report to me on a secure com laser link. We have classified matters to discuss. Say, three hours after the Glories break off battle?”
Kas straightened to attention. “Yes, sir. Uh, there are the two Glory destroyers. Sword of God is their flagship. There’s also a frigate chasing an Empire DIN-class, Starhopper, and there’s a courier claiming to be a diplomatic vessel and carrying someone claiming to be an ambassador.”
Tu-Ker’s grin resurfaced. “We’ll give the ambassador an escort to the jump point. First, though, we’ll give those destroyers a bit of exercise. Can’t have the Glories thinking they can attack Empire warships. Tu-Ker out.” The main screen image faded to the sensor display.
The Glories were drawing off, running for the jump point by which Kas’ ships had arrived. However, chances were slim they would get that far. Tu-Ker’s destroyers were approaching at high speed and the two battle cruisers lumbered in pursuit.
Kas scanned the screen for Starhopper and the Glory frigate. After a moment, he spotted the blip representing the freighter. There was no sign of the frigate. “Comm,” he ordered, “Get me Starhopper. Put it on my console.” What he had to say to Ler-Traken might need to be private.
The console’s screen brightened to show Ler Traken. “Report!” Kas snapped.
“No damage, sir, and no casualties. Enemy destroyed,” Ler-Traken replied crisply. “I was right; they thought we were unarmed. I figured we could draw him away from you, and let you concentrate on the big boys. Sure enough, he followed right along. He fired a few projectiles across our bows, and ordered us to heave to. I slowed down, and he just closed. He moved right into the lasers at close range. We took out his bridge, but we really didn’t do that much damage. I think they suicided.”
Despite his relief, Kas’ expression remained grim. “I ordered you to stay close so our weapons could cover
