about this? I don't believe you!'
'I have been in Confederation service for over a decade, Lieutenant,' the Kilrathi told her, drawing himself up with an air of quiet dignity. 'Much has changed during that time, on both sides of the border. Perhaps this represents a breakthrough in jump theory.'
'More likely in cloaking technology,' Rachel said, stepping between them. 'I don't think the Kilrathi can actually shut down a jump point at all.'
'Hey, I wasn't hallucinating out there,' Cobra said, turning her angry glare on the technician. 'We all saw the first jump point drop right off our screens.'
'Look, I've been studying cloaks,' Rachel said. 'The new Excaliburs are supposed to mount them. In theory a big enough generator could project a cloak that could mask out something as large as a jump point. But it would only work in a nebula, and it would be damned hard to maintain even then. That's what we were facing. I'd bet hard credits on it.
'Well, whether they can kill it or just hide it, the cats can mess up our jump points,' Cobra said, a little less wild but still clearly angry. She stepped past Rachel and jabbed a finger at Hobbes. 'And you claim you had no clue they could pull that?'
'No more than you, Lieutenant,' Ralgha told her.
'You're a liar.'
Blair stepped forward, thrusting himself between the two pilots. 'That will be enough, Lieutenant,' he said harshly. 'Colonel Ralgha's loyalty is not to be questioned in this way again. Is that understood?'
'But. . .'
'I will not have a junior officer making wild accusations about one of her seniors. If you gather concrete evidence to back up your claims, then you see me, in private, through proper channels. Otherwise, you keep your mouth shut!'
'Yes, sir, she said at last.
'JUMP SEQUENCE ENGAGED. ONE MINUTE TO JUMP,' the loudspeaker announced.
The elevator doors opened, and Cobra pushed through the semi-circle of onlookers into the car. Neither Blair nor Hobbes chose to follow her.
'And ten seconds . . . nine . . . eight . . .'
Eisen was determined not to betray his mounting tension as the computer ticked off the final seconds of the countdown to jump. What if the Kilrathi really could shut down a jump point? If they cut this one now, Victory would be trapped and totally vulnerable to the destroyers that were beginning to close in.
Or . . . what would happen to a ship initiating a jump sequence if the jump point failed? Would it remain in place . . . or end up trapped in hyperspace, unable to complete the transition to its destination?
'Three . . . two . . . and one . . . initiating transit. . . now.'
He felt the familiar gut-twisting sensation of transit, and despite the nausea, muscle spasms, and the wrenching disorientation of the jump, Eisen was relieved. At least Victory had escaped the cats, whatever happened next . . .
The jump was over in an instant. Eisen had to blink and shake his head a time or two to clear the fog in his brain, but it didn't take long to regain control over his body, though every nerve was still protesting over the unnatural act of being flung across an unimaginable distance through a realm no human was ever supposed to enter.
'Report,' he croaked.
Lieutenant Commander Lisa Morgan, Victory's Navigator, managed to sound alert. 'Aye, aye, sir,' she said, her fingers moving over her controls to call up a computer program that would analyze their surroundings and confirm that they had emerged on target. After a moment she went on. 'Stellar type and data match within 99. 4 percent. No planets registering. Asteroid belts . . . it checks, Captain. Delius System . . . or its twin.'
Eisen nodded slowly. 'Very good. Commander Morgan, set course to Delius Station. Mr. Rollins, raise the local defense forces and let them know we're here. Secure from Jump Stations and resume in-system operations.' He paused. 'I want the ship combat-ready as soon as possible. After that, I want a full after-action analysis by all combat departments. We have to determine what the hell went on back there, before the cats pull it on us again.'
His officers responded promptly, and Eisen felt a glow of pride. They'd been close to the breaking point, but somehow they'd kept on going.
In the end, that was the only thing that counted.
CHAPTER XX
'The Terrans have withdrawn, then, Melek?' Thrakhath was lounging on his throne, feeling satisfied. A pair of destroyers had been lost along with a few fighters, and he intended to see to it that whoever was responsible for the losses paid the supreme penalty. But overall, everything went exactly as planned. The apes had been given a warning they would not soon forget. It would make them cautious for a time, and even if they realized that the Empire's ability to mask jump points was limited to nebulas they would surely shun this system, so the base where the Imperial Fleet would gather for Thrakhath's grand stroke would remain secure.
Now it was time to think of the next stage in the plan.
'Yes, Lord Prince,' Melek said. 'They have withdrawn into the Delius System. Of course, there is no way of telling how long they will remain . . .'
'Then we must act quickly, before they move on,' Thrakhath told him, pounding the arm of his throne to emphasize the point. 'Is it certain that the one called Blair is still assigned to the carrier?'
'Yes, Lord Prince,' Melek acknowledged. 'We monitored his voice on the comm channels during the fight, a perfect match to our files. He is the wing commander. According to recent intelligence, the renegade serves as his deputy.'
'Excellent,' Thrakhath said, showing his fangs for an instant. 'Perhaps it is best that the human escaped our earlier attacks. We have the perfect weapon to use against him, and the results will leave these apes demoralized just when our blow is about to fall.'
'You think, then, that the challenge will work, on a human? Their sense of honor is not the same as ours Lord Prince.' Melek bowed low, to show that he did not mean to doubt his Lord's judgment.
'Oh, this challenge will work, I think,' Thrakhath said quietly. 'They do not have honor, Melek, but they do have pride . . . and anger. We will goad this ape into a foolish gesture, and at the same time . . .'
'The Trigger,' Melek said.
'The Trigger. And we will have our claws at their throats once and for all.' Thrakhath straightened. Pass the orders, Melek. Assemble the designated task force and be ready to jump within a cycle.'
'Yes, Lord Prince.' Melek withdrew, bowing again.
Crown Prince Thrakhath contemplated the stars that blazed through the dome above his dais. The stars that would soon belong entirely to the Empire.
