“Aye, sir.”
Ian braced himself as the enemy fleet returned to hyperspace. “Keep us at a distance,” he ordered, quietly. Hyperspace was already being churned up by the presence of so many starships in close formation. “And try to keep a solid lock on them.”
“They’re deploying energy mines,” the sensor officer said. He worked his console for a long moment. “Captain, we’re losing them!”
“Clever of them,” Ian said as the last of the enemy ships vanished from the display. The energy mines would disrupt hyperspace long enough for the departing fleet to make a clean break. He wasn’t sure if they’d spotted his ship or not, but it didn’t matter. The energy storms would make it harder to get relief ships into the sector. “Helm, set course for the nearest StarCom.”
“Aye, sir.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
ASHER DALES
“Admiral, we’re being pinged,” the communications officer said as the squadron glided into the Asher Dales System. “They sound a little alarmed.”
Kat lifted her eyebrows. If William was in command, over there, he’d recognize a squadron of Royal Navy superdreadnoughts when he saw one. A man like William McElney didn’t lose his competence so quickly. And even if it wasn’t William in command, their warbook should have identified the superdreadnoughts as soon as they arrived. She wasn’t playing games with her squadron’s drive signatures or IFF transmissions.
“And there’s a Theocratic destroyer in orbit,” the tactical officer added. “She’s completely powered down.”
“Resend our IFF, then transmit a standard greeting,” Kat ordered. “And order the Morse to start preparations to deploy the StarCom.”
“Aye, Admiral,” the communications officer said. She paused. “We’re being hailed.”
“Put them through,” Kat said.
She smiled, warmly, as William McElney’s face appeared in the display. He looked older and scruffy in a manner that would have given Kat’s mother fits, but she couldn’t help thinking he looked happier. The files hadn’t said much about what William was doing at Asher Dales, but she had no doubt it was something her former XO would find rewarding and challenging. The days when he was kept back by an accident of birth were long over.
“William,” she said. “It’s good to see you again.”
“You too, Kat,” William said. He rubbed his stubble mischievously. “We had a visitor, as you can see.”
Kat nodded towards the display. “An enemy destroyer,” she said. “Where did you get that?”
“We were attacked,” William said. He sounded proud. “Luckily, we saw them coming in ample time to get ready.”
“Ah,” Kat said. A single destroyer was nothing compared to the forces that had waged titanic combat during the war, but Asher Dales had done very well. Given what they’d started out with a year ago, they’d done very well indeed. “I need to . . .”
“I would like to formally request your assistance in examining the hulk,” William said, wryly. “We just want copies of everything you find.”
Kat relaxed, slightly. They needed to examine the hulk . . . even though, technically, the vessel now belonged to Asher Dales. It would have been embarrassing if she’d had to take the captured ship. But William had understood the problem and opened the door for her. She hoped his new superiors wouldn’t take his kindness amiss. The die-hard Theocrats were everyone’s problem.
“I’ll send you copies of the records,” William added. “You may find them of interest.”
“Thank you,” Kat said. It was also the most successful engagement since the crisis had begun. If nothing else, losing a ship would make the enemy more careful about picking on supposedly undefended worlds. “We do need to talk. Your place or mine?”
William smiled. “I’d like to offer you Dandelion’s hospitality,” he said. “And the planetary government would probably like to offer you theirs as well.”
And you want a chance to show off, Kat thought wryly. She didn’t blame him. William had always had something to prove. And we have to talk in private.
“I’d be happy to visit,” she said. “And then I’d like to welcome you to Violence. We have much to talk about.”
“I look forward to it,” William said. He gave her a jaunty salute. “Over and out.”
His image vanished from the display. Kat smiled, again. She’d missed him . . . but she hadn’t realized how much she’d missed him until now. Perhaps she could convince him to come back to the Royal Navy. Or maybe . . . She shook her head, dismissing the thought. William wouldn’t be happy if he had to abandon Asher Dales. He was a man of honor. And besides, the Royal Navy would never reward him as he deserved.
Particularly now, Kat thought. Too many colonial officers had been thanked for their services and mustered out since the end of the war. And even with his connections, his career might not be safe.
“Admiral, Morse reports that she is ready to deploy the StarCom,” the communications officer said. “They can begin on your command.”
“Consider it given,” Kat said. A StarCom network wouldn’t solve all their problems, but it would make it easier to coordinate her fleet. It would probably also lead to a great deal of micromanagement from home . . . She shrugged. She’d just have to put up with the hassle. “And make sure the locals have access to the network.”
“Aye, Admiral.”
Kat stood. “And inform the captain that I will be visiting Dandelion,” she added. “He’s to take command of the squadron until I return.”
“I thought the navy handed out prize money for captured ships,” Tanya said as they waited by the airlock. “Why are you just giving the ship to her?”
“I’m not giving the ship to anyone,” William said patiently. Tanya hadn’t been happy when she’d heard he’d invited Kat to send people to examine the captured ship. “And there’s no way anyone will pay us any prize money for the ship.”
He kept his face impassive. Kat had been in an unpleasant position from the moment she’d realized
