“Okay, okay,” murmured Grayell, still deep in thought. “See if you can find us somewhere in that planetary cluster that we can hide if needs-be. Any signs of the ships nearby taking an interest in us?”
“They’re all moving along the same vector to the way-station — no deviation yet.”
“Good. Well, let’s hope it stays like that. We’re going to find out if all that hard work we spent on making the Defiance look like a Luminal ship pays off.
“And just in case it doesn’t: scramble all remaining fighter crews that you can pull away from the refugee fleet — I want them resupplied and ready to launch at my command. The cruisers too — I want the Hammerfall and the Katana ready to fight — get the crews from anywhere you can. I’ll take the Katana myself — if we do end up having to fight, then let’s take as many of them down with us as we can.”
Mellarnne was ashen-faced.
“But Grayell, we’ve just crammed about a hundred refugee ships into the Defiance, many of them damaged in the New Eden attack. The cruisers will never get through the refugee ships — it’s chaos out there. There are fires all over the place — they’re finding casualties in every —”
“Just get them prepared! If we have to get out to fight then we’ll clear a path with the Hammerfall if necessary!”
Ryann turned to Grayell in shock but remained silent. There was such a fierce energy burning in his father that he had never seen before; it bordered upon mania. He stood looking on as Grayell and Mellarnne worked feverishly at the scanner table, occasionally looking up to bark orders at the flight crew. His mind drifted with fatigue and he slumped down into a nearby chair to rest. A vision of Jean-Baptiste Grande’s face filled his mind, and he realised that his hand had gone up to the Reliquary in the pocket of his flight-suit.
“I think I’m going to get back to the Marianne. Will you be okay here?”
Angelique’s soft voice at Ryann’s side broke him from his silent reverie. He looked around in surprise to see her gazing down at him with a concerned expression.
“The Marianne?” he managed to mumble at last.
“I’m not much use here,” she said with a wry smile, gazing around the bridge. “If we need to fight then I’ll be more use with Anders and his crew.”
“Hold on, I’ll come down with you.” He went to stand, but had to steady himself as a wave of dizziness swept over him.
“I don’t think you’re in any state to be going anywhere; you need to rest up. Don’t worry, there’ll be plenty more fights to come.” Angelique gave a bleak laugh and reached out, holding his arm lightly. “Take care of him,” she said to Grayell, then turned, hurrying off towards the exit.
Ryann went to follow her but felt a hand restraining him.
“Ryann, where are you going?” asked Grayell in a low voice.
“I’m going down to the landing-bays to prep the Interceptor I got from New Eden,” he replied in a weary voice. “You said you wanted all pilots ready in their ships.”
Grayell peered anxiously around the chaos of the bridge as personnel worked frantically at their stations.
“I want you aboard the Katana,” said Grayell at last, leaning in close to make sure that he wasn’t overheard.
“The Katana? Why Dad?” asked Ryann in a confused tone. The Katana was one of the cruisers, the fastest ship in the Ghost-Runners’ fleet; a military reconnaissance vessel fitted with stealth-runners.
“We need to be ready to fight, and I want you with me this time.”
Ryann turned to go, limping slowly off in the direction Angelique had taken. “I’m more use in a fighter Dad — I’ll be okay,” mumbled Ryann, before Grayell pulled him up once more. This time he didn’t let go, and Ryann twisted his arm uncomfortably.
“This isn’t a damn discussion group Ryann!” snapped Grayell, and once again Ryann was taken aback by the ferocity in his father’s voice. “When I give an order I don’t expect it to be endlessly questioned by anyone — least of all my damn son!”
There was a moment of shocked silence around the bridge before the crew returned to their duties. Ryann felt a pang of fear in his stomach before a wave af anger washed over him.
“The Katana? So, why that ship?” he spat. “Why not the Hammerfall?”
“Stop behaving like a child Ryann,” replied his father sternly. “You know why.”
“I just want to hear you say it Dad,” he said in an accusatory tone. “Nothing about it being the fastest ship in the fleet? Thinking of running somewhere?”
“Just make sure you’re aboard the Katana dammit!” snapped Grayell, and stormed off, shouting out orders to the busy personnel.
Ryann just stood for a moment, glowering after his father.
“Let me know if there are any changes to the Luminal fleet,” called Grayell, turning angrily to Mellarnne. “I want all the senior flight officers in the conference room in twenty minutes.” And with that, he turned and headed towards the exit leaving Mellarnne staring after him in surprise. At the doorway he paused, as though struggling to come to some decision. After a moment, he shouted, “Ryann, with me!” and stormed off.
Ryann battled to hold down another wave of anger. He looked to Mellarnne, who just shrugged in a conciliatory manner and then went back to his work.
Ryann gave an exhausted sigh and followed his father out of the control room.
CHAPTER TWO
RANSOME
“What the hell was all that about?” demanded Ryann, catching up with Grayell as he strode purposefully along the corridor. “You have no right to speak to me like that in front of everyone! And where do you think you’re going? We’ve got half the Luminal fleet surrounding us and you’re off for a stroll? Dad!”
He pulled his father to a halt and Grayell snatched his arm angrily away.
“I don’t need to explain my every move to you or anybody!” he
