She nodded slowly as she watched her vessel moving on the display, getting closer to the mines with each passing second. And she knew now she was facing a commander who was her true match, a captain who could defeat her. Who might very well be on the verge of defeating her right now.

*   *   *

Barron watched the display, along with everyone else on Dauntless’s bridge. The enemy ship was moving right into the spread of mines Commander Travis and her people had positioned along the line of retreat. Now Barron would see if his tactics had worked, or if the enemy would manage to escape from the trap he’d set.

“They’re decelerating, sir. From the energy readings, I’d guess they’re pouring everything they can into it.”

It won’t be enough…

Barron’s eyes darted to his own screen, confirming the enemy velocity readings. The Alliance ship would have been hard pressed to escape the minefield with full thrust, but with its damaged engines, there was no chance.

“Picking up laser fire, sir.”

Of course, they can’t escape, so they’ll try to pick off the nearby mines. It’s what I’d do.

Barron felt the tension building in his gut. It wasn’t easy to target mines, but it wasn’t impossible. The enemy had walked into his trap, but they could still get out unscathed. A hundred mines was all he’d had, and his makeshift minefield was far less dense than he’d have liked.

Still, it will be hard for them to get them all…

He pushed the concern from his mind. If the enemy got through unscathed, the battle was over. His ship was simply too damaged relative to its adversary. If he couldn’t even the odds, his people would still fight like hell, but they would lose.

“Commander Travis…” He tapped his headset, opening the line to his first officer. “Status report?”

“We’re on it, Captain. It’s a mess of half-assed fixes and patchwork, but I think it will work.” The first officer paused for a few seconds. Then she added, “At least I hope it will.”

“Very reassuring, Atara.”

“I don’t lie to you, sir. We’re looking at a coin toss…and that’s the truth.”

“Atara…” He was about to urge her to do anything she could, but of all the people he knew who didn’t need to be told that, Atara Travis was at the head of the list. “Very well…understood.”

He cut the line and stared straight ahead, watching the enemy ship enter the minefield, and reminding himself to breathe every so often.

*   *   *

“Another hit, Commander.” Wentus was staring down at his scope, reporting every time Invictus’s defensive batteries destroyed one of the mines. Kat’s gunners had picked off a dozen of the closest contacts, more than she’d dared to hope for. But she was far from sure it would be enough.