Katrine snapped her head toward her tactical operations officer. Tylian Wentus was Vindictus’s third-in-command, and Kat’s main link to what was happening on her ship. Alliance protocols were heavily based on the chain of command, and it was considered beneath a ship commander to issue orders directly, except in the direst emergencies. She tended to think such practices were pure idiocy, but she was a creature of duty, and it wasn’t her place to question things.

“Very well, Optiomagis. Maintain course and thrust.”

“Yes, Commander.” Wentus’s tone was as sharp and crisp as her own.

Kat turned back toward the main display. She knew her officer well. Very well. They’d even engaged in a brief fling during their Academy days. It had been little more than recreation, and certainly nothing she’d consider resuming now that he was under her command. Alliance society tended to frown on romantic relationships and attachments, viewing them as distractions from duty, and instead encouraged casual affairs. Sex had its place for relaxation and stress relief between campaigns—and, of course, for reproduction with genetically-compatible partners—but it had little place on a ship at war. And petty sentiments had none. Not on a warship. Not anywhere in Alliance society.

Wentus’s service had been exemplary since he’d been assigned to Vindictus half a year before, but Kat still wondered if her tactical officer harbored any resentments. They’d graduated in the same class, but Wentus came from normal Citizen stock, while her family was Patrician. Kat’s father had been a hero, killed heroically in battle, while Wentus’s parents had been journeyman officers who had served well but achieved little distinction. The divergence in their career trajectories had been entirely predictable, and while Kat knew she had earned every promotion and decoration she had received, she questioned how her old lover saw it from his lower position on the chain of command.

Those thoughts were all secondary, drifting through the back of her mind. Her focus on the battle was unbroken, her eyes staring right at the main display when the icon representing Draco winked out of existence.

Commander Ellus…his entire crew…

Her eyes were locked on the display. Draco had been one of the lead ships, about fifty thousand kilometers ahead of Vindictus. It had been hit several times on the approach, and the records showed it had sustained moderate damage in the long-range missile exchanges, but Kat was stunned the big capital ship had been destroyed already. Her fingers moved over her controls, pulling up the last data transmitted from the stricken vessel. It confirmed her suspicions. Something powerful had hit the battleship. Something unexpected, a weapon strong enough to destroy a capital ship with one shot.

So much for the intelligence services…

The Helians were well known for their advanced technology. Perhaps they had a new weapon, something they’d kept secret. If so, the entire Alliance fleet was in danger.