‘Overlord Simut, I have discovered a potential weakness in our fleet manoeuvres,’ she sent to the other tomb ship. She expected Phetos to reply and was surprised when her cortical projection was seized by the other craft and pulled into the command-mastaba. Though her physical being remained aboard her own ship, Ah-hotep’s senses reeled for a moment while they displaced to her hard light facsimile aboard the Barge of the Stormhawk. She dipped in acknowledgement of the overlord’s rank, emanating waves of submission.

‘Weakness?’ hissed Simut. ‘What is this weakness you speak of?’

‘If your lordship would allow me a brief interface with your systems, I shall demonstrate.’

Simut considered the request for a short while, making her wait out of simple spitefulness. Eventually he acceded with a nod and extended cortical connections to the tomb ship’s main arrays. Ah-hotep pollinated the matrix with the adjusted data from her own ship, bringing the image to life in the air in front of the overlord and his royal warden. Two lines quite clearly showed unobstructed routes around the fourth planet towards the incoming resonator, if the enemy ship commanders decided the blackstone artefact was a target.

‘Their world is under direct attack. Do you really think the humans will see the value in attacking a distant, unidentified vessel?’ said Phetos.

‘I said potential weakness, my lord.’ Ah-hotep directed her explanation to Simut, knowing that he was far more likely to be confused and doubtful than his lieutenant. ‘It may be nothing, but the resonator is vital to our operation.’

‘We cannot afford to lose it,’ said Simut with a nod of agreement.

‘As you have forbade my involvement in the main assault, I humbly volunteer my ship to withdraw to a point that would allow me to intercept any gathering attack on the resonator.’ The image wavered, replaced by another projection that showed Ah-hotep’s tomb ship and a sphere of influence that protected the vulnerable approach to the blackstone resonator and its carriers. ‘It may be enough to dissuade any ultimately doomed but possibly disadvantageous offensive by the remaining human ships.’

‘You assume your escorts will go with you?’ said Phetos. ‘Your absence weakens our fleet within the third orbit.’

‘There is nothing to threaten us here, Phetos,’ proclaimed Simut. ‘Once we have secured dominance of the planet we will launch an attack on the orbital station that is resisting the overnull. This time we will ensure there are no anti-ship weapons on the surface or in orbit before we move the resonator into range. I approve your plan, plasmancer. Move your ship and flotilla to the position indicated and stand ready for further command.’

Ah-hotep lowered in deference again. ‘I shall leave my scan routines for your study.’