‘I don’t think so, brother-captain. At no point in the engagement did the escorts attempt to close with the Ithraca’s Vengeance nor open fire. There’s no evidence that they were even armed vessels, we just assumed they were because of their signatures.’

‘False destroyers?’ said Aeschelus. ‘Meant to deter attack, I suppose. But it did not work.’

‘No, they are messengers, brother-captain. Like the escorts, I believe the cruiser is also little more than a shell, with virtually no crew. Looking again at the readings, there’s about twenty per cent of the normal life signs for a ship that size. Often that means that the vessel has been infested with warp-denizens, but other than some mutants, Lieutenant Nem­etus has met no evidence of the warp-born. Time-lapse conclusively shows that the reactor shutdown and the loss of the ladening bay doors were almost concurrent. They were an elaborate pretence with a two-fold purpose. Firstly, to encourage us to a boarding action. Secondly, to do so through a known route of attack which the much-diminished crew could guard. Nem­etus wrong-footed their defence.’

Although he was not sure where the lieutenant was leading him, Aeschelus could understand the logic so far. He looked back at the main display. The fight for the strategium was ongoing.

‘I fail to see the cause for alarm,’ he told Praxa­medes. ‘As you say, Nem­etus has nullified the enemy ruse with his insight. He will have control of the enemy command bridge within minutes. That reduced crew have been very slow to respond.’

‘Why, brother-captain?’ said Praxa­medes. ‘If we assume they were assembled ready to spring the original ambush, what has delayed them from moving forward to engage the new line of attack?’

‘I have a feeling you have a theory, Prax.’

‘The entire purpose of the ruse has not been to eliminate the boarding party. By striking for the strategium they are now separated from their exits. It is a literal trap, holding them inside the bridge.’

‘A position which they can effectively hold against a far more numerous foe. With targeted bombardment and gunship strikes, we could easily provide support for them.’ Aeschelus again halted Praxa­medes with a hand as another thought occurred. ‘Is that the plan? To lure us in closer and then power up the weapons decks from the perfectly functioning reactor?’

‘With gunnery control in our hands, it would be a fairly ineffective attack, brother-captain.’

‘True. So what is the point of keeping our warriors on board?’

‘To ensnare the Ithraca’s Vengeance. What can’t we do while our boarders are away? What would happen if we came under attack?’