‘The true masterstroke was in using the escorts,’ he continued, stabbing a finger onto the target lock rune. ‘Any kind of vox or narrowpoint transmission might be detected. Similarly, any kind of scanning wave from the hiding battleship had the potential to betray its presence. The escorts were like our outriders, the simple fact of their arrival in the dust cloud a pre-arranged signal that the bait had been taken. And two of them means that, should one get caught out by unlikely long-range fire or assault action, another would still survive to bring the message. Every angle covered.’

‘You admire them?’ Lerok seemed shocked by the possibility. ‘It is a coward’s way to wage war.’

‘It is a pragmatist’s strategy,’ countered Praxa­medes. ‘If we can escape the consequences of our oversight, we can take heart that the enemy is not nearly as strong in this sector as we feared. Resorting to such measures indicates not that the enemy are unwilling to engage in traditional battle, but are unable.’

Praxa­medes turned to the propulsion officer. ‘Ahead one quarter, bring us to within six miles of the target ship.’

The deck officer signalled his compliance and turned to the controls, his command answered by the grunting of half-dead servitors.

‘Captain, shall I take gunnery control?’ Praxa­medes asked.

‘No, I will do it,’ Aeschelus answered. ‘You make sure that our targeting is right on the mark.’

‘Yes, brother-captain.’ Praxa­medes knew his superior’s exhortation was purely reflexive, not an expression of any doubt in the lieutenant’s calculations.

‘In position, lieutenant!’ The officer at the navigational banks turned to the weapons control station. ‘Range ten thousand yards from target.’

‘Main bombardment cannon ready,’ reported Shipmaster Oloris, who had taken over direct command of the gunnery terminal. He in turn looked to Praxa­medes. ‘Ready to fire.’

‘Understood, shipmaster.’ Praxa­medes activated the command vox. ‘Assault command, gunship command, are you in position?’

The pilots signalled their acknowledgements before Nem­etus’ voice broke through the static of the communications link.

‘Ready when you are, ship command.’ There was resignation in his voice. ‘Target area is clear.’

‘Captain, all stations and commands report ready.’

Aeschelus received the report with a nod, one hand massaging the fist of the other. The following few seconds felt like a lot more, until the captain raised a finger and signalled to the shipmaster.

‘Bombardment cannon, open fire on designated target.’

Chapter Five

CHAPTER FIVE