The captain accepted these reports without comment, his attention focusing on the schematic that showed the relative positions of the two warships and the crippled vessel. He let them swallow his thoughts for a short while, the noises of the strategium, the movement in the periphery of his vision fading to nothing. The chronometer crept down and the distance-to-target estimate receded with it.

‘First gunship is in the bay, captain,’ came Oloris’ report.

‘Acknowledged, shipmaster.’

To pick up the incoming gunships, Aeschelus had dropped down on the orbital plane by three miles, which had fractionally increased their flight time but placed the lure-ship between the Ithraca’s Vengeance and the incoming traitor battleship. Not just range but an unobstructed firing solution were needed before the enemy could open fire.

‘Augur control, what is the status of the cruiser’s reactor?’ He looked at Praxa­medes. ‘Any sign of their weapons powering up?’

‘None, brother-captain. I think that whatever system they used to crash-vent the reactor to simulate the breach needs time to reset. All power output on the target vessel is minimal.’

Forty-three seconds.

Forty-two seconds.

It was possible that, with some close manoeuvring and patience, the Ithraca’s Vengeance could stay in the sensor shadow of the cruiser for some time, repositioning to keep its bulk between the Ultramarines ship and the Despoiler-class vessel that was now hunting them. The enemy commander might even be frustrated into closing the range, giving the Space Marines a chance to break from cover and dare the guns with a hit-and-run attack.

Of course, if that covering ship suddenly restored power to its weapon bays it would be at point-blank range, and certainly powerful enough to overload the Ultramarines’ shields. Time did not appear to be on Aeschelus’ side.

‘Second gunship touching down, captain.’

Aeschelus stepped forward to his command panel and activated the vox-link.

‘Assault command, what was the status of your data extraction?’

‘Barely ten per cent complete, brother-captain.’ Nem­etus’ breathing seemed slightly laboured, but it might have just been the link. ‘It would be a miracle if there was anything much of use in what we managed to upload.’

‘Understood, assault command.’

Twenty-eight seconds.

It was not just the relinquishing of the prize that rankled, though that would be enough to vex any commander. It was the manner of the trap and the ignominy of its conclusion. Aeschelus gritted his teeth, looking again at the schematic, trying to figure out the best way to launch a potential counter-attack. If they closed the distance at full speed, accelerating from the moment the bay doors were shut – damn it, before the doors shut – it would take…

Aeschelus snorted.

Too long.

A few thousand yards closer, maybe they would weather the incoming fire. Maybe they would get close enough to re-launch the assault on a new target, but there was no reason to assume the battleship was as under-crewed as the lure vessel and escorts had been.