The chase ships were still over fifty-five light-seconds behind the Odyssey, Weston noted, which meant that even if they had a real-time lock of the Odyssey’s position, it would take more than fifty-five seconds for any weapons fire to reach its position from the rear, not counting the Odyssey’s own current acceleration away from them.

That, coupled with the fact that they had a clear reading on the waste energy from the forward ship’s lasers, led Weston to his next move.

“Forward laser array has been adjusted, Captain,” Waters reported.

“Thank you. Helm,” Weston said.

“Yes, sir.”

“Prepare to abandon evasive maneuvers and initiate an attack run.”

“Aye, aye, Captain.”

“Captain Tianne,” Admiral Tanner glared at the screen. “You are late.”

“My apologies, Admiral.” The tall woman looked embarrassed and more than a little frustrated. “The Forge only just completed the basic systems on the Cerekus.”

“We have allies in-system currently doing battle with three Drasin warships,” Tanner said. “They have eliminated five others already and are being hard-pressed. I would appreciate it if you could arrange that they survive this battle.”

The woman gaped at him for a moment, not that Tanner blamed her in the slightest. There was no ally in known space that could stand up to the Drasin one-on-one, let alone eliminate five of the warships and fight a three-to-one duel with even the remotest chance of survival.

“Allies, Admiral?”

“I will explain as you move, Captain,” Tanner cut her off. “My staff is sending you the pertinent data as we speak.”

The woman glanced to her side. “Received. We are laying in our course now.”

“Excellent.”

“Admiral…” Captain Tianne frowned. “Our sensors have the battle in actual time as we speak. Who are these people?”

“That, Captain, is a question that I, too, wish to have answered,” Tanner said. “But for the moment, they are the saviors of our planet. I would prefer that they do not become its martyrs.”

“As you say, Admiral.” Tianne came to attention and saluted.

Tanner nodded with some satisfaction as the captain of the newly commissioned Cerekus battleship turned to her duties. One ship did not a fleet make, but this wasn’t just any ship. The Cerekus was the first in a new class, or it might be said, a very old one. A class of warships that the central computer had ordered, spitting out designs for when the Drasin first appeared.

Only the Forge could have built one so fast. The shipyard facility was one of the most advanced in all of the colonies. And the one most perfectly hidden. Tanner permitted himself a slight smile. Even should all the colonies fall, Maker forbid, the Forge would never be discovered.

And from that one port, a fleet would arise, like none Rael Tanner had ever imagined in his worst nightmares.

Weston held his order as the clock counted down the range, watching until the numbers dropped to under twenty light-seconds between the two onrushing ships.