“Damage-control teams are on-site, Captain,” Lamont said quietly. “We’ll be getting reports back shortly.”

“Very well.”

“And Engineering reports that we have full power coming off the tokamak.”

“Excellent. Mr. Waters, narrow-focus ping. Give me a real-time targeting solution.”

“Aye, aye, Captain,” Waters replied.

The surge went out, a single, low ping of sound announcing the signal across the bridge and the display in front of them. All snapped into sudden clarity as the enemy positions and formations were readily available to them.

“Main laser array, adjust for best general absorption against enemy materials,” Weston ordered.

“Aye, Captain,” Waters replied, calling up all the previous examples of enemy armor and ordering the computer to average them out and devise a new beam frequency. In a matter of seconds, it was ready and he nodded. “Coded, Captain.”

“Give me a sweeping beam, right across their fighter escort,” Weston ordered.

“Aye, aye, Captain.”

The tachyon traps sent a signal through the bridge of the Cerekus, bringing Tianne’s attention back to the present.

“What was that?”

“The Odyssey just registered a light-tachyon pulse, and we received a return off the Drasin, Captain. Probably a sensor system.”

Tianne nodded, glancing at the time to arrival.

Six rotations.

She wondered if they’d be able to hold out until she got there. Normally, she’d doubt it; however, this ship was obviously more than it appeared. Perhaps they would survive.

Perhaps.

“Send the details to Admiral Tanner,” she ordered. He may find it interesting.”

“Yes, Captain.”

The low hum of the main laser firing had died out seconds earlier, and now the waiting had started again. Though the time was now dropping, the wait was no less tense. The fact that it was becoming shorter by the second only meant that the battles were taking up a higher percentage of their time.

“Contact,” Waters whispered, drawing Weston’s eyes back to the screen.

For a moment, nothing, then a few of the fighters went up like matches in the darkness, flaring brightly under the sweeping gaze of the eye of the Odyssey’s main laser. Then a few more went up, and soon an entire formation was blazing ahead of the oncoming vessels.

“That’s it, Captain,” Waters said.

“Very nice shooting, Ensign.”

Weston glanced at the board, the distance was down to under twenty-five light-seconds now. “Change evasive action, Mr. Daniels. Move to Pattern Troy.”

“Aye, Captain. Initiating Pattern Troy,” Daniels replied, initiating the command set.

The Odyssey shifted and groaned as they changed course on thrusters, keeping themselves, hopefully, one step ahead of the enemy attacks.

CHAPTER 37

CHIEF CORRIN LED her crew through into the damaged sector. The decompression had left the section in massive disarray, items as large as chairs and desks scattered around the room.