Bang, bang, bang.

Then she waited and repeated the action.

Bang, bang, bang.

Each hit vibrated through her helmet contact, rattling her teeth. Corrin grimaced while turning down the pickups as she waited.

Rap, rap, rap.

Three soft hits came in response.

“I’ve got a live one in here!” she yelled out. “Get me a portable lock and some evac suits!”

“Pardon me, Admiral,” Captain Tianne said, her eyes wide, “but did I hear you correctly? You wish me to what?”

“Send a message to the Odyssey,” Admiral Tanner replied. “We have a code you can use that they should be able to decipher.”

Tianne waved her hand. “Again. Pardon me, Admiral, but that is a lunatic idea.”

“Excuse me?” Tanner glared at her.

“The Drasin have not yet detected us. To follow this…idea of yours would be reckless to the point of criminal behavior.”

“Captain Tianne, there are only two Drasin remaining. If you are able to recall the Odyssey from a potentially suicidal confrontation, your two vessels would be able to deal with them, together. Should the Odyssey lose its current battle, you will be forced to deal with the two Drasin, alone. Are you that confident?” Tanner asked.

“Yes,” Tianne said. “The Cerekus is unprecedented…”

“Not quite, if you’ll recall. Its designs did come from the Central Computer, and Central isn’t known for designing warships in its spare time.”

“Be that as it may,” Tianne said, “the Cerekus is more than able to deal with two Drasin warships.”

“Good. Then you have no reason not to warn the Odyssey of your arrival,” Tanner told her. “After all, if the Cerekus is as able as you say, what difference will warning make?”

Tianne glared at the screen, her mouth opening for another objection.

“This is an order, Captain,” Tanner cut her off. “I want that ship intact.”

There was, of course, only one answer to that.

“Yes, Admiral. I will transmit the code,” she said, each word grating on her as it passed her teeth.

“Thermal bloom, Captain!” Waters announced as a section of the threat board was briefly whited-out by an overload in the infrared spectrum.

“Analyze,” Weston replied in clipped tones.

“Working on it…”

A moment later, the image stabilized and Waters visibly flinched.

“Sorry, sir. We got a hit, but it wasn’t enough. She’s still coming.”

“Very well. Secure from Nimitz.”

“Aye, aye, Captain,” Daniels responded, adjusting his program. “New pattern?”

“Evasive. Fractal generation.”

“Aye, aye, sir.”

Weston called up more information on his personal board, eyeing the distance grimly.

Fifteen light-seconds and still closing.

“Mr. Wat—”

“Captain! Tachyon surge!”

“Pin it down!” Weston ordered. “Where did it come from?”

“Oh…directly astern, sir!” Lamont was the first to reply, paling. “It’s coming from—”

“Tachyon surge!” Waters announced again. “We’ve been pinged again, Captain.”

“What the…” Weston stiffened, half twisting in his seat. “That does not make any—”