As it was, it merely caused every alarm on three ships to scream and several people to start praying as they watched. Most, fortunately, were completely ignorant of the situation until it had completely passed.

“Targets eliminated,” Milla Chans announced, letting out a long, slow breath and a shiver of adrenaline-fueled fear as she spoke.

“Good,” Gracen croaked slightly, shaken by the actions of her helmsman. Really should have known better. Fighter pilots. Lord.

“Signal the rest of the squadron. Get everyone back in formation,” she ordered. “I don’t want anyone else caught out alone like the Achilles. Tighten up.”

“Aye ma’am,” Susan said. “Orders sent.”

“Coming about, ma’am. Heracles is with us,” Steph announced. “The Bellerophon is catching up to the Achilles.”

“The Hippolyta and the Boudicca are closing ranks, securing the rear,” Susan told them.

“Good,” Gracen said. “How many are left inside knife range?”

“Twenty-eight, ma’am.”

“Damn it,” she hissed, shaking her head.

Knife range was the distance within which they could not target with their transition cannons. Outside that range, as long as they had munitions, the task force could stand off almost any imaginable enemy. Inside it? They were down to lasers and armor, and not a whole lot more.

That wasn’t to say that their lasers and armor weren’t impressive. Gracen knew that they were downright frightening. But it left the door open for a fair fight, and that was one thing she wanted to avoid at all costs.

“Can we outrun them?”

“Not a chance, ma’am,” Steph said. “These crates are fast, but they’re on us and they’re fast too. Take them here, take them now, and take them fast.”

Gracen nodded. She knew that herself but felt the need to ask the question.

“Very well. Close ranks. I want our flanks covered. Issue orders to Boudicca and Hippolyta to execute rearguard formation.”

“Roger, ma’am. Orders issued,” Susan said a moment later.

“Give me the Enterprise.”

“Enterprise online, ma’am,” Susan answered instantly.

“Captain Carrow, I need a fighter wing in motion in thirty seconds.”

The Enterprise’s captain took a few seconds to reply. “Mission, ma’am?”

“Antiship engagement.”

A few more seconds of light-speed delay passed, then Carrow’s voice came back. “Bravo wing is scrambling now.”

“Thank you, Captain.”

Gracen looked across her command deck and nodded resolutely. She could do this. They could do this.

“Issue to all ships,” she said calmly. “Fire on any target as they bear. Clear them out of our sky.”

“Yes ma’am, firing as we bear,” Milla Chans answered, already coding the assault into her station.

“Orders issued, Admiral. All ships acknowledge.”

“Enterprise, Bravo Actual.”

“Go for Enterprise Control, Bravo Actual.”

“Bravo Squadron is ready to launch,” Commander Thane Clarke said calmly. “Request go.”

“You are go.”

Thane nodded. “Bravo squad launching.”