“You two sound well suited to each other,” Arturo said. “I’m glad you’re here, Spin. Do you… maybe have a plan?”

“Yes,” I said. “First, let’s see how they react to me. Stand by.”

I flipped M-Bot on his axis and overburned backward, slowing from our incredible approach. Even with his advanced GravCaps, I felt the g-forces slam me back in my seat. As soon as we hit Mag-2.5, I spun us around in the air and took assessment. Sixteen Krell fighters.

This was it. I had another chance.

Time to stop that bomb.

I sliced through the center of the Krell ships at speed, buzzing the bomber and its close guard of three remaining black ships. I turned upward and gave them a good view of M-Bot, with his wicked wings and dangerous silhouette. He had four destructor pods—which I hoped they wouldn’t see were empty—and an obviously advanced and powerful design.

The Krell always targeted what they considered the most dangerous ship or the one bearing an officer. I counted on them seeing M-Bot, and…

… and they immediately gave chase. A flock of thirteen ships, all but the three black ones, broke off and swarmed after me, firing a chaotic array of destructors.

Excellent. Terrifying, but excellent.

“We have to stay just ahead of them, M-Bot,” I said. “Keep them strung along, thinking they’ll get the upper hand on us at any moment.”

“Understood,” he said. “Yar.”

“Yar?”

“Assumed pirate-speak, but actually a stylized West Country accent popularized by the acting role of a specific individual. It’s supposed to be intimidating.”

“Okay…” I shook my head and eased us through a complex Ahlstrom loop.

“The holes in my memory did leave some eclectic tidbits,” he said. “Yar.”

I cut right, watching the proximity sensors, and noted that Arturo, Quirk, and Nedd had arrived.

“Is this all of us, Amphi?” I asked.

“Riptide Flight is incoming, about a minute and a half out,” Arturo said. “Jorgen is assigned with them, and a couple of older pilots I don’t know. I think they picked up some scouts on the way, so FM might be there too.”

“Great,” I said, grunting and turning my ship in another sequence of dodges. “Until they get here, see if you and Nedd can harry that bomber. Be careful, those black ships guarding it are more capable than your average Krell. Just try to drive the bomber away so it—”

“Negative,” Ironsides said over the line. Great. Of course she was listening. “Pilots, you bring down that bomber.”

“As much as I’d like you to sacrifice yourself, Ironsides,” I said, “let’s determine if we need that first. Amphi, Nedder, see what you can do.”

“Gotcha, Spin,” Nedd said.

“And me?” Kimmalyn asked.

“Hang back,” I said. “Take aim on that bomber. Wait until its shield is down and its guards are distracted.”

The private light on my comm flashed.

“Spensa…,” Kimmalyn said. “Are you sure you want to leave this to me? I mean…”