She turned in time to see the southernmost gun tower explode. Spires of flame shot into the sky as black stone crumbled down. For a moment, the crew paused in horror, and Caledonia knew they were all wondering the same thing she was: who had been inside when it exploded? If they’d been unable to wrest control from the Bullets, destroying the tower was likely the best option the team had had, but which team had it been?

“Ready,” Oran said, racing back to her side.

Caledonia ripped her gaze from the fire. The tower was out of play, which meant their team was still fighting. Maybe if she could give the remaining members a little more time . . .

“On my mark,” she said. She left Oran by the catapults as she rushed back to the bridge. “Nettle, bring us around. I want us nose-to-nose with those ships coming around our flank.”

In a moment, Nettle had the ship facing west, their nose driving hard toward a cluster of Bullet ships swooping around behind her.

As soon as they were close enough, Caledonia nodded to Oran.

One by one, he fired the star blossoms. They flew high, black orbs against a dawn sky blossoming with pink and purple and the sharpest blue. It had hardly been any time at all since the attack began.

As the bombs fell on four Bullet ships, the screams that rose pierced the percussive song of battle. The pain of that sound settled into Caledonia’s blood like thorns of ice.

The flanking fleet stopped advancing, their thrusters churning fearfully against their own momentum as the four ships she’d struck coasted ahead. Their guns were quiet, while their engines revved with no one left to guide them.

The star blossom bombs had done their work and cut through hundreds of Bullets without an ounce of mercy.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

“Caledonia!”

Her name, but also an accusation. Pisces stood just inside the bridge. Her mouth gaped and her eyes were wide and unbelieving. But there was no time for discussion. A new volley of fire loosed from one of the four remaining gun towers. It flew high and Caledonia held her breath as she tracked its progress.

One of Lir’s ships stuttered, its nose shoved into the water by a sudden explosion.

Caledonia’s crew roared in triumph.

“That’s one!” Caledonia grinned. “Bring us back around, Nettle! Harwell, tell the fleet to keep driving in. Our team just needs a little more time to get the rest of those towers!”