Well, there’s that at least, for what little it’s worth.

Sadly, the fact that there was no variance in the beams didn’t amount to much when there were so damn many of them. If he adapted the armor of the Heral’c to any one beam, the rest would turn him, his crew, and his ship to expanding vapor all the same.

“Calculate targets, return fire,” he ordered.

“Which ship?”

“All of them,” Senthe replied with a dry laugh.

Might as well go out in a blaze of light and darkness.

►►►

IBC Shion Thon, Flagship, Third Reconnaissance Squadron

► “Target evaded. All beams will miss.”

Misrem was unsurprised. “Continue firing. He cannot evade for much longer.”

“As you command, Navarch.”

She didn’t reply—didn’t need to. Once her orders were given, Misrem knew they would be followed. The routine confirmation mildly annoyed her, as though anyone on her crew would have the temerity not to pay attention to her every word.

The range was closing rapidly now. The target vessel wasn’t even trying to keep it open any longer. She supposed that the other captain knew well enough that his number was up. It didn’t matter how powerful his ship was, or how many tricks it had. Against her task force, there was no escape.

“Beam strike!”

“Who?” she twisted, eyes flashing.

“The Cora, the Menaz, the Tiv . . . Navarch, more reports coming in from across the squadron!”

“Damage reports. Anything significant?”

“No, Navarch. Some minor hull breaches, all sealed. Casualties are not significant. Beams were attenuated going through our gravitational warps.”

Misrem nodded. “Very well.”

She looked to the plot, dryly amused by the actions of her quarry. His response to her assault was immediate but amateurish at best. A professional would have struck at one or perhaps two targets, intending to inflict more significant damage.

Of course, at this range, striking at as many targets as possible did increase the odds of landing a strike, since even minute changes in course would result in missing by massive degrees. Still, a professional would have taken the lower odds of a hit in exchange for the higher odds of a kill.

This doesn’t look particularly good for Captain Aymes’ story, she thought.

It was a pity, really, as she’d almost found herself liking the rather abrasive captain. Unfortunately, he appeared to be nothing more than another fool trying to cover his incompetence.

She watched the plot carefully as the range plummeted, the slight whine of the laser discharging almost covered up by the regular sounds of the command deck.

“Navarch, we’ve analyzed their patterns,” her tactical officer said confidently.

“Adjust fire parameters. Continue full barrage.”

So now the fun part begins.

►►►

PW Heral’c

► “Enemy vessels closing. They’re getting closer with their fire as well, Captain.”

Senthe could see that, unfortunately.

“Break contact. Maximum acceleration,” he ordered. “Take us away from the planet. Lure them out; buy time.”

“Yes Captain.”