Ricket stayed quiet while the debate bounced around the table. Inquiringly, Jason turned to him. “Well?”

  “If we do decide to attack the Craing worlds, we’ll need to move away from here quickly. Even the Minian could not withstand a prolonged attack from hundreds of dreadnaughts. Once we fire our volley of missiles, expect the Craing forces to unload everything they have on us. That alone could seal our fate.”

  Eventually the side talking in the room went still. Jason had heard and evaluated the opinions of his most trusted advisors. “No, we will not destroy the seven Craing worlds. But we will go after all their military and their strategic assets. We will also target Emperor Lom himself, as well as their council of high priests. If that seals our fate, as Ricket so eloquently stated, so be it. But it just may cease their endless warring.”

  No one spoke for several moments. Jason clapped his hands once and said, “Cheer up, people. We’re not dead. Ricket, do everything you can to reestablish connection to the interchange. That alone would save our bacon. Aside from that, maybe we can execute a series of well-planned phase-shifts. Granger, I realize that even the Minian has limitations on how many phase-shifts she can initiate before needing to recharge. We need to know what that number is.”

  “The maximum distance the ship can phase-shift to is twenty thousand miles per phase-shift. She’ll need to recharge if you utilize that full distance over a duration of fifteen minutes.”

  “And what’s the distance necessary to clear that field of dreadnaughts?”

  This time it was Brian who spoke up. “Having first-hand knowledge of moving through that maze recently, I guess it would be in the neighborhood of one hundred thousand miles … give or take. That would give us a little breathing room on the other end.”

  “That would be five phase-shifts with a combined recharge time of one hour. But that’s only if we’re standing still while recharging. That won’t be the case.” Jason turned to Chief Horris. “I understand we won’t have light-speed capabilities. So you’ll need to ensure that our sub-light speeds are as high as you can manage. If we can cut the distance down to four, or even three, phase-shifts, so much the better.”

  The chief made an exasperated expression, but didn’t say anything.

  “Cap, I’ll need to take a look at the Minian’s available munitions,” Orion said. “Last I checked I wasn’t able to access that information from the AI.”

  Jason didn’t need to say anything, as Granger spoke up, “I’ll provide you with the necessary access protocols.”

  Perkins brought up a 3D holo-display that showed local space and the seven Craing worlds. “I should have a list of strategic targets within the next ten minutes, sir.”

  Chapter 34

  The Craing’s full attack started two minutes after the meeting broke up. Jason and Perkins were still calculating targeting solutions when Orion announced from the bridge that four dreadnaughts were moving in close. Already at General Quarters, Orion’s standing orders were to fully engage the enemy if any of the dreadnaughts entered the fight.

  Jason rushed from the ready room, ordering the XO over his shoulder to go ahead and upload the targeting information to tactical.

  By the time Jason was seated in the command chair there were two hundred, and counting, incoming missiles headed for the Minian.

  “Captain, incoming are maximum yield, fusion-tipped warheads. Looks like they’ve given up trying to salvage the Ion Station.”

  “Understood. It’s time. Why don’t you show me what this ship can do, Gunny?”

  “Deploying rail cannons …”

  A new overhead segment came alive, showing the virtual battle logistics of Craing space. Jason took in the virtual, massive blanket of red icons … dreadnaughts, light and heavy cruisers and other, smaller, Craing warships. A small green icon on the right signified the Minian’s present position, idling next to the Ion Station. Hundreds of yellow icons were making rapid progress across open space—heading in their direction.

  Jason felt a familiar vibration coming up through the deck plates; all four of the Minian’s powerful rail cannons were firing simultaneously at the incoming missiles. One by one the yellow icons blinked out.

  “Good job, Gunny,” Jason said, and held her stare for several more seconds before giving her a slight nod.

  The overhead display changed perspective, providing a view of the seven Craing worlds. They were beautiful … each completely different from one neighboring world to another. Granger, Brian, Perkins and Billy stood a half step behind the command chair. Jason was aware of their presence. Even now, there were doubts racing through his mind. Perhaps he should try to contact the admiral—let him make the ultimate decision that could cost thousands, if not millions, of lives. Only when he felt the pressure of a hand on his shoulder did his second-guessing of himself come to a halt.

  “You didn’t start this war, buddy. But it is up to you to do everything you can to end it,” Billy said. “Now pull the trigger so we can get the hell out of here.”

  Jason concentrated on the display. The seven planets now pulsed with multiple red target icons.

  “Craing’s land-based defenses number in the thousands,” Orion said. “There are also shipyard and armaments manufacturing, military bases, and academies.”

  “Approximate loss of life?”

  Orion hesitated, looking down at one of her console displays. “I don’t know for sure, Captain.”

  “An approximation is fine, Gunny.”

  “Three million lives lost.”

  The bridge went quiet. None there wanted to give the order; no one wanted to trade places with Jason at that particular moment. “Too many.”

  Orion shrugged, looking exasperated. “How …? What targets should I take off the table?”

  “Manufacturing facilities, military academies. Don’t target those.”

  “And the Emperor’s Palace?”

  “Yes, destroy it. Go ahead … Do it.”

  Without knowing the specifics, Jason was aware Gunny and Granger had recently spent time reviewing the Minian’s remarkable offensive weaponry. Like The Lilly, missile warheads were manufactured on the fly, via the phase-synthesizer. But the Minian’s JIT munitions were far more advanced and even more customizable, which made them unique. Targeting could be specific—an added level of detail that would ensure collateral loss of life, of non-strategic areas, was kept to a minimum. But even removing manufacturing sites and military academies as targets, Jason knew millions of Craing lives would be lost.

  The Minian let loose a barrage of missiles that lasted close to a minute. All eyes were on the overhead display. Bundled together at first, the missiles soon separated into smaller clusters and then broke into individual missiles, each one following its own targeting vector.

  “Incoming!”

  Virtually all space blazed with the crisscrossing vectors of plasma fire. Any enemy ship with a clear shot was firing plasma cannons and deploying missiles.

  “We’re taking substantial plasma fire from just about every ship in the vicinity. Shields are already down to eighty percent, Captain,” Gunny reported.

  He wanted to turn away. To give the order to phase-shift to the first set of coordinates, twenty thousand miles from where they currently sat. But Jason continued to watch the Craing worlds and the Minian’s missiles as they closed on their respective targets. He owed any innocent Craing people that much. When the destruction came, it was nearly simultaneous. Multiple segments on the display changed to close-up video feeds, showing their missiles honing in, and vaporizing, intended targets. With a heavy heart, Jason watched the centermost display feed. The Emperor’s Palace, standing tall and imposing … in a flash, it was gone. Angry now, Jason continued to stare at the ravaged landscape. Barely audible, Jason clenched his fists and said, “Fuck you, Lom. May you burn in hell for making me do this …”

  “Shields down to thirty percent and falling fast, Captain!”

  The Ion Station, taking multiple missile strikes, erupted into a magnificent fireball. The outward effects of the blast moved the Minian nearer to the closing dreadnaughts.

  “Helm, phase-shift us to the first set of coordinates,” Jason commanded.

  McBride must have had his finger poised over the button because the bridge immediately flashed white. Reappearing twenty thousand miles away, the Minian was enmeshed on top of a dreadnaught, lying at a perpendicular angle, toward the bow of the Craing warship.

  Those standing on the bridge were thrown to the deck. Grating sounds of metal shredding metal continued until the Minian slowly stabilized and came to rest.

  “Status?” Jason barked.

  “Shields are completely down, Captain,” Orion reported. “Looks like they saved us from substantial damage but now they’re gone.”

  This wasn’t the first time Jason had phase-shifted into another vessel. In fact, he’d made an ongoing practice of doing so. But losing their shields couldn’t be good.

  “Captain, we’re … stuck,” Perkins said, standing at the console directly to Gunny’s left. “Looks like a support beam from the dreadnaught is wedged into the Minian’s starboard flight deck.”

  “I can confirm that, Captain,” McBride said. “We’ve got propulsion. We’re just not able to break free from the clutches of that dreadnaught.”

  Jason leaned back and rubbed the stubble on his chin. It was then he noticed the approaching ships.

  “There are six dreadnaughts nearing. They’ve changed course toward the Minian,” Orion said, sounding almost apologetic.

  “Okay, here’s what I want to happen. Gunny, keep those other ships away from us. Fire at your discretion. Brian, how about you organize a team, perhaps the same team that broke us free from the Ion Station scaffolding.”

  “We’ve got incoming … nukes this time. Two thousand warheads headed our way. And that’s just the first wave.” Orion turned in her chair, shouting, “That’s it. I’m sorry, Captain, but there’s no way we’re fending off four, or six, or ten thousand nukes with no shields. Also, don’t forget all the dreadnaughts out there looking for revenge on what we just did to their home worlds.”

  Orion was the last person Jason expected to lose it—to give up. She’d obviously reached her breaking point. “We’re far from over, Gunny. Pull yourself together and man the guns. This isn’t about winning this battle, we can’t. It’s about giving us enough time to get out of here. So first thing’s first: take out that first wave.”

  Orion didn’t move for several beats then turned back around, “Aye, sir.”

  “Looks like we’re going to be here a while,” Jason said, looking around to find Billy standing at the rear bulkhead. “What do you say we dramatically improve our odds?”

  “I’m up for that. What are we waiting for?” Billy answered with a wry grin.

  “XO, you have the bridge. Billy and I are taking The Lilly out for a spin.”

  * * *

  With the exception of Toby Jackson, still tasked with guarding Granger, twenty-four Delta Force combatants were assigned to the Minian. Putting up a defense position within the Minian’s breached starboard flight deck, their presence would allow Brian’s repair crew to work on getting the two ships dislodged.

  Back on The Lilly, Jason confirmed Ricket was still on board and then hailed his fighter squadron leader, Lieutenant Craig Wilson.

  “Go for Wilson.”

  “Lieutenant, need you to get your butt up to the bridge ASAP. You’ll be at the helm. Tell Grimes and the others to be ready to launch their fighters into open space within two minutes. We’ve got incoming.”

  “Aye, Captain, I’m on it.”

  Chapter 35

  The bridge crew included Ricket as XO, one of the Gordon brothers on comms, Bristol at tactical, and Lieutenant Craig Wilson at the helm post. Jason gave the order to phase-shift The Lilly from the relative safety of the Minian’s large hold into open space.

  Since the Minian was undergoing attack from all sides, Wilson had prior needed to coordinate with Orion a safe haven location that would be clear from any friendly fire.

  “Incoming from … shit, everywhere,” Bristol yelled.

  “Watch your language,” Jason said with an irritated glare toward tactical.

  The Lilly’s large arsenal of plasma and rail cannons came to life as the latest wave of Craing warheads headed toward them.

  Jason answered an incoming hail: “Go for Captain.”

  “We’re phase-shifting fighters in thirty seconds,” Lieutenant Grimes said.

  “Copy that,” Jason responded, then hailed Orion on the Minian: “What’s going on with the drones?” He recalled the row upon row of idle drones from the first time he’d been on the Minian’s flight deck. Those advanced little killers could make a big difference over the next few minutes.

  “Both sides of the Minian’s flight deck are still obstructed by the top portion of the dreadnaught. I needed Granger’s help figuring out how to phase-shift them as a unit into open space. They should be deployed within the next minute.”

  Jason shifted his eyes to the logistical display segment and felt his heart sink in his chest. It was clear—every ship in Craing space was quickly making its way to their location. He was reminded of his recent words to Orion—we don’t need to win the battle, just to hold on long enough to escape. To do that he’d need help. Jason looked at the nearby dreadnaught, and I know just where I’ll find it.

  Expecting to see The Lilly’s six red fighters, Jason was surprised to see twenty-five bright blue Minian fighters suddenly appear around The Lilly. Of course, Jason thought. Grimes and her expanded squad of twenty-four Top Gun pilots opted for the significantly more-advanced fighters stationed on the Minian’s flight deck. Now moving across space at incredible speeds, the squad wasted no time attempting to repel the constant barrage of incoming ordnances. But even their resounding defense wasn’t going to be enough. With the Minian’s shields down, as well as the shields on the dreadnaught, the two goliath-sized ships were sitting ducks for what seemed to be an endless onslaught of plasma fire, and wave after wave of incoming missiles.

  “Orion … we need those drones—”

  Jason cut his command short on seeing several hundred small drones suddenly appear. Blue, similar looking to the fighters, they quickly spread out and went to work countering the ever- increasing volley of missiles. He watched as two Craing missiles made it through their defenses, exploding into the top of the dreadnaught—far too close to the Minian for comfort. Four nearby drones were instantly vaporized and the Minian, abruptly jerked, shifted within the still tight grasp of the Craing warship’s outer hull.

  Jason hailed Orion but got no response. A moment later he was hailed by Perkins. “Go ahead, XO.”

  “Orion took a knock to her head. She’ll be all right—actually, she’s coming around now. We can’t take another hit like that, Captain,” the XO said, his voice unsteady.

  “When does Granger expect to have the Minian’s shields back up?”

  “About fifteen minutes was the best I can get from him.”

  Jason continued to watch the display—the Minian remained locked tight within the dreadnaught’s grasp. “Maybe there’s something else we can do in the meantime. Ricket, you’re with me.”

  Leaving Wilson in command of The Lilly, Jason spent the next ninety seconds on comms rounding up an assault team, then moved toward the largest of the shuttles, the Magnum.

  The last time Jason attempted to pilot this type of shuttle, one of the newer shuttles from the Minian, he’d had mixed results. Even with all the HyperLearning he’d gone through in a MediPod, actual real-time behind the stick was still essential.

  “You’re flying?” Billy asked, climbing into the copilot seat.

  Jason didn’t dignify the question with an answer. He turned and verified his teammates were on board: Ricket, Rizzo, Chief Petty Officer Woodrow, and Traveler. “How’s the foot?” he asked the latter.

  Traveler stamped his left foot down several times on the deck. “Good as new.”

  “What’s the plan, Cap?” Billy asked.

  Ricket reached into the cockpit and configured the shuttle’s phase-shift coordinates.

  “The plan is to help convince the dreadnaught bridge crew to defend themselves. That simple.” In a flash, they phase-shifted into the dreadnaught’s primary corridor.

  “Feels like old times,” Billy mumbled around a fat, unlit stogy hanging from the corner of his mouth.

  The corridor was undifferent from other dreadnaught main corridors they’d been in over the past year, with one exception: this one bustled with activity. Multiple repair droids had been activated and were whizzing about in different directions, presumably to attend to the ever-increasing outer hull damage. No less than ten, slower moving, open-air crew carriers hovered as the shuttle passed by them. The closest was mere feet below them and Jason saw some startled faces looking upward as he powered the shuttle over their heads. Within ten seconds they’d reached the end of the corridor and the section of the ship containing the bridge. He reset the Magnum’s controls to maintain their current hovering position.

  Jason and Billy stood at the same time and both activated their segmented helmets to close.

  “We have zero time to waste. Ricket, you need to get this dreadnaught to defend herself. We also need to see if getting her shields working is a possibility.”

  The team phase-shifted as a unit and appeared by the raised officer section on the bridge.

  “Who’s in charge here?” Jason yelled, his multi-gun raised and pointing toward four Craing officers who sat with their mouths agape before him. Truth was, he already knew. He repositioned his weapon to point at the officer wearing a gold medal around his neck. The Craing captain raised his hands even higher than they already were. “What’s your name?”