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“Did our primary target change?” Shawn asked
hesitantly. Based on their previous heading, the combined Unified fleet wasn’t
scheduled to engage the Meltranians for another ten minutes. In hindsight,
however, he should have expected such an overly aggressive move by the enemy.
Once the Meltranians had located the fleet, the enemy had three choices: turn
back, continue on course, or rush in and fight. It seemed that they had chosen
the latter.
       “Negative, Commander. Your primary target is still
the centermost carrier. Admiral Hansen is still convinced that the Meltranian
fleet coordinator is on that vessel. However, the enemy has increased to flank
speed. They’ve released a massive protective screen of small craft.”
       “That doesn’t seem much like a Meltranian leader,”
Raven spoke up, her face automatically appearing on Shawn’s side console.
       “On the contrary, that sounds exactly like a
Meltranian commander: send in the cannon fodder first, followed by the heavy
guns. Keep back while the grunts take the blows.”
       Roslyn let out a small “humph” and nodded her head
slowly.
       There was a long silence between all the fighters
in the wing. It seemed everyone was poised for what was about to come next.
Three minutes later, the yellow light began to flash once more on Shawn’s
control panel.  “Kestrel here. Go ahead, Duchess .”
       “The Meltranians’ vessels are in visual range.
Short-range sensors are picking up a massive buildup in their forward weapons
arrays, Commander. The Kafarans are advancing to the head of the fleet for our
protection. Prepare for battle.” 
       Shawn tapped in the command that would link his
comm to his tactical officer. “Drake, what do you have?”
       The lieutenant’s highly modified sensors, which had
been further enhanced with specifications provided by the Kafarans, reached out
far ahead of the Sector Command forces. “Confirmed, sir. All intruder vessels
appear to be arming their forward batteries.”
       “ Duchess , what does their formation look
like?” Shawn asked, knowing that the carrier’s much more powerful sensors
would, by now, be able to discern the composition of the entire Meltranian
fleet.
       “Not as loose as we’d have liked, Commander. We’re
counting fifty-two vessels. They’re in a staggered formation, roughly ten
vessels high and about twenty wide. Sensors confirm that there are three collectors
in the lead, flanked by cruisers and destroyers. The larger carriers are in the
middle of the formation, which should give you some time before they’re clear
enough to launch fighters of their own. Recommend you cut in from the Z-axis.
There seems to be less resistance that way.”
       “Roger, Duchess . Just give me the word,”
Shawn said, gripping the shuttle’s control handle with one hand and the index
finger on the other poised above the thrust control switch.
       “Stand by,” Weberity replied distractedly, probably
conferring with Admiral Hansen, who would very likely be in the Duchess ’s
combat information center.
       Shawn brought up Roslyn’s channel.  “Raven, signal
the rest of the squadron. We’re getting ready to go.”
       “Yes, sir,” the seasoned lieutenant commander
responded.
       Commander Weberity’s voice came back over the
headset a moment later. “Engage thrusters in five … four … three … two … one.
Mark.”
       “Time to light the fire,” Shawn said, pressing the
thruster igniter. The blue-white glow of the engines sprang to life, rocketing
the tiny craft farther away from the Duchess of York . The rest of the
Rippers were tight on Shawn’s tail; their engines lighting off in a computer-controlled
sequence directly after their commanding officer.
      
       When the Meltranian ships became discernable out
their forward view ports, Shawn heard someone—probably Bagpipes—let out a gasp.
There were easily a hundred skeleton-like vessels, perhaps