To Clan and Conquer (Clan Beginnings) (33 page)

Lidon allowed himself a small, tight smile.  If that Kalquorian-originated vessel got close enough to link in with the pirated shuttles’ frequencies, the plan might just work.

Tranis growled low in his throat.  “Interceptors within frequency range of lead shuttles.  Command beta-two-Tranis, commence.”

The pause was only a few seconds, but the time seemed to stretch forever.  Lidon had to force himself to not hold his breath.  Everything rode on Tranis seizing control of that one ship.

“I have it.  Command beta-three-Tranis, commence.”

The vid in front of Tranis scrolled faster than ever, data flowing with stunning rapidity.  Tranis’ face erupted into a predatory grin, and Lidon’s warrior instincts woke at the feral expression.  He’d done it.

Tranis verified success.  “Navigation control of all Kalquorian nav-based craft confirmed.  First Officer Tranis to Captain Piras:  we have control of slightly less than half of the Tragoom attack force.  Stand by for final breach.”

Lidon added, “Security grid collapse in three minutes.”

Piras’ voice:  “Acknowledged.”

“Command theta-one-Tranis.  Commence.”  A moment’s pause.  “Confirming Kalquorian nav-based craft homing in on other enemy ships.”

Lidon had steered them into sensor range, and he stared at his vid that showed the armada.  Flashes of light flared brightly, confirming the Kalquorian-based ships were moving under Tranis’ power and smashing into other ships.

The Nobek couldn’t keep the happiness out of his voice.  “Enemy laser fire and pulse cannons activated and targeting Kalquorian nav-based craft.  They are destroying their own fleet.”

The distance between the fighter and the Tragoom armada made the small pulses of fire and explosions seemingly unimportant.  However, Lidon knew it was sensational chaos happening over there.

Then came the final piece of the puzzle.  Lidon transmitted, “Security grid has gone offline, Captain.  The way is open to your attack force.”

“Acknowledged, Weapons Commander.  Our ships are on their way.  Estimated time to arrival, ten minutes.”

Tranis switched the com to mute again.  His initial excitement seemed to be wearing off already as he maneuvered the hijacked Tragoom vessels.  He wore a slight frown.  “They’re taking out the Kalquorian-based ships fast.  They’ve wasted no time figuring out that’s where the problem lies.  They know we’re on to them.”

Lidon watched the would-be invaders descend into bedlam.  “I’m not sure they’re aware the security grid has gone down.  The diversion is a success.  Not to mention taking out quite a bit of their attack force.”  He could barely contain his delight.  Tranis’ ruse was working superbly, even if the usurped crafts were being quickly disabled or destroyed.  “I’ll bring us closer as our defense force arrives, just to keep an eye on things.”

“Let’s do that.  I’m down to  twenty percent of the seized ships already.”

Lidon checked his instruments.  “Kalquorian force arrival in two minutes.”

Tranis scowled.  “We’re still outgunned.”

The Nobek snorted.  “I’ll pick our military over twice the number of Tragooms any day.”

“I’m with you on that score.  Several non-Kalquorian based ships are breaking off and fleeing towards Tragoom space.  They have no idea what’s going on.”

“Like the cowards they are, they’re running.  One minute to engagement.”

The Kalquorian destroyers were in sight now, swiftly closing in on the confused Tragooms.  Seeing single- and double-man fighters leaving the larger ships gave Lidon a jolt of the old excitement of fighting.  This would not only be a glorious battle, it might be one they could actually win after all.

Tranis’ grin was back.  “Shall we join in the fight?”

Lidon’s tone filled with disappointment.  “Fighter squads are tactically joined.  We’d mess them up if we stormed in among them.  Better to watch, cause distraction, and pick off troublemakers when we can.”

“I leave the strategy for that to you, Weapons Commander.”

“Thank you, Commander.”

The Kalquorian fleet began firing on the Tragooms.  As the battle was engaged, Lidon flew them in closer, keeping an eye on the action and looking for any opportunity to take his measure of enemy blood.  His bad leg was cramped and growing painful in the small space of the cockpit, but he wasn’t about to let it keep him from firing on any stray foes he could find.

The Kalquorians were still badly outnumbered, but the Tragooms were in such disarray that they were slow in responding to the new threat.  Lidon was able to find Piras’ destroyer and mark it in his console to keep track of it.  True to form, his former lover was leading the charge against the enemy.

“The Earther battlecruisers are starting to band together,” Tranis noted.

He was right.  The fifteen monstrous vessels flew close to each other, their combined firepower taking out several Kalquorian destroyers in a vicious barrage of fire.  In contrast, most of the Kalquorian weapons made only minimal to moderate damage to the enemy craft.

Lidon grimaced.  “The Tragooms may not have the manpower to properly run those damned things, but their defense systems are holding.”

Tranis whooped suddenly.  “We got one!”

They watched as the battlecruiser exploded in several places.  Its lights went dark from power loss, and it drifted crippled, if not utterly dead.

The celebration was shortlived.  Lidon growled at his readouts.  “Shit.  Tranis, Piras is in trouble.  The destroyer has lost several sections.”

Tranis’ intake of breath hissed in his ear.  Their destroyer was in retreat from the main fighting, and a battlecruiser was pursuing it, firing heavily.  Explosions bloomed on the hull, leaving gaping holes.

Lidon was aware that his fangs had descended and he was snarling.  He was watching many shipmates die glorious deaths.

He told Tranis, “Half the defensive shielding is down on Piras’ ship.  No return fire.  They must have lost weapons control.  They aren’t going to make it.”

As Tranis growled deep in his throat, Lidon thought of Degorsk.  His Imdiko.  The man he’d loved for years, waited patiently for in hopes the doctor would someday get over his past hurts enough to love him back.  He watched the cruiser bear down on the damaged destroyer, seconds away from taking the very heart out of Lidon.

Five Tragoom ships, all with Kalquorian hulls at the center of their cobbled-together frames, suddenly converged on the battlecruiser.  Tranis shouted, “Get the fuck away from my Imdiko, you gurlucks!”

The ships crashed into the Earther craft.  Explosions rocked the immense vessel, and it spun away, its menace vanquished.  Piras’ destroyer flew out of the main battle area.

Lidon closed his eyes for an instant, allowing a moment of the profound emotion that swept through him.  Then he set it aside, silently promising he’d feel it later, in private.  Swallowing the lump in his throat so he could speak normally, he said, “Very nice save, Commander.  Your Imdiko?”

Tranis drew a shuddering breath and turned his head to look Lidon in the eye.  “Yes, Degorsk will be my Imdiko.  I know that’s a package deal, so you might as well get used to the idea of a lifetime with me.”  He looked back at his console, and his eyes widened.  “We’ll have to discuss it at a later time, however.  Piras has another attacker on his tail, and I don’t have any defector ships close enough to pull his ass out of it this time.”

Lidon cursed and checked his readouts.  This time it was a Bi’isil hunter-killer closing on the destroyer.  His fighter couldn’t do much against such a craft, but there was no choice but to try.

“We’re going in.  Get ready to fire.”

Lidon swung the fighter around and pursued the Tragoom ship firing on the crippled destroyer.  He got them into range of the Bi’isil hunter-killer.  He and Tranis triggered their blasters as he flew past it and turned for another round.  The damage they did was negligible.  All they could hope to do was distract it from attacking the destroyer for as long as they remained alive.  They had to buy Piras time.

The Tragooms fired back, and the fighter shuddered.  His tone almost casual, Lidon said, “We’re on fire.”

Tranis was just as nonchalant.  “Foam flame retardant online.  It’s keeping the fire off the engine, but can’t quite reach it all.  We might as well keep attacking.”

“Coming around for another pass.”

Lidon swooped down on the Tragoom craft again.  This time he was able to avoid the return fire.  His leg was pure misery, but it felt good to be flying again.  It felt good to have Tranis at his side while he did so.

Piras’ voice filled the cockpit.  “Commanders Tranis and Lidon, break off attack and retreat a safe distance.  We’ve got this one.”

Tranis checked his instrumentation as Lidon took them out of range.  “Acknowledged.  There is a second ship coming in, Captain.”

Lidon snarled at the sight of another Tragoom craft, its origins impossible to trace.  The mishmash of a vessel was racing towards the destroyer, but he continued to move away as ordered.

Piras answered, “We see them.”

The pursuing Bi’isil craft suddenly lurched away from the destroyer, toppling end over end.  It hit the second ship hard, tearing both vessels to pieces.

Tranis’ mouth was wide open in shock.  “What the hell was that?”

Lidon roared in approval before answering.  “From the readings I’m getting, it looks as if Piras tied a shockwave device to his still operational deflectors.  Fucking brilliant maneuver.”

“I’m glad you appreciate my ingenuity, Weapons Commander.”  Piras sounded amused at Lidon’s obvious admiration.

Lidon looked at Tranis, who looked at the live com link he’d forgotten to mute.  The Nobek raised an eyebrow at his companion, and Tranis pulled an apologetic face.

Piras’ next comment was all business.  “We seem to be clear of the fighting now, so please dock aboard at your earliest convenience.  I could use some help here.”

“Yes, Captain.  On our way.”  Tranis made sure to mute the com this time.

Lidon glared at him.  “I think I’ll have to discipline you for that bit of forgetfulness, young Dramok.”

Tranis’ brows lowered.  “We didn’t say anything to get us in trouble.”

“This time.”

Tranis sighed and acknowledged his mistake.  “Why do I feel that having you for my Nobek is going to be hard on my ass?”

“In more ways than one,” Lidon promised with a grin.

Tranis grinned back.  Clanship had been offered and accepted, at least informally.  Once they had Degorsk’s okay, they’d make it official.

Fifteen minutes later, the two-man fighter docked in its bay aboard the destroyer.  The ship was on emergency power, apparent by the dim backup lights that supplemented the pulsing red alarm lights.  Machines hissed their damaged complaints as Tranis and Lidon got out of the fighter.

A harried crewmember approached.  He called out to them.  “Are you going to the bridge, commanders?”

“Right away,” Tranis answered.

“You’ll have to cut through engineering, go through the dining section, and past the crew quarters to reach a functioning transport that will take you there.  Atmospheric shield doors are down for much of the ship.”

Tranis nodded.  “Thank you, crewman.  Let’s go, Lidon.”

They took the route described by the man.  Corridors were filled with smoke and fire retardant foam.  Lidon noted Tranis’ set face as they passed the dead, dying, and injured along the way.  Crewmembers who were not medical personnel were attending the bleeding and burnt men as best they could with first aid cases found in bins throughout the destroyer.  Screams ricocheted against the buckled walls, with an undertone of continuous groaning that came from both men and ship.

Lidon shook his head at the carnage.  “Degorsk and his staff must have their hands completely full for none of them to be here in person.  This is bad.”

Tranis pursed his lips.  “Just what the doctor didn’t need to have to deal with, as if he’d not been traumatized enough.  Damn, this will give
me
nightmares.”

They passed the dining hall’s wide opening.  Lidon couldn’t help his eyes widening to see the tables the crew took their meals on were being used as ad hoc beds for the injured.  And every available space was covered.

Tranis averted a too-pale face from the sight.  “Good idea to bring them here for triage.  Too many to treat in Medical itself.”

Lidon agreed.  “Hopefully we can get more medical personnel from other ships to help Degorsk out if the fighting goes our way.”

They ran through the crew quarters area, its hallways mostly empty of the casualties that had slowed them down elsewhere.  Everyone would have been on duty for the fight, emptying this part of the ship.  Lidon was relieved when they finally got to an operational transport and headed for the bridge.  He looked forward to getting to his station and finding a way to tear more Tragooms apart for all the suffering they’d visited on his people.

Lidon and Tranis hit the bridge, ready to get the destroyer fighting again if possible.  This section of the ship had been spared any damage, and Piras looked unflappable as he acknowledged their entrance.  “You’re just in time to get the good news.  The majority of the Tragoom fleet has broken off.”