Page 55 of Desperate Measures

Com Officer Veko shouted, “Receiving transmission from Kalquorian ships! Our backup is here!”

“Power the engines down to minimal! Engineering, get those containments up!”

At that moment, the spyship entered phase on the automatic fluctuating frequency Piras had programmed, giving Kila a view of at least fifty Kalquorian marauders swooping in view. The larger craft, heavily armed, began pummeling the GC warships.

Silence fell as the Galactic Council vessels ceased attacking Kila’s spyship. It was so profound, he thought he’d gone deaf.

“Chief?” Kila’s gauge for the engines still hovered dangerously high, the numbers flashing critical. Ease off, damn it.

“Power at minimal. We’re creeping from imminent detonation to the caution zone, Captain.” Lokmi reported on the public address instead of his private link just as Kila’s readings steadied, then dropped. “Engines will be fine as long as we keep our speed to regulation.”

“GC warships have moved away to engage the marauders, Captain. They aren’t paying attention to us any longer. We’re in no immediate danger,” Jado added. His tone sounded peevish. No Nobek liked being discounted as a non-threat.

He was alone in that regard. A cheer went up from the crew and children. The Soames sisters burst into hysterical laughter and tears as they hugged each other and those youths closest to them.

Kila and Piras didn’t join in the shouts. Piras sagged for the briefest instant against his Nobek’s side, his expression filled by stunned relief. Kila’s arm slid around his waist, pressed him closer for a moment, then let go.

Around them but at a safe distance, the marauders and warships fought viciously for survival. A quartet of marauders shot through the mayhem to surround the spyship.

Veko’s grin could be heard in his voice emerging from his mop of hair. “Captain Nako is hailing us, Captain.”

A laugh bubbled from Kila’s gut. “Ah, that asshole will never let me hear the end of this. Oops, sorry about the language, kids, ladies. Put him on, Com Officer.”

Dramok Nako’s voice boomed hearty and happy through the bridge. “Captain Kila, our sensors indicate maintenance on your ship has fallen to a new low. You’ve let your old tub go since I last saw you. I might have to put you on report.”

“I see you decided to be a real fleet captain and fight instead of guarding useless chunks of rock on the fringes of nowhere,” Kila shot back.

“I drew the short straw and have to guard your useless chunk of a vessel instead. Allow us to escort you to the border where a transport for your guests waits. We’ll pick up your fighters and shuttles along the way. You are a mess, however. Would you care for a tow?”

Lokmi’s snarl interrupted, reminding Kila he was still tied into the public address. “Our ship will fly perfectly fine under her own power, sir.”

“Indeed.” Kila smirked at the air, as if Nako could see him. “Are you really going to let the rest mop up our leavings, Captain Nako? I know we didn’t leave the marauders much, but surely you’d prefer to claim a taste of glory.”

Nako’s chuckle filled the air over the children’s excited chatter. “I’ll give you your due, Captain Kila. One ancient spyship taking out or damaging nearly a dozen better armed enemies deserves it. I bow to you and your crew, sir.”

“Thank you, Captain. For the children’s sake, we’ll accept your offer of escort. With my very sincere gratitude.”

Seconds later, the spyship and its accompanying marauder guards flew slowly from the battle, which had already significantly dwindled thanks to the Kalquorian vessels efficiently dispatching warship after warship.

* * * *

Kalquor

Betra stood among his clan, Resan’s parents, and Nekis in the spaceport, watching Clan Seot walking to the shuttle waiting to take them home. Anrel and Nayun, traveling in the wake of their parents, turned often to wave regretful goodbyes. Ejia bounced enthusiastically on Larten’s shoulders. Cifa and Seot balanced Evelyn and Jordan each in the crook of an arm, their other arms around Shalia’s waist as she walked between them.

The holiday had come to an abrupt halt, thanks to an alert from the fleet for all personnel to return to their duty stations following a major incident in Galactic Council space. Several squadrons of Kalquorian marauders had annihilated Galactic Council warships that had attacked the Open Arms Orphanage. Clan Resan had just enough time to see off Clan Seot, then they’d rush to their transport.

Betra looked at the arms of Shalia’s clanmates holding her and swallowed hard. It was impossible to miss the regard…the love…in the men’s expressions as they gazed at her and laughed at something she said. With her face turned toward Seot, her lovely profile visible to Betra, he couldn’t deny the love she had for them.

There was no room for Betra, except as a dear friend.

Nekis was right. Everything he’d wished for Shalia years ago, she’d gotten. Including the ability to move on from him and Oses. He understood she’d never change her mind and choose them over what she had: the life he’d wanted for her.

“I’m tired of doing this,” he muttered to Oses, who stood at his side.

“Saying goodbye?”

“No. Saying goodbye means I got to say hello. That’s a good thing. What I’m sick of is being reminded how deeply I love her, then having to let her go again.”

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