Page 74 of Clan and Command

The destroyer began moving. Though capable of incredible speeds even without Kila’s beloved boost engaged, it crept towards the heaviest concentration of the nearby destroyers. Kila gauged the closest vessels on the huge monitor at the front of the bridge. They were sweeping the area, searching for a sign of Kila’s ship. He was certain they thought he’d hidden behind a standard cloak, which didn’t serve destroyers well due to their size and configuration. Warships like his were not made for subtlety.

Surely someone on the planet had guessed how Piras had disappeared, though. People didn’t cloak well either, due to their bodies giving off heat and perspiration. They remained solid as well. Someone in Fleet Security had to realize by now that Piras and his rescuers had been phased. They would have relayed that to the ships hunting his. The other destroyers should be scanning for energy displacement, not the telltale shimmer of a poorly camouflaged ship.

When the ships he approached continued their grid pattern search, Kila snarled, “Come on, damn it. Pick us up, you slow-witted—”

He broke off, seeing the two foremost destroyers diverting course as Uls said, “They’ve keyed in on us, Captain. I’ve got two – make that four destroyers coming around towards us.”

“I feel like a tease. Let them have a brief look, Uls. Ship out of phase, return at your discretion.”

“Confirmed, phase off.”

Mostar almost sounded bored. “Brace for fire. Incoming.”

A speck of brilliant white light appeared at the bow of one destroyer. It grew phenomenally fast, a circle that rippled violently at the outer edge.

“Phase on!” At least Uls was starting to feel a little excitement.

The white filled the vid monitor, then the bridge. Then it was gone, leaving the crew blinking. Uls looked over his shoulder to grin at Kila. “Phase confirmed. The blast passed right through us.”

Mostar verified the report, this time showing a hint of combativeness as his lip wrinkled up to display one fang. “No damage to the ship or casualties to the crew reported.”

Communications Officer Veko was bent over his station in a familiar posture that kept his long hair draped in such a way that his face couldn’t be seen. His voice carried to Kila clear as day, however. “Captain Sorp demands our surrender, or they will fire to destroy.”

“Fire on what?” Kila smirked. The device was working better than he could have hoped, thanks to the extra tweaks Lokmi had made. The fleet’s research and development department would be begging the Imdiko to join them once this assignment was done.

He had news for them. Lokmi was staying on his ship, even if he had to chain the demanding bastard to engineering’s bulkhead.

For now, they had a getaway to make. “Helm and weapons, show them how we play hard to get,” he invited.

Uls and Mostar went to work, doing what they did best. Kila’s destroyer darted between opponents, coming out of and going into phase to draw fire and trigger nonlethal hits on the other destroyers. Within a few minutes, they had their rivals in chaos.

Piras spoke quietly so that only Kila heard him. “You are enjoying this far too much, Captain. Such an unequal battle should inspire pity for your adversary, not pleasure.”

Kila realized he was grinning like a fool to see his plan so perfectly executed. He straightened and attempted a more majestic attitude. Only it wasn’t working. He was enthralled by the success of getting Piras to safety and the new capabilities of his ship.

He covered his poor attempt at poise by comming Lokmi. “Chief, how are you holding up in there?”

Lokmi’s tone contained all the glee Kila couldn’t admit to. “My upgraded phase device is a thing of beauty, captain. As are my engines. Have you noticed how much better they respond?”

Kila rolled his eyes. “His engines, he says. I swear I’m going to go in that department and fuck everything with a hole in it to mark my territory.”

The Imdiko’s merry voice grated on his ears. “I already beat you to it, Captain.”

Piras shook his head, looking mildly incensed. “There is no dignity to be found with you two. Not one damned bit—”

He was cut off as a blast hit the ship. The floor beneath their feet shuddered hard. In an instant, Kila’s momentary fun disappeared. “Report.”

Mostar grimaced. “Glancing percussion hit. Minimal damage. I think they’re catching on to our game.”

Uls’s hands flew over his computer panel. “It was a lucky shot, Weapons Commander. It won’t happen again.”

“With respect, Commander Uls, we’re keeping to a limited zone and the arena is getting tighter with each passing second. Captain Sorp’s destroyer hit us as soon as we came out of phase that time. We will take more damage the longer we remain.”

Kila eyed the vids showing a mass of ships surrounding his. They had zeroed in on his position as he’d planned, but they had made the mistake of crowding him…again, as he had hoped they would. They were also seven ships deep in a few directions. Their power and weapons signatures overlaid his, and once he made his move, the energy displacement would be hard to pick up right away.

He gave Kalquor a last fond look. The planet hung like a green-blue pearl, as lustrous and gorgeous as a priceless treasure. Indeed, it was precious, and he wondered when – or if – he would see it again.

The sentimental moment passed as quickly as it came. He was a Nobek, after all, a creature of action. The twinge of longing disappeared, and he said, “All right, I think we’ve worn out our welcome. Chief, I want that six-second burst.”

---