Hide the Lightning by Kevin Steverson

Author:Kevin Steverson [Steverson, Kevin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Theogony Books
Published: 2019-11-19T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen

Bleeve Dreadnaught Devastation

“Well?” demanded Admiral Gorligthah. “Have you figured out what those ships were doing? Is it a mine field or not?”

“We believe so sir,” Vice Admiral Ashlah answered. “One ship separated, revealing themselves to be some type of destroyer and two frigates. Laying mines in front of our path is the only logical explanation. They banked around before ever coming into range.”

“We also believe we detected the readings of two large shuttles,” continued Ashlah. “They were moving incredibly fast, so it was hard to get a good reading.”

“We are less than an hour from engaging the enemy,” observed Gorligthah. “They may have been some type of sensor ships, attempting to get detailed readings of ours. Fire a missile. Program it to detonate exactly where those three ships turned, and fire another one thousand steps beyond that. That will be where they laid the first mines. If they laid them, it will set them off.”

“Yes, sir,” Ashlah answered. He turned and gave the commands.

“Sir, nothing detonated but our missiles,” Ashlah informed him later.

“Fire several more directly in the path they took as they turned away. Any mines laid will be behind in the path they took after they turned; if not, it was a probing mission. Launch one of the new gunboats and have them track down the shuttles,” Gorligthah decided.

A few minutes later Gorligthah waved the vice admiral back to his platform. “Prepare for engagement. We will be within range in thirty minutes. Get me the information on the forces near that planet. Have they engaged? Why have I heard nothing?”

“Sir,” Ashlah explained, “the three task forces are on the backside of the planet. We did not place relay sensors in that area of the system. Until they come around, we cannot contact them. We cannot relay through the Galaxy Network because of some type of jamming. We have also not been able to send the scheduled report back to the palace.”

“Plans were made for this possible occurrence.” Gorligthah laughed. “By the time we finish destroying this Salvage Fleet, a fleet of thirty ships will have already secured their system.”

“What if the battle lasts longer than predicted, Admiral?” asked Ashlah.

“It will not,” the admiral said. “Should it drag out, this Harmon Tomeral is in for a surprise. The queen’s remaining ships will come here as a reserve force if there is no contact. Glory to the queen.” It was shouted back by all on the bridge.

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