Chapter 8
The Angani Sector, B.T. 750
The spearhead rocketed through space, rapidly distancing itself from the still-gathering Mzungu fleet.
Sneaky bastards, those UrQa…where are they?
Out of the darkness, a fiery missile lanced towards the ship. "Holy shi—!" cried Kaim, slamming the throttle sideways. The spearhead responded and rolled to the right, narrowly escaping death. "Urqa'ka, huh? Just an Uj'Qi?" Kaim muttered to himself, smiling grimly. He shoved the throttle forward, forcing the ship to race ahead—then quickly reversed the spearhead and fired the engines. His target fell for the ruse, nearly colliding with his ship—but its stealth was betrayed by the dim afterglow of engine exhaust.
"I have you!"
The fire beam arced toward the Uj'Qi, tracing an invisible path with deadly precision. Time seemed to slow as the laser lanced through its victim, cutting a swathe of destruction across the metal plating and nearly severing the ship in two.
Kaim's spearhead rushed through the blazing remains—then veered wildly to the left as three immolated missiles raked the space where it had been a split second before.
Kaim swiveled the ship around to confront his new opponent—and his eyes widened in terror. "Oh, shit…"
The Archtype fell away from the starport gates, its powerful engines propelling it away from the station as the shrill of the alarm faded into nothingness.
Vidnu gazed intently at the cyan radar screen as it scoured the depths of space for threats—then picked up the radio transmitter as it rang out in the stillness. "Jarla Vidnu here."
"Vidnu," said Akama hurriedly. "Thank the gods you received this call—listen, I am sending you a holofile of a radar scan from a satellite that was stationed in the Neutral Zone."
Vidnu frowned in mild irritation. "I hope this matter of yours is important enough that you would omit mentioning my rank." He typed in a command into the ship's computer, and a new icon appeared on the screen.
"Have you received it?" asked Akama.
"I have it, yes," answered Vidnu as he opened the file and proceeded to read the radar scan.
Thirty seconds later, he inhaled sharply.
"Mercy of the gods," Akama breathed. "Surely the Ur have not sent their elite guard? Am I wrong?"
Vidnu roused himself from his stunned silence. "No. You are not. They've deployed more than their basic scouts—they've mobilized the Qokuji'qi."
"What about the Mzungu fleet?"
"They're still organizing themselves into formation."
Akama muttered a quiet oath. "Then Kaim is out there alone…"