They were as ready as they'd ever be. Rhade was taking them to
confront the Worldship before it had a chance to get to the Known Worlds. Of
course, if they lost then it wouldn't matter. Well--they just wouldn't
lose.
So they went in with the Andromeda leading the way, once more acting as
Flag-ship for the Commonwealth Fleet. And there it was. The ship with
twenty worlds all joined together, hanging in front of them. It looked
harmless--like some enormous molecular model escaped from a giant's
chemistry classroom.
"We're going in," Rhade announced.
The fleet launched their Nova bombs. Some hit their mark. Some were
intercepted by PSPs. Those sensors that weren't burned out entirely
were scrambled as sheets of radiation flooded local space. And of course,
the swarm ships had been launched.
"Break off and then regroup for another run. I want strike and run
tactics. Take out as many of the PSP turrets as you can, but make
yourselves moving targets. 'Thermopylae,' 'Tienamen,' and 'Santa Anna,'
target the support structure. Let's see if knocking a few worlds off their
strings doesn't distract them. Whatever you do, don't let those
swarmships breach your hull if you can avoid it." He was remembering their
last encounter. But Beka had been at his side then. 'Don't think about
that now. This is no time for distractions.' "Break off and
re-launch."
The fleet tried but some didn't make it. The sound of exploding ships
was not a pleasant thing to hear, but a narrow opening had been carved
through the Worldship's web of defense. 'Tienamen' hadn't survived the
run, but she'd accomplished that much for the fleet. "All right, let's
go back and do this."
At least the ship was more crippled now then it had been. Progress.
They would win this no matter what the cost. Rhade broadcast a message.
"Launch your Nova bombs at the ship. Launch your missiles at the swarm
ships. All remaining slipfighters, stay alert. We have to take them
down!"
Easier said then done. Dodging swarmships and PSPs was not fun.
Andromeda took her share of hits from all sides. The whole fleet was taking
a beating as swarmships rushed to fill the breach the 'Tienamen' had
died to create. The only comfort was that they were scoring hits on the
ship.
"If we could just get one clear shot at the core. It's been weakened
enough so that I believe it could work," Rhade was speculating. "One
solid strike would blow out that candle for good."
More explosions. More loss of life. More loss of the fleet. They
needed to get a clear shot. If they could just get someone close enough
the Andromeda could provide cover. And then it hit him. "Beka."
"What?" Andromeda wondered what her captain meant.
"Beka's the only pilot good enough to get close enough to take out that
sun. She can get a good clear shot and that'll be it. If anyone can
do it, she can."
"Yes, I believe she can. You'll have to let her out, though. Are you
sure you want to do that?"
Rhade knew that once he let her out, Beka would leave again. However,
this wasn't the time to think about that. It wasn't important,
compared to other things. "Yes, I'm sure. Have Harper load the Maru with
Nova bombs. Then let Beka know what's going on and what she has to do.