Chapter 37
Tori Asteroid Belt – Shili System
Caloc watched in horror as the Triumph's three large engines exploded. The shields, which he knew were in the process of recycling, had not been there to stop the barrage from the new ship. It crashed straight into the ship's hull. A quiet voice whispered in his ear. What goes around comes around.
"Shut it.", he told the whisper of doubt.
His heart was in his throat as he watched the Triumph's remaining, smaller boosters fire once, pushing the ship away from the asteroid field and into the empty space beyond. But then the next volley of lasers took those out too. He watched as the ship slowed its speed, but that one extra push from the thrusters had pushed it into the gravity field of Shili as it rounded the sun.
The planet had apparently completed another system orbit, dragging it's two moons with it. The ship careened to the left as the world's gravity grabbed it, and pulled it closer. The Restored Triumph looked ready to roll over and explode, but Caloc still breathed a sigh of relief. The ship had fallen below the asteroid belt, placing it between them and the attacking ship. The next barrage slammed into the drifting rocks. The transport was still in one piece – for now. All on board were out of immediate danger. Besides probably crashing to the surface of Shili within maybe twenty minutes.
But that ship, the Ubrikkian patchwork, it was about to find some danger of its own. He stared it down, studying the ship intensely. The nose of the ship was a similar design to the Ubrikkian space yacht, sand skiff and sail barge, but it was welded onto the frame of a Prisius cruiser. The long corridor stemmed between the main cabin, hanger and bridge, and the engine compartments. The corridor was thin, but it seemed to have another, smaller hanger built into it too. The engines were three large round cylinders, which he thought he recognised from a Recusant destroyer. The entire ship bristled with gun turrets, and they were all focussed on the smoking wreck on the Reborn Triumph as it sunk away from view.
"Deesix, prime the cannons again. We are going in."
But as he said it, he felt his seat jar from beneath him, and the ship entered a horrible spin. He looked forward, to where Deesix was spinning his own dome uncontrollably, sparks flying. Another gut-wrenching jerk shook the ship, and he heard a horrible splutter. And it was then that he realised, he had been hit. Not by the ship, but by one of the Mining Guild mines. He spun out of control and wrestled with the stick.
Cantoni rubbed her beak with obvious and vicious glee. Her eyes were wild as she watched the tiny fighter's tiny starboard engine die, and the other that was still active sent it into a wild spin. It would crash, she knew. And they hadn't even needed to waste a shot. But it was not their target. That was the other ship – the larger ship. Her cannons were already primed, and she felt the familiar sense of horrifying pleasure settle over her. It was a sense that all pirates felt as they took down their prey.
She turned to the gunnery commander of the Black Revenge. He was a large Weequay, unusually skilled in this kind of combat. Most Weequay would just be cannon fodder, running in and getting gunned down while the slightly smarter members of the crew would be sabotaging the engines with the droids. This member of the species, though, Tatsu Oniac, had an amazing ability to point the ships cannons right where she wanted them.
"Right down the middle with a slicer, Tat.", she said quietly.
The man nodded, and ordered his men on where they should aim their next barrage. The cannons turned, one by one, until they reminded her of a nest of viper wasps, waiting for the opportune moment to swarm. She gave the order to fire loudly, not bothering to hide her excitement.
The Black Revenge cleared the asteroid field and the colours streaked away. They slammed through the middle of the ship, cracking the hull. It broke like an egg, a single line cracking through the centre. A shudder rumbled through her feet as her own ship began to feel the effect of Shili's gravity.
"Hold all fire.", she said. Then she turned to another of the crew, a small Trandoshan youth.
His name was, officially, Tarussa, but because few people could pronounce it with the proper Trandoshan gravitas, they just called him Tar. He led a crew of Trandoshans; expert hunters. But now that most of their missions were space related, the lizards had little actual hunting to do. They spent most of their time in their bunks, or in the mess hall, or bothering the engineers. There were more than a few complaints.
"Tar.", she narrowed her eyes at him and let out a strange hiss. It was how he had asked to be properly greeted while on board. Apparently, it 'reminded him of home', and she was happy to oblige. "It has been a while since you and your men went hunting, isn't it?"
The hulking youth nodded, "Indeed, Captain."
"Would you say that your time on board the Black Revenge has dulled your senses?"
He considered this for a moment, "I know that the men are getting restless, ma'am. They could use something to whip them into shape."
Cantoni let herself relax when she heard that, "Good. I too was a hunter back on Rigori Grosan. You should have seen me when I was… well, we'll get to that later. We will let that ship crash, then hunt the survivors. I want to see if I can keep up with you."
"Very well.", the lizard flicked his tongue out, "I will prepare my brothers."
"Ma'am.", Nukus cried. "What about our order's."
Cantoni slowly turned and stared at her. "What orders? As I recollect, Tyrannus ordered us to hunt the Senator down and take him. I plan to do exactly that."
Reluctantly, Nukus relented, her little bat-face withering like an old oak. Tar turned and headed toward the bridges door, already hissing with anticipation.
"Tatsu.", she called to the gunnery commander, "I want that ship to crash on Shili with no way for its people to easily leave. Can you make that happen?"
"Of course I can.", the Weequay seemed offended by the question, "I'll crash it in one of the forestry areas. They will be stranded with no one nearby. That little starfighter is already heading for that moon, Arratak. There will be no escape for either ship. They will crash."
"Good. I want a good hunt. This will be it."
As whoops and hollers echoed around the cabin, she moved into a quiet room to contact Tyrannus. It was time to update him on their progress.
And thus Arratak appears. I bet some of you were wondering what an 'Arratak' was. Well, now you know.
Hope you enjoyed this.
Signed, Phillip