Chapter 76: Acting on the Information

‘We could carry bombs to the flagships,’ said Brendan. ‘Detonate them whenever it suits you.’

‘Could I impose on you to bomb the remaining two flagships?’ The Admiral asked. ‘We’ve knocked out the two you boarded. They were disorganized and much easier than usual.’

‘Yes, we will do it,’ said Dorel. ‘We three queens will leave them near the bridge.’

Dorel, Messa, and Dridget disappeared.

“I’ll detonate the first two simultaneously,” said Adm. Tuidlaal. “It will have more impact.”

Five minutes after Dorel, Messa, and Dridget returned, the Admiral detonated the charges. The sensor operators detected the explosions.

Brendan watched the opposing fleets slug it out. Two-thirds of the XaX ships and three-quarters of the Paradigm fleet were already knocked out of contention. Half the Agglomeration fleet was in a similar state.

‘A third of the enemy ships remain viable, and we can detect their reserves ten minutes away,’ said Adm. Tuidlaal. ‘We’ve damaged all the enemy ships.”

‘Can we place bombs on as many ships as possible?’ Brendan asked. ‘We can place them wherever you say.’

‘I don’t think I will risk you more than we must,’ said Adm. Tuidlaal.

‘Bren, you stay behind. The rest of us will split up and drop off bombs,’ said Ashlyn.

‘No, I will transport soldiers in and out. There is Gnituruta technology I want to see, and I intend to capture some ships intact. I have a plan, and I want you all to remain here,’ said Brendan.

‘When do your reserves arrive?’ David asked.

‘They are waiting thirty seconds from here. I want the enemy to commit to this theatre before deploying them.’ The Admiral grinned, showing her teeth and a strange forked black tongue. It was mobile like a snake’s.

‘I expect the remnants of these fleets to reform and push through to attack Uyskeczbek once their reserves commit. I am readying marines to board the two remaining flagships. I want the enemy reserves here before we board. The last thing I want the enemy to do is run and scatter. I deploy just enough ships to make them believe they have a good chance of success.’

‘We have lost many ships and valuable people,’ said Brendan.

‘That is true, but the enemy has lost far more; they have not invaded any planets and have not scattered. They remain dangerous, but the trap is closing,’ said Adm. Fleitnaz Tuidlaal, opening her mouth wide and snapping it shut. The sound reverberated around the bridge. ‘So the trap will close,’ she added as the reserves approached.

‘Pride comes before the fall,’ said Brendan to his team so only they would hear.

“Admiral, the enemy reserve fleet will come out of semiotic space behind us,” said Ashlyn.

“That is exactly what I would have done! Thank you, Ashlyn,” said the Admiral, opening her mouth and licking her snout. Her tongue was a meter long, wound around her nose, and she sprang back inside.

‘Now we close the trap! I split my reserves into three. One fleet will attack the original Drunduh, and two will jump behind the enemy reserves. More reserves will join us in two minutes.’ She laughed, sounding like a breathy diesel truck starting but much louder.

‘I’ve seen none of the WarHouses,’ said David.

‘I don’t know where they are,’ said Dorel.

‘The enemy finally identified us as a flagship,’ said Adm. Tuidlaal. ‘Prepare to jump.’

Brendan looked at the battle hologram. The battleship jumped behind the reserve fleet, between the enemy and Uyskeczbek.

‘I cloaked the ship. I want to concentrate on managing the battle. Each time I bring in just enough ships to suck the scum down the drain,’ said the Admiral. ‘In the previous war, they scattered, and we lost them. Some have already scattered, but the fewer they are, the less likely they will succeed. They cannot move ahead at full speed if they don’t have the numbers to achieve a critical mass. We will catch most of them this time with our latest tags.’

‘I know where they are hiding in this galaxy,’ said Ashlyn. ‘I also know which galaxy the Gnituruta was heading towards.’

‘I have the Drunduh contingency plans,’ said Dridget. ‘They were following the Gnituruta and leading them to targets in this galaxy.’

Adm. Tuidlaal frantically manipulated the hologram. ‘Five Drunduh ships broke through, jumped, and headed for Uyskeczbek.’

‘Your reserve ships are whittling the enemy down slowly, but we are also losing ships. Admiral, you need to know there is a change; the Drunduh is forming a wedge and breaking out,’ said Brendan.

‘How do you know?’ Asked a member of the Military Corbunicle.

‘You were here when we saw the future and informed the admiral of what we found. You were also in attendance when we jumped to ships and obtained intelligence. We can all see the future a short distance in front of us. This is one instance of that,’ said Brendan patiently.