Chapter 29 #3
The navigation chief looks concerned. "They are still firing, sir."
"Let them."
The second volley produces similar results. A few hairs ignite and drift away as glowing debris. The Beast growls through the ship's structure, more annoyed than injured.
The Gzet captains apparently understand this as well. Their ships spread apart and accelerate toward opposite flanks.
"They're maneuvering," Nora says.
I glance toward her. She stands next to the command seat with her arms folded, watching the battle through the Beast's eyes. Her expression reminds me of the one she wore during our training match. She’s focused, thinking hard.
"They've abandoned the ray weapons," an underling calls.
A warning pulse ripples through the chamber. Metal structures unfold from the enemy ships.
"Grapplers," I note.
The devices launch forward on long cables. They strike the Beast's fur and bury themselves deep among the layers.
The ship trembles. Then it trembles again as the Gzet vessels fire their engines in opposite directions.
"They're trying to control our movement," Nora says.
The Beast answers by roaring without a sound. But I feel the force of it through every tendon connected to the cradle. Massive muscles contract throughout her body. She twists in empty space, attempting to throw the grapplers free.
One cable snaps immediately. The other holds.
I guide the Beast into a rolling maneuver and drive her toward the nearer ship. The enemy captain reacts well, keeping distance while the surviving grappler drags against us like a hook embedded in flesh.
For several minutes the battle becomes a contest of movement. The Gzet ship is faster, but the Beast is stronger. Overall, they’re about equally matched.
Then the second vessel joins the struggle again. A fresh set of grapplers slams into our opposite side.
The Beast rams the enemy with one horn. The command chamber lurches violently enough that several of the crew stumble. For the first time I feel genuine concern.
The two ships are coordinating their efforts. Working together, they're beginning to control our orientation. If they can keep the Beast restrained long enough, they may eventually expose softer regions beneath her fur.
I begin calculating ways to break free, but every option takes time. And that’s time I may not have.
Behind me Nora suddenly steps closer. "Krix’vorr."
Something in her voice makes me look. She points toward the star display. "They aren't fighting like hunters."
I pull at levers and dodge a shot from the second ship. "What do you mean?"
"They're fighting like towtrucks."
The Kast flower can’t translate the alien word, so it sounds absurd. Then I examine the enemy maneuvers again. "They're trying to rotate us. Is that what you mean?"
Nora nods immediately. "I’ve seen something like that being used on disabled ships. If both vessels commit at the same time, they're vulnerable."
It’s a dangerous answer, a Harrower's answer. And it makes me grin. "Excellent."
I drive both hands into the control tendons and the Beast obeys. Instead of resisting the pull, she suddenly rolls with it.
The enemy ships accelerate to maintain tension, exactly as I hoped. I calmly push a lever and pull a tendon.
The Beast whips her entire body around the cables. Momentum does the rest.
One Gzet ship loses control immediately. The cable wraps around its hull twice before snapping tight. Metal tears apart in a spray of debris and atmosphere.
The vessel breaks into three pieces. Careful cheers erupt throughout the command chamber.
The second ship manages to cut itself free, but the maneuver leaves it tumbling. The Beast is already upon it. Every instinct urges me to destroy it, to tear it apart.
Then I remember Nora's hand on my arm. They may have clues.
I force the Beast to pull her strike. Instead of skewering the ship with all three horns, she slams into it with enough force to cripple its engines. The vessel spins helplessly through space.
The command chamber erupts into disciplined celebration. The crew knows I don’t like exuberance in here.
Nora exhales beside me. “That was incredible.”
I lean back in the command cradle. “The Beast now fights the same way you do when training. Using the enemy’s power and weight against him.”
She gives me a little smile. “I said you might learn something from me, too.”
“I didn’t know how right you’d be. Oh, your machine is here.” I look past her.
The drone is hovering near the exit. "Captain?" he asks.
Nora points toward the drifting wreck. "Krix’vorr, can we make a connection to that ship? Nobody needs to go over there except Lucius."
“Lucius and Sris,” I state. “Two are better than one. Hear that, Sris? Go over there and see what you can find out.”
“You too, Lucius,” Nora says. Lucius accelerates out, and Sris climbs up to the ceiling and runs out in a whirlwind of shimmering, pointy legs.
A relieved silence settles over the command chamber. Outside, one Gzet ship drifts dead in space while the wreckage of the other spreads slowly across the stars.
I feel certain of one thing: We're close.