impenetrable noise of the aliens.
There were military cruisers arriving from Vilka and Herom, not Federation standard but still armed and ready to engage. There were also mining vessels out of Carthenis, their industrial laser cutters adapted as crude weaponry. Solar shuttles from Palmero flitted in and around the larger vessels. It was clear from the chatter over the comms systems that there were even tourist craft from Harnup and Moran, whose asteroid repulsion systems had been converted in a makeshift manner into armaments.
Jenna had completed her scan of the approaching fleet. ‘Hundreds of them!’ she confirmed, her voice cracking with excitement and relief. ‘All armed.’
‘They heard about the invasion,’ said Cally, ‘and they have come to defend their galaxy.’
The first of the human ships had started to engage with the enemy. The nearest of the alien ships peeled away from their attack on Liberator , and veered off in the direction of this new threat.
‘Defend the galaxy?’ Vila snorted with disbelief as he looked at the view screen. ‘That ragtag bunch of ratty little ships?’
‘Those ratty little ships are holding off the alien fleet,’ Avon said.
Vila looked dubious. ‘But for how long?
‘Long enough for us to fall back for a while. Give the auto-repair systems time to recover, and the weapons systems time to recharge.’ Avon began a swift set of calculations and adjustments at his console. ‘Jenna, get us out of range, standard by seven.’
‘I’m on it.’
‘Zen,’ continued Avon. ‘Keep monitoring the alien fleet.’
‘CONFIRMED.’
Cally heard the engines surge as the ship prepared for its manoeuvre. On the view screen, she saw the human flotilla swarm around them and interpose itself between Liberator and the aliens that poured through the defence grid. For the first time since the war had begun, Liberator was pulling back from the front line.
Chapter 5
Unknown Variables
The clattering of alien salvos against the outside of the ship gradually faded, and then ceased altogether. The engines took on a steadier tone as the ship travelled to a comfortable distance from the main conflict.
Cally watched Jenna steering them to safety, and was once again impressed with her friend’s calm, almost casual confidence. It was as though Jenna and the Liberator were connected through the flight controls. Jenna was instinctively at one with the ship. Completely at home. This was where she belonged.
Avon was busying himself with some calculations at his console. Vila tapped his fingers impatiently on his.
With a final flourish, Jenna completed their manoeuvre and released the flight controls. ‘This should be far enough.’
‘Not far enough for me,’ said Vila. ‘Are there still alien ships following us?’
Cally ran a rapid scan of the immediate area. ‘One small vessel. Vector eight six.’
‘Definitely not far enough!’ concluded Vila.
Jenna was already reviewing their options. ‘We should be able to pick it off with the neutron blasters.’
Cally continued to scan the solitary alien ship. Unlike their previous attackers, this one was making a direct approach. It accelerated on an intercept course, barrelling its way unerringly at them. Its trajectory steered it directly away from the main conflict, way over at the defence grid. The vessel had the Liberator clearly in its sights, and had the turn of speed and manoeuvrability to get in very close, very quickly.
‘Vila, are you ready? There may be just enough residual energy in the neutron blasters to pick this one off.’
At the last moment of its approach, the alien vanished abruptly from the view screen. Almost immediately, there was the pop of a small explosion outside the Liberator , and a metallic rattle as a hail of shrapnel cascaded across the hull.
That was odd, thought Cally. Had Vila managed to pick it off? Or had it just lost control and crashed into the hull?
‘Where did it go?’
‘You must have hit