Free The Ganthoran Gambit (The First Admiral Series) by William J. Benning Page B

formation.
    This Frontier General learns quickly , Billy considered.
    Kallet could begin to disperse his Carriers, but, in doing so, he would have to commit greater Cruiser and Destroyer resources to protect them. That would mean drawing vessels away from the front line.
    “They’re breaking station and moving forward, sir!” a Scanner Officer called from the darkness, confirming what Billy could already see.
    Kallet has taken the bait , Billy thought as he viewed the War Table image, s urely, Kallet hadn’t fallen for the manoeuvre so easily , Billy puzzled. A shrewd and capable leader like Kallet wouldn’t be drawn into throwing his forces at the Force Shielding and pulsar-cannon of the Alliance forces after one volley. Surely, Kallet would stand his ground, and then make his attack when the enemy warships were at a much closer range.
    And, yet, as he watched the Frontier Fleet vessels moving forward, something just did not appear to be quite right about the manoeuvre. It looked like the entire centre and right wing of Kallet’s fleet was moving into the attack.
    But, what was the left wing doing , Billy questioned.
    A mixed force of Cruisers and Destroyers were holding station on Kallet’s left, and not joining the attack.
    Surely, if Kallet was going to risk everything on an attack, then that was precisely what he would do. He would risk everything.
    To make such a bold tactical move required all of Kallet’s forces.
    Something is not right here , Billy thought, as he watched over half of Kallet’s surviving Cruisers and Destroyers moving slowly towards the encroaching Alliance formation.
    A half-hearted attack was no better than not attacking at all. Kallet was simply throwing these ships and their crews away with such a feeble move.
    “They’re within weapons range, so why aren’t they firing?” Billy asked the officers at the War Table.
    “Sir! Sir! The Ganthorans are signalling, sir!” An excited Communications Technician began shouting before any of the War Table officers could respond to Billy’s question
    “What is it, Comms?” Billy looked puzzled as he turned his attention away from the War Table image.
    The War Room was buzzing with consternation. Even the less tactically able amongst the War Room personnel could understand that something untoward was going on. Generals did not split their forces up in the face of superior numbers, and enemies engaged in battle very rarely communicated with each other; except to offer terms or to offer surrender. Something extraordinary was happening, and the War Room was aware of it.
    “They...they...? They want...they want to come over to our side, sir!” The astonished technician was met with a stunned silence.
    “What!? How many!? Where!?” Billy asked.
    “It’s a trick, sir, it’s one of Kallet’s tricks,” one of the Ganthoran Imperial Guard officers at the War Table warned.
    “More than likely, General Zandor,” Billy said. “Comms, ask them to signal compliance by changing course towards Rubicos.”
    “Sir!” another Scanner Technician interrupted, “the Ganthorans are opening fire on their own ships!”
    On the tiny three-dimensional images, Billy could see the unmistakable blurring of the “Screaming Death” being directed from Kallet’s left wing towards the vessels moving away from the centre and right of the Frontier Fleet position.
    The War Room buzzed with confusion and expectation. Never before had part of an enemy fleet decided to defect to the Alliance in the early stages of a battle. Racing through the options in his mind, Billy Caudwell knew that the possibility of neutralising part of Kallet’s forces was one that had to be considered and explored. If they complied with his order to make course for Rubicos, then they would be removing themselves from the combat zone.
    “Sir!” the Scanner Officer called, “Part of the enemy formation is changing course towards Rubicos!”
    “And, they’re firing back at the ships