Free Tactical Error by Thorarinn Gunnarsson Page A

although certain measures had been taken on board
all Starwolf ships since Lenna Makayen’s successful penetration of the
Methryn twenty years before. Velmeran frowned. “I would not rule it out.
The main question I have now is, how soon can you have main power up and
running?”
    “We are already clearing out this unit,” Tresha responded.
“We have no ready replacement for the unit, but we can rig a makeshift
connection that would give us at least three-quarters full power without
certain redundant safeguards. No less than twenty minutes.”
    “Get to it. I will find you that time,” Velmeran ordered,
nodding to Valthyrra to close the line. “Sweep out this ship with your
sensors for intruders, although I am sure that you will find none. Nothing
biological could have sneaked past your routine sweeps, but a small automaton
is something we never considered before now. Right now, we have another
problem.”
    “Afraid so,” she agreed. “Should I prepare the
packs?”
    “Would twelve packs do a damned thing to stop three Fortresses?”
he asked in return. “How long before those ships intercept us?”
    “About ten minutes, allowing for their present determination. They
will be close enough to open fire in only five minutes.”
    “I do not think that they will,” Velmeran said. “Keep one
thing in mind. All Fortresses have a receiving slot in their lower hull the
right size for a Starwolf carrier, with grappling arms and docking probes. For
the first time in history, the Union has a disabled carrier within reach, and
they will not refuse the prize. We cannot stop a capture, but we might be able
to prevent a boarding long enough to get power back. They will be able to
attempt boarding at any one of six airlocks along our lateral groove. That
means two packs with heavy guns each, ready to move into the docking probes as
soon as the seals are made. Other crew-members will have to go secretly out
onto the hull, to plant explosives that will free us from the grapples.”
    “Will that work?” Consherra asked, returning from the
engineering station. “We could put all of our transports out and have
them tow us long enough to get power back up.”
    “It would take at least ten minutes to set that up, and then they
would begin shooting at us to prevent our escape. We have to entice them to
capture us.”
    “Tresha says that she has found the remains of some type of small
probe in the debris,” Valthyrra reported. “It seems that you
guessed right.”
    Velmeran had apparently guessed right about something else, for the long
minutes passed and the three Fortresses held their fire even after they were
well within range. Then, as it began to move up close behind the Methryn, the
lead ship began to rise slowly until it was slightly above its prey.
    “They definitely are moving to intercept,” Valthyrra announced.
Since the main viewscreen was still down, the bridge crew was dependent upon
her reports of everything that happened outside the ship. “I anticipate
that they will move in to begin grappling procedures in the next minute.”
    Outside, the massive Fortress began to settle slowly over the top of the
Methryn’s broad, flat, upper hull. Although the Fortress’ own hull
was a maze of angled plates designed to deflect enemy fire, one large section
under its nose was essentially flat, with an impression designed to fit
perfectly over the armored upper hull of a Starwolf carrier. Maneuvering in
careful, precise movements, under the control of her own sentient computer
system guided by her sensors, the Fortress aligned herself perfectly over her
prey and settled in until the two hulls met with an echoing impact. The
grappling arms moved in quickly, catching the carrier in the deep indentation
of the lateral groove that ran completely around her hull, locking the two
ships together.
    “That does it,” Velmeran remarked as the rumbling echoes of
contact died away. He turned to Valthyrra. “Are you able to see