The Alpha Choice Read Free Page A

enemy was coming into position, the tactical officer nodded.  
    ‘Execute!’ the commander barked.
    Starseeker was in weft space, and safe. Jaron strode over to the tactical console indicating that his XO, Practaa, was to follow. The two of them looked at the holosphere as Reyat stepped back, maintaining a respectful distance. Science was not Jaron’s strong suit, but tactically he could hold his own with most. He called up a scenario and looked at his tactical officer. ‘Well?’
    Reyat scrutinised the hastily constructed plan and became agitated. ‘I don’t know, there isn’t enough time, although…’ for a few precious seconds he stared at the data, ‘…yes!’
    ‘Do it!’ Jaron replied. His XO said nothing.
    Ω
    Back at Gallsor, Jaron’s old friends did not have time to consider their superior’s hasty retreat. All six Balg ships were now concentrating their fire upon the remaining Te’an cruisers.
    Nebula and Plasma Trail had turned to outrun the enemy, diverting what little power remained, to the failing rear shields. All the while their shields were up they could neither launch the escape pods, nor erect a weft field. It never occurred to Bakir that Jaron had been right to be cautious because, even with his caution, they were still finished.  
    Ω
    Jaron paced up and down, looking at the holosphere and watching for the change he needed. ‘The scans?’ The data was displayed, and he simply shook his head, who would have thought it? He looked hard at his tactical officer. ‘How reliable is this?’
    ‘I can’t be precise, sir,’ the younger officer was clearly nervous.
    ‘We don’t have the time Reyat, just give me your best estimate of our chances.’
    The tactical officer took a deep breath, and exhaled slowly before answering. ‘Based upon the limited scans, I would say…no better than thirty percent!’
    The only visible sign of Jaron’s turmoil was him clenching his fists. ‘How long do we need?’
    Reyat responded, without hesitation. ‘Ninety-seconds, sir.’
    ‘How long do they have?’
    ‘Half that.’
    ‘Then we go in thirty-seconds!’
    Reyat was shocked. ‘But, sir, we won't have time to erect shields.’  
    Jaron permitted himself a grim smile. ‘I don’t think that’s going to make so much difference, do you?’
    The tactical officer shook his head.
    The three weapons officers had all tapped into Reyat’s data, ready as they would ever be.
    Ω
    Nebula’s shields had given out completely when Starseeker appeared between her, and the Balg ships. Just as the Weft field collapsed, the flagship fired on all enemy ships. At the same time a single command was received on the bridges of the besieged Te’an ships. ‘Leave!’  
    Plasma Trail dropped shields and began to erect a weft field; Nebula had no shields to drop.
    The Balg were taken by surprise, and the time it took for them to open fire upon the newly returned Te’an flagship, gave her the precious seconds she needed to erect shields. At the same time her sister ships entered the Weft, and she was alone.
    The second part of Jaron’s plan was activated. Starseeker powered between two of the Balg ships, targeting the weakest part of their shields. Both their respective starboard and port shield emitters were disabled; he then ordered his weapons officers to stop firing.
    ‘Sir?’ the most senior of the three asked.
    ‘You heard me, cease fire.’
    The XO approached his commander and spoke in a voice that could not be overheard. ‘Now what?’
    ‘We wait.’
    Practaa knew better than to ask Jaron what he was waiting for.
    None of the seven ships moved.
    If it was possible for the silence of space to be even blacker, then they had achieved exactly that.
    That silence was echoed on the bridge of Starseeker.
    Jaron had taken the biggest risk of his life. He counted on the Balg only acting in self-defence, knowing that he could only, at best, disable two of their ships. He also knew that they were so close