eners. "Our surveillance of the enemy fleet
shows we are in a strong position. Form up for
penetrating the enemy fleet. Destroyers tighten
screens. As soon as the enemy gets within range
launch fighter-bombers and fighters. Gunships and
attack patrollers take the point. Attack. Now."

Optimum range was closing for particle beamers.
Fighter-bombers, gunships and patroller-fighters
from each side sped and dodged toward firing points.

A Jovian fighter-bomber plunged through a gap in
the UIPS shield and came at the bridge of the UIPS
cruiser Implacable. Arrayed to fire for effect the
Implacable cut loose with successive volleys of
its forward laser-quads. From a turret above the
cruiser's upper structures a molecular disrupter
flashed a cascade of energy that coalesced
into twisting, jagged bolts. The fighter-bomber
dissolved as its guns fired a short burst.
Fragments caroomed off its target's hull.

Two thousands kilometers distant, a Titanian
gunboat evaded the UIPS defensive screen and
slashed in at Selvin's Ruthless. The flagship's
guns set up a withering fire, but couldn't match
the lightning speed of the closing gunboat. A
raking laser-doubles knifed through the Ruthless
amidships, opening ten meters of hull. The vacuum
of space sucked at storage bays, shops and
wardrooms; dozens of bodies floated through the
rupture. The gunboat, caught in a crossfire of
laser-quads, exploded silently.

The Ruthless' internal safety doors had slammed
shut immediately, isolating the damaged bays and
compartments.

Suddenly, the main bodies of the two fleets were
within range of each other's heavy weapons. A
tangled circus of cruisers, destroyers, gunships
and fighters careened through space, sweeping
the battle arena with their guns. Battle craft, from
both sides, blossomed into clouds of wreckage,
shards and debris in the first minutes of combat.

More heavily armed, the INOR forces were
nevertheless at a disadvantage. The fleet had not
completely recovered from the disruptive effects of
the haphazard redeployment that Adari had contrived.
Drummer and Brad had deserted them; Hyk and the
Dragon were gone. The INOR forces lacked cohesion.
Captain Yargoul had barely assumed command of the
combined fleet and needed to assess the situation.
There was no time for that. They were face to face
with a powerful adversary who had appeared without
warning. An easy victory had become a struggle for
survival.

Two UIPS destr