Stormbreak (Seafire #3) - Natalie C. Parker Page 0,51
hulls reinforced with long spikes ready to skewer approaching ships, their decks lined with automated cannons. She could only imagine there were more surprises waiting in the water between them.
“Slow us down, Nettle,” she called. “Keep us out of range of those cannons.”
“Yes, Captain,” the girl answered as the ship slowed.
Caledonia searched up and down the row, looking for any indication of movement. They were close enough now that they’d surely been spotted, but still, there was no sign from the Net. Caledonia had intended to rush in and stop her ships just out of range, but with every minute that passed she grew less and less certain of that plan.
Caledonia only shook her head. She had no answer. And that was never a good sign.
She was on the brink of calling her fleet to a stop when a second whistle sliced the air, this one a pattern of four sharp sounds.
“They’re on the move!” one of Amina’s Knots called. “Ten tails on course to intercept.”
Relief twined with a new kind of tension in Caledonia’s gut as ten ships peeled away from the Net and headed directly toward them.
“Send Silver ahead.” Caledonia kept her eyes on the ten approaching ships as the Luminous Wake slowed even more. Seconds later, Silver Fleet took the lead with Gloriana joining in at the fore. Much as Caledonia wanted to be the one out in front, she’d come to accept that part of commanding a fleet was staying where she could see the field. “Harwell, tell the others to follow our lead. Nettle, keep a half mile between our noses and Silver Fleet’s tails.”
“Aye, Captain,” Nettle called from her post at the wheel.
Silver Fleet glided forward at half speed like an arrowhead. Caledonia led the rest of the fleet a short distance behind while ahead the ten Bullet ships moved faster, their thrusters frothing at their sides.
All Caledonia needed was to get close enough to be in contact. To show that they hadn’t come for a fight, but to talk. Of course, that was easier said than done. No one ever encountered a Bullet ship without intending to do one of two things: run or fight. Caledonia only hoped that her refusal to do either would keep them from an all-out battle.
“Harwell, remind everyone to hold their fire.”
The distance between Silver Fleet and the Bullet ships constricted until they were within firing range. Caledonia held her breath, waiting for that first missile to streak through the air, but none came.
“So far, so good.” Oran was braced against the hatch, eyes narrowed and cast out to sea.
Then the Bullet ships cut their engines. They glided forward on inertia and nothing more. Not even their thrusters churned. It was a cautious way of sailing and one Caledonia wasn’t used to seeing from Bullets.
“That’s encouraging.” Pisces had a scope pressed to her eye. “Never seen a Bullet ship take a hint before.”
All at once, Caledonia knew it wasn’t a hint at all. It was a trap.
“All stop!” Caledonia cried. “Radio Silver Fleet to cut their engines!”
But before the command was out of her mouth, the waves slapping at the sleek hulls of Silver Fleet sparked with blue-white electricity.
Nine ships flashed against the deep blue of the water.
Lightning cracked across steel plates. It leapt from the tips of waves, striking out with deadly kisses. The air snapped and even though the Luminous Wake was some distance away, they heard the screams of their crewmates as they tore through the sky.
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
It was over in the space of a breath.
“Harwell,” Caledonia said, voice as flat and cool as ice. “Radio Silver Fleet.”
“Yes, Captain.” Harwell’s hushed voice filled the small cabin as he repeated the words, “Silver Fleet, come in,” three times with no response.
The only other time they’d seen this kind of tech had been in the electrified hull of Electra. Not even Amina’s small nets had had the power to turn an entire ship into a live wire. Caledonia tried not to imagine how terrible that shock must have been as fear slowly expanded in her throat.
They could be alive.
They could be dead.
And there were still ten Bullet ships she needed to consider. They held their position on the opposite side of Silver Fleet. Ten noses aimed straight ahead. Threatening her without moving. Behind them, the cannons atop the tall ships of the Net seemed to watch them through hollow unblinking eyes.
Harwell repeated his message to Silver Fleet once more.