The loose swarm of missiles splashes against the energy shields of the enemy vessel. The protective field collapses, but none of that volley get through.

  "Fire again!"

  Gelly turns to regard Ship-Father Dunc Wollen. A glare from the older male is his only answer. Dunc's mouth moves, but it is impossible for Gelly to make out the words over the noises in the crowded command room.

  "Do it, Gel," commands Ship-Father Jim Tollek. His voice cuts effortlessly through the chaos, the trained tones of command. "Before those traitors can restore shields."

  "Aye."

  Gnarled fingers fly across the controls. Another burst of missiles launches. The Nialla's Cabin tries to swerve but its ponderous bulk only presents a better target as the massive hauler turns. Point defense turrets take out a bare handful of missiles. The rest impact with the hull of the enemy ship. Plating craters under the explosive force, blasting shreds of twisted composite alloy into the uncaring void.

  The Resurgent's shields glow as they absorb incoming missiles from the larger vessel. A few clouds of glowing atoms burst around the Resurgent, its own defense turrets working with precision. Alarms blare throughout the ship and send repair crew scrambling to prevent burn out.

  "Now, Nett," orders Jim. That last barrage causes the Resurgent to turn just enough to line the Cabin up with their main cannon.

  The Operative nods seriously and activates the energy hungry weapon. A beam of energized particles burns into the weakened hull. It takes only moments before atmosphere and vaporized alloy spew from the wound like crystal blood.

  A cheer from Dunc draws a few looks from the officers crowding around him.

  "I would no be so happy to see me ship die," comments Gelly.

  The command room falls silent at his pronouncement and many present turn to regard the visiting Ship-Father. Dunc's face darkens, though whether from anger or embarrassment Gelly cannot tell.

  "Crippled, perhaps," concedes Dunc, "but not yet dead. I'll lead my surviving loyal officers on the first assault to reclaim the Cabin." His eyes widen as he realizes he cannot issue commands aboard another's ship. "With Jim's permission, of course," he adds belatedly.

  Jim grins from his command chair. "Take Gel and Vren along with your team."

  "I would like the exercise," claims the Tserri officer placidly. The way his lower claws flex betray his excitement at the prospect of a raid.

  "You'll get it," exclaims Dunc. A mad glint in his eyes adds menace to his glare. "No captives, no mercy."

  Vren nods calmly.

  "Not everyone on board the Cabin is a Coalition traitor," Jim declares in an attempt to spare a few lives. "Dunc, you said it was loyal officers and dedicated crew that got you away before those bastards could start the executions, right?"

  "That's right," agrees the other Ship-Father. His hands clutch unconsciously at an empty hip holster.

  "And are all of them with us on my ship?"

  Dunc sputters unintelligibly but cannot dispute that fact. Some of those that helped him escape are still captives of the Navy Coalition remnants. Unable to argue, he stands. He signals with his hands to the officers assigned to him to follow as he leaves the crowded command room.

  "I need ye to stay behind, Drev," Gelly says to his faithful servant. The Squiver signals his understanding, then once more takes his place guarding the entrance to the command room.

  His delay causes the Ship-Father to glare back at him. Gelly shrugs his heavily armored shoulders and quickens his pace to catch up.

  The three officers hustle through hallways filled with refugees from the Cabin. Those in combat roles join the group and once they reach the hangar there are nine armored operatives behind Dunc, some bearing minor wounds. All the small craft from both large ships crowd the busy hangar.

  Bella greets the hastily assembled squad and leads them through the confusion to the Hopper. The large, custom shuttle will lead the first boarding assault. Other smaller craft will follow but it will be the first squad clearing the way.

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  The officers cram themselves inside under Bella's direction. Inside the hangar she commands everyone but Jim. Ship-Father Dunc takes the pilot's seat. Gelly and Vren choose to sit closest to the door in order to be the first into combat.

  Inside the shuttle the atmosphere is tense. Officers shift nervously during the flight. Any comments are in low voices filled with anticipation and dread.

  Gelly looks at those around him. These officers are about to be forced, once again, to fight their former crewmates. People that they had worked alongside for years in some cases.

  "I still do not understand," says Vren from his seat on the other side of the door. Gelly looks over at him and he continues, "Why did their former companions turn against them?"

  The officer next to Vren grunts and glares at him angrily before turning away. Vren cocks one ear in curiosity but quickly looks back to Gelly for an explanation.

  Gelly closes his eyes to think for a moment, then tries his best to banish still too recent pain. "When we chased the Coalition off our worlds, some o' their kids were left behind. Kept, more like," he clarifies, scratching his nose. "The Imperium tried to raise 'em right, loyal and all, but some still miss the old ways. Then they passed the sentiment along to their own young. Like as no, not all o' those we're to kill even want to be doin' this."

  "Then why?"

  Mutters of 'ignorant Tserri' and 'insensitive savage' pass around the confined space. Vren's lips twitch in amusement but he otherwise seems to ignore the hostile murmurs.

  "If they were trusted to serve alongside these warriors," Vren gestures with an upper arm, "then why would they betray that trust?"

  "That's what we've been asking ourselves," a Second Operative complains from across the shuttle.

  Gelly nods, then resumes his explanation. "Kali turned on us as soon as she seen a chance worth takin'. One o' her cousins or some such in exile looks at her and she leaps to his side." He shakes his head mournfully. Gelly turns and shouts toward the front, "Did ye pick up some new crew, recent like, Dunc?"

  The officers around the cramped insides of the Hopper look at one another, calculating looks upon their faces.

  "Yes," shouts back Ship-Father Dunc. "Swapped with the Grassea Envoy when we were both stopped at Secondus."

  "There's yer cause, right there," Gelly says grimly, turning back to face Vren. "Enough o' them got together, started whisperin' to each other in back rooms, like as no. New crew must've given them the confidence to try their luck."

  "A lot of my friends are dead now," announces the Second Operative. "Dead because of those bastards. I'm not going to try taking any prisoners."

  "Understood," states Vren in a level voice. "I apologize for my ignorance and thank you for enlightening this savage."

  There's a bit of muttering after that, but the rest of the short trip passes in a crowded hush.

  The Hopper lands inside the gaping wound of the dying hauler. Everyone seals their helmets, and Dunc cycles the atmosphere away to storage tanks. The door of the shuttle opens.

  Gelly exits first with Vren close behind him. The rest of the officers follow but wait for Dunc before moving. Gelly and Vren leave them behind.

  The two bound through the empty halls with weapons held tightly in gauntleted grips. The gravity shifts in intensity between sections of the ship and only the drills Gelly forces everyone to do keep them from injury. They light their way with beams from their suits; the damaged systems around them are dark. Many panels are black, burnt out during the battle. Corpses litter the halls, only visible by the lights of their armor.

  The pair round a corner, stumbling a step as the gravity increases but quickly recover. A beam of energy cuts through the darkness and impacts Gelly in the chest.

  The alien runes etched upon his custom armor glow as they absorb the power of the ambush attack. His battery restores as the energy channels into it. Gelly lifts his SAm20 and fires blindly. Spots dance before his eyes. The sound of Vren's rifle behind him reassures him that he's shooting in the right direction.

  Pings echo back as metal strikes metal and deflects. Gelly fires again, squinting against the afterglow of the energy gun. Another blast of particles splashes harmlessly against his face, blinding him again.

  He hears a roar and heavy steps thundering past him. Char flakes off the floor at the ferocity of Vren's charge, rattling discordantly as chips bounce around. He crouches and backs against the blistered walls. Unable to see, he will not risk another shot.

  Sound weakens in the thinning atmosphere, but the crash of bodies colliding reaches the crouching Weapon Operative. He winces at the wet crunch of crumpling metal and bone.

  Gelly's vision clears in time to see the Tserri warrior standing over an armored corpse. Dents and gouges score the mark four armor from Gelly's flechette rifle. Holes mark where Vren's armor penetrating rounds now reside. Blood drips from the armored claws of the victorious warrior.

  Vren straightens and looks at Gelly. "I must acquire similar protection for myself and Teah." He indicates a large burn mark on his leg, black against the silver and purple he favors. "We will save a great amount on repainting our armor."

  "Aye," answers Gelly with a grin. "Ye'll love the witches." He stands and starts to continue the advance but stops when he hears footsteps from down the hall. Gelly starts to motion Vren to a halt but the sharp-eared Tserri is already turning, weapon at the ready.

  Dunc leads five of the assault team around the same corner moments later. Vren lowers his rifle at the sight of them. Fresh scratches and burns mar the vacuum suits of Dunc and his team.

  "Sorry we're late. We had to clear a group of traitors a deck back. They were trying to make a couple of captives rig up an escape pod."

  "No worries," quips Gelly. "We found our own fun."

  Dunc smiles viciously behind his clear visor when he sees the body lying on the warped decking. "Good. Let's find out how many more survived the battle." He walks past the bloody corpse without another glance. "And make them pay for what they've done."

  "Aye," Gelly answers. He joins Vren and they take places at the back of the formation.