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buy you some time?
 I don t like it, Blair. But I don t have a whole lot of options. Eisen paused as
the Sensor Officer displayed new data on the main bridge monitor.  We definitely
have a launch in progress from the Kilrathi flagship. So far they re still forming
up. No way to tell if they plan to press something, or if they re just threatening.
Looks like . . . at least a squadron already. More likely two, if they re still
launching.
 Then we d better get out there, Blair said. He cut the connection without
awaiting a reply.
Eisen leaned forward in his chair.  God go with you, Colonel, he said softly.
Flight Deck. KIS Hvar kann Delius System
 Lord Prince, surely you do not need to take personal command today. The
cockpit of a fighter is no place for the Imperial Heir when the battle is so
insignificant.
Thrakhath paused halfway up the ladder to the cockpit of his Bloodfang and
turned to glare his contempt down on Melek.  I have issued the challenge. Would
you have me hold back now, in front of our warriors?
 No, Lord Prince. . . Melek trailed off, looking uncomfortable.  But if
something was to happen to you now, with triumph so close under our talons, we
would lose everything we have worked to achieve. The personal challenge was a
risk you did not need to take. Others would have willingly taken on the Heart of
the Tiger for you.
 No! We want to cut this ape out of his troop, and for that he must be goaded
beyond all reason. I killed his lair-mate. He will not turn back from the chance to
kill me in return. And then . . . we have him.
 He is a skilled pilot, Lord Prince, Melek warned.
 I know it well. Thrakhath showed his fangs.  I am not a fool, Melek. Honor
requires me to be present for the challenge, but it doesn t require me to sacrifice
myself. My escorts will intervene if the need arises. But the important thing is to
eliminate this Colonel Blair now so that he does not stand in the way of our plans
for the Behemoth Go now. You command in my absence. Let the hunt begin!
Thunderbolt 300 Delius System
Blair s fighter leapt from the end of the launch tube into the void, building
thrust as he steered toward the rest of Gold Squadron assembling beyond the
stern of the Victory. It required all of his will to stay focused on his instruments,
the sensor screen, and the battle ahead. He couldn t afford to let himself dwell on
Angel.
 Thunderbolt three-zero-zero, under power, he reported.  Gold Squadron
deployed and ready.
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 You sure we shouldn t; let Whittaker s boys and girls give you a hand out
there, Colonel? The duty Flight Control Officer, Lieutenant Rashad, sounded
worried.
 Keep them on stand-by, Lieutenant, Blair said.  I ll let you know if we need
them.
It was the same problem encountered at Ariel. With the carrier heading for the
jump point, too many fighters in space would only complicate their escape. Blair
overruled the original call for a magnum launch, preferring to put out the eight
fighters of Gold Squadron and hold the others in reserve in case they were
needed. But he didn t intend to need them, not today. All the Terrans needed to
do at the moment was keep the Kilrathi distracted until the carrier was ready to
jump.
So far, the cats were cooperating quite nicely. Their fighters were maintaining
a tight formation well out of range of the carrier s guns. None showed any desire
to venture close enough to threaten the Terran vessel.
 Eight minutes, Rollins voice informed them.
 What are they waiting for? Flash complained.
 Maybe they re scared of you, kid, Maniac responded.
 Cut the chatter, people, Blair growled. He was feeling as impatient as Dillon.
If only Thrakhath would put his fighter in Blair s crosshairs . . .
 Does the Heart of the Tiger hide among the other apes? Thrakhath s
mocking voice filled his helmet speakers.  And under the guns of his ship? The
challenge was to meet in personal combat.
On his screens, he saw a Vaktoth accelerate away from the other Kilrathi
ships, but it stayed well clear of Victory. For a moment Blair toyed with the idea
of ordering the squadron to attack, but he knew the Kilrathi would he on their
guard against such a move. The name of the game, for now at least, was to keep
from letting a full-scale battle develop for as long as possible.
Thrakhath must have realized the same thing, for a few seconds later a pair of
Vaktoth broke formation followed by two more. These streaked toward the
carrier. Gold Squadron lay directly in their path.
 Here they come! Cobra called.  Permission to engage?
 Let them come to us, Blair ordered Wingmen, stick close to your partners.
The first two Vaktoth drove into the center of the Terran formation then rolled
outward, opening fire with guns and missiles. Cobra and her wingman, Vaquero,
went after the first one, while Maniac and Vagabond engaged the second. Blair
watched the second pair of fighters and felt his pulse race.  Hobbes, you and
Flash take the one on the left, he said.  Flint and I ll take the other guy.
 Understood, was Ralgha s reply. He still sounded distracted. Flash gave a
whoop and kicked in his afterburners, racing to meet the oncoming fighter.
Blair couldn t spend any more time worrying about the others. The fourth
Vaktoth was almost on them, concentrating fire against Flint s Thunderbolt. Blair
turned sharply and accelerated, opening fire with his blasters, while Flint banked
sharply left to try to keep her weakened port-side shields from taking any more
damage.
The Vaktoth pilot was good. He maintained his fire on Flint, randomly
altering vectors to dodge most of Blair s fire while he kept up the pressure on his
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original target. Blair gave a curse and locked a heat-seeker on the Vaktoth s tail,
then followed the missile with his blasters, pouring out all the power his weapons
system could muster. The shield collapsed, and blaster fire tore into the armor
until the power cut out, recharging.
His opponent seemed to realize then that Blair represented too great a threat
to ignore any longer. He started turning away from Flint to bring his weapons to [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]