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own controls, altering the main holo display. A dotted line appeared in front of the representation of Achilles, bending away from the approaching ships towards the shift passage to New France. “They wouldn’t be able to get into range of us so we would make a clean get away. We have already caused enough damage to be satisfied here. As you have already said, we could be needed elsewhere.
     
    “However,” he continued slowly, “Those fleeing military freighters make a very tempting target. If the Russians are bent on conquering New France I would bet they are filled to the seams with soldiers or at least the supplies they need for the soldiers they already have in New France. We could cause them a lot of damage if we could take out even one. It would be a shame to pass up such an opportunity.”
     
    “So what do you purpose then? I don’t intend to risk this ship unnecessarily, no matter how juicy the targets are,” Somerville asked.
     
    “We have the speed and maneuverability advantage. I say we use it. We keep heading for the remaining Russian warships. Let them think we are willing to go toe to toe with them. Why not? We have already destroyed a light cruiser and a destroyer. Who’s to say we shouldn’t be over confident?
     
    “Then, at the last moment, once they are committed, we can maneuver up and over them. Look at these three freighters here,” Hamilton said, pointing to three freighters that were scrambling away from the gas giant towards the shift passage to New France.
     
    “We can make for them. As soon as we try to out maneuver the warships the freighters will alter course, but by then we should have built up enough speed to get into range and fire off a broadside at one or two of them as we pass. Then we can just head on to New France.”
     
    “And what if the Russians release their frigates? They are faster than their light cruisers and destroyers. They could catch us and do some damage. If they managed to score a hit on us we could fall back into the clutches of the light cruiser and destroyer,” Somerville pointed out.
     
    “That’s a risk sir,” Hamilton conceded, “but one I think we should consider taking. Even if they released the frigates to use their full acceleration they would be allowing them to get into range of our missiles. We would make quick work of them.”
     
    “Ok,” Somerville said making up his mind. Standing he vacated the command chair. “You have the bridge Lieutenant. I want to see you put your ideas into practice.”
     
    “Yes sir,” Hamilton said eagerly. Every Lieutenant in the RSN knew to grab an opportunity to exercise command authority with open arms. There was fierce competition for promotion and command experience always looked well on a Lieutenant’s personnel file.
     

Chapter 4 – Confrontation
     
     
    15 th September 2439, New France system
     
    Eight days later Achilles was once again sitting at the edge of a French system as her sensors updated the bridge crew on what was going on around them. Hamilton had pulled off his plan perfectly. After dancing around the Russian warships he had managed to get into range of one of the freighters he had identified as a target. A single missile had taken it out. Somerville hoped the Russians would feel the loss.
     
    In anger, the two Russian frigates had tried to fire their missiles at Achilles but they had misjudged the range. Two minutes before reaching the British ship the missiles ran out of fuel and went ballistic. A small course change from the navigation officer had avoided them.
     
    After destroying the freighter they had headed for the shift passage to New France. As Somerville peered at the sensor data he knew he had a dilemma. New France was a hive of activity. There were tens of ships moving around in orbit and more moving about the inner system.
     
    Crucially, there was no sensor data on the large battlestations that should be around the colony. There was also a large gathering of