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They'd known what was coming their way. But hearing about what was going to arrive and<br />
seeing it were two different things.<br />
Julie licked suddenly dry lips. The urge to try and call out to Emily was nearly overpowering.<br />
She desperately wanted to send a signal to the other Guardian, ask if she was alright. To hear her<br />
voice again. Instead she focused on what was coming towards them behind the First Guardian.<br />
"Mr. Webster, signal all ships, tight band laser transmission. Prepare for battle."<br />
----------------------<br />
Thuva frowned at the tactical display. Something was wrong, and the young Gallor-Tal couldn't<br />
figure out what. The way the Tiri were fleeing before them, drawing the Bak'ra ever deeper into<br />
this system. Surely they would have stopped to defend it if this was the system they had chosen<br />
to colonize?<br />
Yet, if they did, why were sensors not picking up anything from the inner planets? Had they not<br />
built any of those orbital forts they always seemed to prefer?<br />
She held her objections until the systems asteroid belt, located between the fourth and fifth<br />
planets, came into view. The Tiri Fleet, small as it was, had just begun to come into missile<br />
range. The first salvo of missile fire sailed across the void. At this range it would be a miracle if<br />
either side scored a hit. The Bak'ra had the missiles to spare though. She wondered if the Tiri did.<br />
"Lord, do you not find this strange?"<br />
Lortal turned to study his young student then smiled, not a particularly reassuring expression on<br />
the Gallor-Tal's face.<br />
"Thuva, they are attempting to get deeper into the system where they doubtless will attempt to<br />
use their warp gates to better advantage. It does not matter, they will not survive the coming<br />
battle."<br />
It made sense, sort of. The Tiri warp gate generators were far more efficient than their Bak'ra<br />
counterparts. They could function deep inside of a star's gravity well, where as the Bak'ra<br />
couldn't. The Tiri could only open warp gates for short distances, but it was still an advantage.<br />
One, which her Lord seemed to believe they sought to exploit.<br />
"Lord, I have no doubt that is true, but should we not see some sign of defensive emplacements?<br />
Somewhere? Yet there is nothing before us."<br />
"Thuva, they simply did not build any. Do not forget they must not have been here for more than<br />
sixty standard cycles."<br />
Thuva licked her lips, trying to marshal her objections.
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