Dahlia's Deception (The Annihilation Series) by Saxon Andrew Read Free Book Online

missed. We were very fortunate that Ping had his wits and stopped us.”
    Tess calmed down, “When are you coming down?”
    “Ping and I have to discuss whether or not we are going to allow them to leave without being attacked.”
    “What?”
    “We have to look at the best thing to do. We’ve been attacking their ships on numerous fronts all over their territories; what are they going to think if they aren’t attacked here?”
    Tess thought for a moment, “They may believe their attackers avoided them because we want them to think they’re not in this cluster.”
    “They could also think we didn’t attack them to make them think we are.”
    Tess tilted her head, “That could go either way.”
    “That’s why I need Ping to work this out with me. I’ll let you know what we’re going to do.”
    Tess shook her head, “I’ve missed you, Dolly.”
    “Me, too, Tess.”
    • • •
    “You know we have to hit them.” Dahlia turned around and saw Ping standing in the entrance to the bridge. “It shouldn’t be a large attack but we are going to have to take a shot at them. They’ve got to know that whoever is killing their ships wouldn’t miss this many scouts. Not attacking is more dangerous than attacking.”
    Dahlia stood and walked over to Ping, “Listen, I’m sorry about …”
    Ping put his finger on her lips, “There’s nothing to be sorry about.”
    Ping removed his finger, “Even so…” Ping put his finger back on her lips and shook his head, “Do you have any thoughts about how we should attack them?”
    Dahlia stared at Ping and he kept his finger on her lips. She breathed in and slowly shook her head. She continued to stare at Ping as he moved his finger away slightly and, after a pause she said, “Pare, did you see anything that you found interesting?”
    “The two Commanders of those two groups of scouts are paired together and flying next to each other.”
    Dahlia nodded slightly, “Now that is a good observation. Maybe we should take the two of them out.”
    Ping moved on the bridge and sat down in his command chair; he swiveled it around, “Let’s think this through. What if we just take one of them out?”
    “What do you mean?”
    “Let’s say Pare takes us over the top of one of the Flagships and fires at the other. Do you think that might cause the two sides some consternation?”
    Pare said, “I’ve determined that the two Flagships are only in contact with their own scouts. They do not have a channel to the other’s ships. The individual scouts can communicate with the ship they’re paired with and that is the only point of contact between the two forces. Of course the Admirals can communicate with each other.”
    Ping smiled, “So let’s say we kill one of them and make it appear the beam was fired from the other’s Flagship.”
    Pare said, “Which one will you hit?”
    Dahlia said, “The Black Commander.” Ping looked at Dahlia and she saw his puzzlement, “Which of the two species will react emotionally?”
    Ping smiled, “You’re right. The Rageon would attempt to find out what happened. The Black Ships will follow their normal practice.”
    Dahlia’s brow furrowed, “What practice is that?”
    “Fire, ready, aim.”
    Dahlia laughed, “Now that’s funny.” Dahlia contacted Tess, “Sis, we’re going to see if we can’t get the Rageon and Beasts to mingle a little more than they’ve been doing. I’ll be back once it’s done.”
    “I don’t want you involved in an attack.”
    Dahlia smiled, “And I want universal peace; it appears neither of us is going to get what we want.” Dahlia ended the contact and Pare teleported the ship away.
    Tess stomped her foot and Dean tried not to laugh. Tess looked at him and he raised his hands in front of him, “Hey, you know she’s a warrior. You’re also forgetting that the Prince is sworn to defend her. He won’t take any chances with her safety.”
    Tess stared at Dean and then relaxed. “You’re