“Time for those picket ships," John said, looking up at the tactical map. The entire fight was over in just under 30 seconds, and so far none of the other ships had reacted to the devastating surprise assault.

“One minute until we reach the first group," Alyssa called out, as she brought the Invictus about in a smooth graceful arc to engage its next victims.

Finally realising what had happened, the first of the picket groups moved to engage them, seeming unaware at just how heavily outclassed they were. With the pirate vessels heading directly towards them, the Invictus was in firing range within forty seconds. Calara instantly gutted the frigate like a skilled fishwife, the six beam lasers punching through the shields and then slicing the frigate in half.

Suddenly shockingly aware of their impending doom, the remaining Corvettes turned to attempt to flee, but they were not fast enough to escape the Assault Cruiser's hunger for blood. Alyssa kept their course steady and on the same plane, so that Calara was able to broadside each routing Corvette with 12 laser cannons, the bottom deck turrets also able to add to the salvo. Unsurprisingly, the terror stricken pirate crews were killed moments Later as each Corvette was ripped apart by powerful, military grade laser cannons.

“Moving to engage picket group two," Alyssa said confidently, as she pointed the Invictus towards the next three ships.

“Picket group three is fleeing!" Sparks said, pointing at the third group that was turning in the opposite direction to the Invictus and desperately running for safety.

“Let them go," John said, “if we can eliminate the second group quickly, we might be able to hit the Heavy Cruiser while it's still docked."

“Thirty seconds until we engage the second picket group," Alyssa noted.

“Active scans on the Heavy Cruiser and the mystery ship, when we get within range, Calara," John ordered.

“Yes, Sir!" the brunette acknowledged, as she prepared to fire on the last picket group.

“What are they thinking?" Sparks wondered aloud, shaking her head in bewilderment at the pirates stupidity. The second group came within reach of the Invictus and the ship devoured them in coruscating blasts of laser fire.

"Active scans, please," John requested.

“I'm picking up just over one hundred life signs on the Heavy Cruiser,"

Calara said as she read the report from the scans.

“Over five hundred on the other ship."

“It looks like most of the slaves have been transferred to our mystery ship," John surmised.

“Sparks, can you bring up an image of the ship please?" he asked the eager redhead.

“Sure John, there we go!" she said, as an image filled the screen in the centre of the bridge.

The Mystery vessel was bigger than their cruiser, at well over nine hundred metres in length. It had ribbed plating across the top that bristled with weapons, while the underbelly of the ship was segmented, and bulged with spherical compartments. Sparks thought it looked Like some kind of enormous mechanical insect.

“Those bastards, how could they?!" John exclaimed, while Calara gasped in horror.

“What's the matter?" Alyssa asked, surprised at such a strong reaction trom her friends.

“That's a Kirrix hive ship!" Calara said, her voice laden with dread.