As soon as the Gaze left Durin V's proximity. The ship's scanner picked up some hostiles shadowing them. They were coming in fast, there was six of them. All corvets, all about speed.
Leonidas stared at the HUD from the captain's seat. Tactical solutions, and possible escape routes they could take. The new AI Core was already at work. But it was a crutch, in the end he made the decisions.
"Leo, incoming transmission. Looks like they've something say." Said Ezran.
Leonidas did not answer. There was nothing he had to discuss with them. His eyes were locked onto the data on display, he needed a a plan. As this is about devolve into a chase. Proximity alerts were blaring in the background.
His fingers tapped the egde of the console on his seat. A habit he had learned from Selena, back from their days in the academy.
He closed his eyes and took a breath in. He remembered her words:
Instinct could never lead you astray
The words echoed in his mind like a record stuck on repeat. For a long time, the words were a guiding light whenever he found himself in great peril. And when he lost her, he tried to forget them. He failed. How could he forget.
"Computer, look for the closest asteroid field and plot possible paths. Deploy a false signature, lead them astray. They expect a fire fight, give them nothing." He commanded.
Titus raised an eyebrow. "That is a gamble."
Leonidas nodded. "They will try to box us in. This way we will not let them."
Tired of being ignored the hostiles finally open fired. Their opening salvo hit, the ship rattled but held steady. Thanks to the new hull plating they had just installed. 'We could use that shield matrix right now' he thought. That is in the past now, he had to use what he had.
They were faster than Leonidas anticipated. Now within the box, he had to devise a way to spring this trap. Classic pincer formation, military standard. They were capable, not pirates most definitely.
The computer blurted out:
APPROACHING NEBULA, IMMEDIATE RETREAT IS ADVISE
Leonidas looked at the start chart in view. A close by nebula. Its edge was swirling. 'What would she do?' He asked himself.
"When the enemy is faster," she said. "Use that speed against them. Give them a ghost to chase."
"Where is that false signature I asked for?" He shouted.
"I can mimic an engine trail, don't ask how." Replied Ezran.
It would it make it look like they were preparing to jump mid-fight. Make them look desperate.
"Do it, Ez" he said without hesitation.
Titus blinked. "You would fake a jump?"
Leonidas nodded in agreement. "A smokescreen. They will follow a ghost. Meanwhile we use that nebula's magnetic field to mask our jump."
Titus hesitated. "A blind maneuver. If you misculculate..."
The ship's new AI Core seemed to recognize Leonidas plan and voiced its opinion:
A MISCALCULATION COULD LEAD TO THE GRAVITY PULL OF THE NEBULA TEARING THE SHIP'S HULL APART. I ADVISE AGAINST SUCH A PLAN
"Silence. I will not miscalculate." Leonidas roared.
He egged the Gaze on, it's engines howling into the void. His seat shook from the hits they were taking. He stared at the numbers. 'Selena always said never look at number.' He took another breath in.
Ezran launched his fake engine trail. One ship followed. Then the next. The other four looked like had not been deceived, but then they adjusted course. Chased the flase signature.
Leonidas was patient. Counted down the seconds. The moment the last ship turned direction. He gave the order.
"Computer, Execute the maneuver."
The Gaze banked underneath the nebula's ridge. The hull groaned, stretched as far as it could. Alerts blaring : Hull integrity below 60%. The magnetic interference scrambled their trial. In mere moments they vanished from enemy sensors, they were gone.
Leonidas finally exhaled.
Ezran grinned. "That was insane."
"You have a death wish boy?" He said laughing.
Leonidas was silent. He stared into the void, and clutched at the locket around his neck.