This time, Rhoswen did not need to smash through a fixed screen. She hunted broken ships trying to regroup, using bursts of speed to cut across their escape angle while her heavy guns fired at close range.
She rammed one damaged destroyer aside, crippled a cruiser's engines with a point-blank barrage, and forced an entire fleeing group to turn back into the family fleet's firing lanes.
She was enjoying herself.
But she was also obeying.
Aurelian noticed both.
Astra did too.
"She is becoming more reliable," Astra said.
"She was always reliable in loyalty."
"In obedience, then."
"That is fair."
Rhoswen's voice cut in. "Still hearing you."
Aurelian replied, "Then keep giving us reasons to say nice things."
"I can do that."
The enemy fleet lasted another twenty minutes before its structure collapsed completely.
Some ships surrendered. Some tried to run and were disabled by interceptors. A few refused to stop firing and were destroyed.
