Once it entered a fleet, it spread quickly.
Eirenne took full advantage of it.
Several captured ships rammed or moved across enemy firing lanes at awkward angles.
Others broadcast false orders demanding that "traitor vessels" be destroyed. A few simply lit their engines at full power and charged into the middle of enemy groups, forcing the Kharov to either shoot them or scatter.
The ships did not last long.
They did not need to.
"They are wasting ammunition on our expendable hulls," Neris said.
"That is the point," Aurelian replied.
The surviving Kharov commander made one final attempt to restore order. Shuttle relays began launching from several ships, trying to carry physical orders between groups.
Eirenne detected them immediately.
"Manual command shuttles," she said.
"Solenne."
"Already marked."
A small number of fighters broke away and swept the shuttle line. They did not need heavy weapons.
