The explosions along the left side of Sanctuary Ardent did not destroy Ruun's advancing group, but they broke its shape at the worst possible moment.
Several cruisers turned away from the mining debris, while others kept moving toward the mountain because they had not received the change in orders quickly enough.
One destroyer struck a damaged ore container and lost control, forcing the cruiser behind it to slow before the two ships collided.
Rhoswen led the sanctuary cutters through the confusion.
Her cutter was smaller than every ship around it, but that made it harder to hit while the Compact formation was still trying to recover.
She passed beneath the nearest cruiser and fired into the exposed shield units along its lower hull, then turned sharply before the enemy's side weapons could follow her.
The other cutters attacked from different angles, aiming at engines, sensors, and weapon mounts.
They were not trying to win a direct fight.
