Chapter 28 · Cut the Tether

"Cut the tether, Cassian!" Lyra shouted as a cartel blade punched through the hatch beside her head.

Cassian caught her by the back of her coat and ripped her away from the bulkhead. The blade tore free with a shriek of metal. A second later, the hatch blew inward and three cutthroats spilled through the opening, boots scraping for purchase on the tilted deck.

"You always this polite?" Lyra snapped.

"Only when someone is trying to kill you."

"Then you are having a very good day."

The flagship graveyard rolled beneath them. Every impact from the cartel dreadnoughts sent the old iron hulks grinding together, and the dead ships dragged at the sun tethers like hooked whales. Their own vessel, the Vengeance, had locked onto the central wreck with six cables. Three were already glowing red.

A cutthroat swung a hooked chain at Lyra's throat.

She ducked. Cassian stepped into the swing and took the chain across his forearm. The impact cracked against his armored sleeve. He grunted, grabbed the links, and yanked the man face-first into the hatch frame.

"One down," Brant called from the gun deck. "Only about fifty left."

"Fifty?" Lyra said.

"I was being optimistic.