James felt his brow furrow in alarm.  He'd known Captains who were tyrants and Captains who were too soft, but he’d never known a Captain who had abandoned his bridge when his starship was in deadly danger.  Whatever else could be said about Captain Smith, he’d definitely had the same worth ethnic.  It had been hard enough to convince the Captain to take a nap when the alien battlecruiser had been maintaining her distance.  But why would he leave the bridge now?

“I see,” he subvocalised.  He didn't dare speak out loud.  God alone knew what the CIC’s officers would think if they heard him.  “Who’s in command now?”

Midshipwomen Lopez spluttered.  “You, I think,” she said.  “But he passed bridge command over to Commander Farley ...”

James felt a shiver run down his spine.  Something was definitely wrong.  Traditionally, the officer on the bridge held command, even if he was outranked by someone elsewhere on the ship.  Captain Smith should have called James himself to the bridge or at least informed him that someone else would be holding formal command, if James couldn't leave the CIC ...

“Inform Commander Farley that he is still in command, but he is to alert me if the situation changes,” James said, pulling up the personnel display.  Ark Royal automatically tracked and logged the locations of everyone on the ship, including the aliens and their former captives, snug in their secure quarters.  The Captain wasn't in his office, but his cabin.  “I will deal with the situation.”

“But ...”

“I will deal with the situation,” James repeated.  The young woman had done enough – more than enough.  No matter what had happened, her career wouldn't survive if the Admiralty found out what she’d done.  “Remain on the bridge.”

He passed CIC command over to his second, took one final look at the tactical display – the alien ship was still holding position, mocking them – and hurried out of the CIC.

***

Ted entered his cabin, closed and locked the hatch behind him and sat down on the sofa, feeling absolute despair working its way through his mind.  He’d failed; he’d failed everyone from the First Space Lord to the lowliest crewman on his ship.  The aliens had them trapped now, holding in place and waiting for the force they needed to smash Ark Royal like a bug.  Ted had no illusions.  The aliens knew his ship now; they knew what they needed to destroy her.  When they came, it would be the final battle.