“I don’t like the idea any more than any of you. But we have to at least consider it.” Barron paused. “We can’t be guided by pride at the expense of reason. We’re at least as badly damaged as the enemy, and very likely worse. If we fight…there’s a good chance we will lose. And the sector will be completely unprotected.”

“Captain?” It was Bryan Ragan, the commander of Dauntless’s Marine company.

“Yes, Bryan?”

“Sir, whatever course of action you choose, I must respectfully request that you allow my Marines to land on Santis.”

“Land?”

“Yes, sir. I have reviewed the scanning results from Red squadron’s probe of the planet. They picked up signals, sir.”

“Yes, I know. It seems clear the enemy landed a ground force and occupied the tritium production facilities.”

“No, sir…I mean, yes sir. But I think some of the Marines down there are still holding out, fighting.”

“There was only one platoon assigned to Santis, Bryan. We have no idea what kind of force the enemy landed, but…well, it’s very unlikely the Marines managed to hold out this long.”

“Sir, the signals. Mixed in with the enemy communications there was…well, it’s an old Marine code. We don’t use it anymore, but they still teach it at the Academy. It was a distress call, Captain. There are Marines down there still fighting…I’m sure of it.”

Barron leaned back in his chair. He couldn’t imagine how fewer than forty Marines could have held out this long, but Ragan was a gifted officer, and not one prone to follow hopeless causes.

“Okay, Bryan, if we stay, we will look into it.”

“With all due respect, sir, I speak for the entire Marine contingent when I request that you allow us to land whether or not Dauntless will be staying.”

“Bryan, we have no idea how many soldiers the enemy has down there. You have no idea what you’ll be getting into. And if we leave, that enemy ship will be back. You’ll be cut off on the surface, without reinforcements, with the enemy in total control of local space.” He paused. “Your people will be wiped out, Bryan.”

“We understand the risks, sir. As I said, every Marine on Dauntless has volunteered, knowing everything you just said.”

Barron shook his head. He knew the Confederation Marines took their bond to each other deadly seriously. But how could he allow a hundred of his people throw their lives away if Dauntless retreated?

He was still thinking quietly when the com unit buzzed, and Darrow’s voice came through the speaker. “Captain, we’ve just received a flash com update from the transwarp link.”

“Yes, Lieutenant?” Barron was impatient, distracted. Flash updates were standard procedure, normally full of nothing more pressing that routine updates and crew mail. Nothing that justified interrupting a vital strategy session.