“Aye, Captain,” Waters replied, tapping in a comment.

The screen lit up again, this time with a timeline counting up from 0 to 100 percent in increments of five light-seconds across the board.

“When we launch, we’ll be giving away our position, anyway,” Weston said, frowning at the board. “So I don’t want us too close. Lay in firing commands for one hundred light-seconds.”

“Aye, aye, Captain,” Waters replied, going back to work.

“Commander,” Weston beckoned Roberts over.

The executive officer walked to the central command chair and came to a stop at Weston’s right hand. “Yes, sir?”

“I’ll want you manning the auxiliary bridge again, Commander,” Weston said. “It’s vital that we don’t lose the chain of command in the event of a shipboard strike.”

Roberts nodded. “Aye, sir.”

The captain looked intently at Roberts. “You and I both know that the auxiliary bridge is a lot more vulnerable than here, so I appreciate your willingness, Commander.”

“It’s for the best, sir,” Roberts responded. “As you say, we can’t afford to lose the chain of command if worse comes to worst.”

“I know that, Jason, which is why I’m also going to attach an addendum to your orders.”

“Sir?”

“In the event that the main bridge is incapacitated, under no circumstances are you to close with the enemy,” Weston affirmed. “I don’t believe that this is a necessary order, given your thoughts on our situation, but I want it on record. If you lose the ability to engage the enemy from a distance, you are to abandon the defense of this world and return to Earth via a circuitous route. Is that understood?”

“Aye, sir,” Roberts frowned. “Sir…the troops dirt-side?”

“If you can get them out without risking my ship, do so. Otherwise, they’re on their own.”

“Aye, aye, Captain.”

Weston and Roberts looked at each other for a moment. “Now get off my bridge and do your duty, Commander.”

“Aye, aye, Captain.” The commander turned on his heel and marched off the bridge.

Weston leaned forward, looking into the eyes of young Waters, who handled the big guns of the NACS Odyssey. “All right, Mr. Waters. Let’s have a look at your combat programs. I want to see what you’ve put together from the data we gathered on these bastards.”

“Yes, sir. I’m sending it to—”

“No, put in on the main screen.”

“Aye, sir.”

Stephanos watched as Paladin flipped a card across the twenty-foot gap between him and Lt. Gabrielle “Racer” Tracey. The lieutenant caught the card easily and palmed it as Paladin flipped the next one from the deck to the next player in the circle.

“Hey, Sammy baby!” Paladin yelled across to Samuels, smacking his gum. “You in?”

“What?” Samuels looked up, confused.

“You in?” Paladin repeated.

She saw the cards in his hands and stared for a minute before looking back at her instruments.

“Don’t look at those.” Paladin shook his head, a crooked grin on his face. “If you ain’t got it together by now, you’re checking out, anyway.”