“Set condition 2SS,” Celesta said, adjusting the readiness level of her ship. The crew had already been at general quarters before they’d transitioned in. “Coms, inform Flight OPS that we’ll be launching our drones as soon as we have confirmation the Atlas and Hyperion have arrived.”

“Aye, ma’am,” Ellison said.

“Transition flash!” Adler said.

“That’s the Hyperion,” Ellison said. “They pinged us with a com laser the instant they arrived.”

“Captain Walton is quick on the draw,” Barrett said as he watched his terminal.

After the initial excitement there was nothing else to do until the Atlas showed up but watch the passive sensors to make sure a Darshik patrol didn’t stumble across them.

“Settle down, everyone,” Celesta said. “We can’t do anything until the rest of the formation shows up.” Maddeningly, it was another nine hours before the Atlas popped into the system. Celesta did the math in her head and realized the next formation in the taskforce was still another twenty-one hours away at the earliest. She was just about to have her first watch stand down for a four-hour break before beginning the operation to make sure they were fresh, but the Darshik apparently had other plans.

“Contact!” Adler exclaimed again, drawing an annoyed look from Barrett. Celesta also would have preferred a more measured, calm demeanor from her tactical officer.

“What do you have, Lieutenant Commander?” Barrett asked in exasperation after Adler failed to elaborate on what she’d seen on the sensor display.

“Unknown thermal contact moving on a crossing course ahead of us.” Adler composed herself. “Putting it on the main. Computer estimates distance at just over four hundred thousand kilometers and increasing.”

“Looks like one of the random patrols we’re to be looking out for,” Celesta said as the magnified and enhanced thermal picture depicted what looked like three starships running on their main engines coasting through the system. “They don’t appear to be trying to hide, and they’re not turning out to meet us.”

“It looks like they’re lined up in a single column; all their attack formations so far have been phalanx or stacked,” Barrett said. “I agree, Captain, this looks like a patrol that missed our transition. I think we need to operate under the assumption they’ve spotted us and reported our position, however. I’d hate for them to slide by just for their buddies to jump in on top of us.”

“I think we’re going to modify the plan a bit.” Celesta sat back down as she watched the range between her ships and the enemy increasing at a steady rate. “Helm, do I have engine power?”

“Yes, ma’am! RDS is active and ready.”