Severn motioned for her to move away from the furiously working programmers and near the hatchway.

“If I had any doubts about the plan, the ship, or you, Captain, I would have relieved myself from duty,” he said quietly. “We know the stakes, ma’am. We’re with you.”

“I never had a doubt, Commander,” Celesta said without a smile. “So now the part where I do lean on you … how much longer until we can get the Jacobsons on their way?”

“Twelve more hours, ma’am,” Severn said with confidence.

“Very good, Commander,” Celesta said. “I will leave you to it.”

“You might want to stop by and talk to Commander Graham, Captain,” Severn said as she reached for the hatch handle. “His people could use a little encouragement … they have the more difficult task in this project.” Celesta just nodded to him and left.

She still had some doubts about what it was she was planning to do. It was unsanctioned and risky … but being a starship captain meant taking bold, decisive action when the opportunity presented itself without wringing one’s hands or fretting over lack of direction from leadership. In spite of her doubts this felt right. She’d make a stand here, and if this was the hill she died on, literally or figuratively, so be it.

****

“Flight OPS and Engineering reports all ready,” Accari reported. “CIC has also checked in and is standing by.”

“Very good.” Celesta stood in the middle of the bridge, breathing in the relative calm for a moment before setting things in motion that could not be reversed.

“OPS, tell CIC they are clear to execute. They are authorized to launch all needed spacecraft and weapons on my authority.”

“Aye aye, ma’am,” Accari said. “Operation is live; starting the mission clock.”

“Tactical, how’s the neighborhood?” Barrett asked.

“Passive sensors indicate local space is clear, sir,” Adler said.

“Jacobsons have departed the Icarus,” Accari reported. “Coms drone has also been launched. All drones are moving away on maneuvering jets. CIC says weapons will launch in three hours.”

“Very good,” Celesta said. “Stay sharp and stay loose, everybody. We have a long watch ahead of us, and we’re still behind enemy lines.”

After the mild flurry of activity of launching spacecraft and coordinating across departments, the bridge settled into a tense quiet with station operators talking quietly to their backshops through headsets. Celesta watched the main display as the drones began thrusting down into the system, firing their plasma engines in the lowest stable output mode they could to avoid detection. The acceleration profiles meant it would take a long time for them to get into position, but it greatly minimized the likelihood they’d be detected.

“Weapons firing,” Lieutenant Commander Adler announced just under three hours later, startling Celesta slightly as she’d been wholly focused on the threat board. “Shrikes one, two, and three are away and carrying launcher velocity only, no engines.”