“This is Barrett, Captain,” Barrett’s voice came back. “We’re currently in a holding orbit over DeLonges in formation with ten other ships, only two of them Fleet warships. The Icarus is FMC and we’ve even been replenished in flight: fuel, propellant, and replacement missiles were flown in from Bespitd Depot. Ready to receive orders, ma’am.”

Celesta smiled. Instead of wasting time with idle back and forth with such a long com lag, Barrett had supplied her with their position, ship status, and that they were ready if she needed them. Once again she patted herself on the back for insisting that the former tactical officer be promoted and assigned as her XO.

“Very good, Commander,” Celesta said as her hands danced over the display. “I’m sending you a set of coordinates that will put you beyond the orbit of the fourth planet. Take the Icarus there, hold position and go silent. Anti-collision beacon only, no Fleet transponder codes for now. I’m on my way to you. Wright out.”

“We’re flying this thing out there, ma’am?” Accari asked.

“We’re certainly not sitting in this cramped ship for our own amusement, Ensign,” Celesta said. “Ship, calculate a flight plan to the coordinates I just sent over the ship-to-ship channel and prepare us for departure.”

“Flight plan calculated and ready to execute,” the ship said. “Powerplant online, main engines online, navigation sensors online. When do you wish to depart?”

“Immediately,” Celesta said, wishing every piece of Tsuyo tech was so agreeable. “Then prepare to dock with a Starwolf-class destroyer when we reach our destination.”

“Understood,” the ship said. “Beginning decoupling procedure. New Sierra security has locked down all departures. Would you like to bypass normal security protocols?”

“Affirmative,” Celesta said, hoping that everyone was indeed too busy to look too closely at where she might have disappeared to.

“Stand by,” the ship said. “Security bypass successful. Decoupling and engaging main drive on new course.”

There were some bumps and bangs that reverberated through the small ship as it disengaged the mooring locks holding it to the station. Celesta watched as they drifted downward relative to the enormous platform on small puffs of gas from the attitude jets. Once they’d drifted down enough to clear the other docking complex that had been dead ahead and a small antenna cluster off their port side there was a smooth, deep hum and the ship surged away from the New Sierra Platform.

“I’ll be damned,” she said. “Reactionless drive … and one that actually works.”

****

“Icarus, arriving,” the computer intoned over the shipwide intercom when Celesta stepped through the hatchway of the auxiliary starboard airlock followed by Ensign Accari.

“Is Agent Pike with you, ma’am?” Commander Barrett asked after Celesta had returned his offered salute.

“No, he was nice enough to let me borrow his ship though since they locked down New Sierra,” Celesta said. “Are we secure here?”

“Yes, ma’am.”