“We know those are at least theoretically possible,” Celesta said. “The Vruahn were able to track us in warp and they had superluminal coms. The Darshik didn’t strike me as that advanced but I know less than nothing about the Ushin other than what CENTCOM has decided I need to know to do my job.”

“I wonder how much they know,” Barrett mused aloud. Celesta resisted the urge to mention what Marcum had divulged along with what Pike had asked her about a certain black project he was trying to track down.

“All idle speculation right now,” she said. “XO, you remain here for a bit and coordinate the flow of data up to the bridge. Lieutenant Commander Washburn, excellent job managing CIC while I was absent. Please call up a relief so that you can get some rest while we’re all just staring at each other across billions of kilometers … if it gets any more interesting than that, I’ll need you fresh and ready.”

“Aye, ma’am,” Washburn sounded relieved that she would be able to go and get some rest.

“I’ll be on the bridge,” Celesta continued. “We’ll maintain split watches for now and maintain our current state of readiness. We won’t go any higher until the Ushin move, we get word from CENTCOM, or the Darshik make a surprise appearance.”

“You think that’s coming, Captain?” Barrett asked.

“Something chased the Ushin all the way to the DeLonges System, Commander.” This time she did shrug. “I doubt it was overwhelming desire to talk to humans again.”

****

“OPS, status,” Celesta said as she walked onto the bridge.

“No change in the Ushin formation,” Accari said. “Ship is still on heightened alert and FMC. We’re also tracking the Amsterdam’s navigation beacon as it moves out to meet the alien formation.”

“We’re still on com lockdown?”

“Partially, ma’am,” Ellison said. “The local area channels have been opened up and Fleet is instructing us to limit all radio calls to essential navigation traffic only. All ships are still being told to hold their current positions … no direct inquiries to us as to why we left orbit over DeLonges yet.”

“Very good.” Celesta sat down in her chair and logged into the terminal by pressing her thumb on the screen for a biometric reading. She had to go through two more security checks before accessing her private server and retrieving a set of codes Pike had given her directly following the Phage War. At first she thought he was trying to gain her favor as he had openly professed his interest in her, but she then learned that he often would pass on the same type of information to Jackson Wolfe if he thought it would be useful.