"We're putting a lot of faith in the translation of encoded messages," Jackson said. "No offense to the work you two have done, but this could be a counterintelligence operation. The fact they're talking about this over our communications network seems to indicate it is."

"Entirely plausible," Pike admitted. "But the fact remains they were given our network, they didn't break into it to start pumping us with false leads. I'll go ahead and throw this out even though it's premature…we know who likely gave them their eleven Bluebird boxes. It was Assistant Director Wren Ives. She's the only one who could have authorized the acquisition of so many unassigned boxes other than Director Perez himself. There's also someone mentioned in these dispatches and referred to by the initials W.I. so it's fairly convincing."

"Wolfe, we can end this before it starts," Pitt said. "Or at least impact their plans in a meaningful way. If you went to the DeLonges System, you could probably help hold New Sierra if it's attacked, but it would just be a holding action. Without the Mickey crews, the numbers have swung back in their favor. We need a political solution to this before we're so far in that it's a fight to the knife."

"Damn," Jackson said softly, slumping back into his seat.

"If it makes you feel better, just pretend you're following your original orders. Vadim Kohl is heading to Xinjia. Go kill him," Pitt said. "Capture orders are off the table. We're no longer interested in show trials for that bastard. I want his ship blown out from under him."

"I can do that for you," Jackson assured.

"Pike, I need you to keep on this. Try to find out who the people on our side are who have been flipped," Pitt said. "Without knowing who the traitors are, it will make it difficult to take this to the president. As it is, I'm going to need to talk to him and try to convince him to evacuate as well."

"We'll stay on it," Pike said. "We're still almost a full day out from your position now."

"Send this group a detailed report over the datalink once we're off here," Pitt said. "Wolfe, you have your updated orders. I'm leaving it to you to make sure Marcum is brought up to speed on all of this and to try and convince him that he needs to stay on the base at Arelius. Barring that, leave the Nemesis behind on my orders. Barrett can't fight his ship if he's worried about protecting a VIP at the same time."

"Yes, sir," Jackson said. "I'll make sure the PM doesn't go to another active combat zone."

"I'd appreciate it."

"From what I understand, we have a full day or two to fully digest what we've learned," Pike said. "This operation was put in motion before the Phage War. It was generations getting the right people in place, and then being agile enough to use the attacks from both the Phage and the Darshik to their advantage. These are smart, motivated people, and we've just happened to come bumbling along onto their plan. We cannot underestimate them. They'll have contingencies backing up their primary plans, but I concur with Admiral Pitt that stopping the attack on Xinjia is crucial. That will be the first domino to fall."