"We… we need to quarantine this information for now," Jackson said. "I don't want it being spread around the other ships until we've completed combat operations here."

"Sir, are we still on mission? After this?"

"Neutralizing this planet is crucial to the plans of the people who did this, Captain," Jackson said. "If we pull out now and let Kohl have it, we'll have given up the singular chance we've had for a victory against them since they started."

"Aye, sir."

Jackson compartmentalized what had happened and pushed it out of his mind. The imagery and data had come in from Pike over his private channel with the CIS Agent, but he had no doubt it would spread throughout the fleet soon, and he had no way to stop it.

It wasn't that he wanted to lie to his people, but he also needed them focused and on-task, not full of rage and looking for payback. Risher in particular concerned him. If the hot-blooded captain got word of this, he'd fly the Broadsword straight to Xinjia and open up her guns on the Alliance's capital city.

"This will get out soon no matter what," he said. "We know Admiral Pitt is safe, but the loss of the Platform means CENTCOM is gutted. No chain of command, no guidance…just chaos." He paused and remembered that not everyone was emotionally built like he was, able to shrug off even horrific atrocities and set aside his grief for a time when he could afford it. Barrett looked pale and withdrawn, clearly in distress.

"Did you have any family on those worlds?"

"Not family, sir," he said. "Many friends on Columbiana. I'm… I feel guilty at being relieved my own family is safe when so, so many are now dead. I'm good, sir. Ready for action."

"Survivor's guilt is a real thing, Captain," Jackson said. "Take a moment to reflect and get a handle on how it's affecting you. I went through something similar when I watched those antimatter bombs hit Odmena."

"You, sir? Seriously?"

"That surprises you?"

"I-I guess I just never thought of you as having any thoughts or emotions not related to the mission," Barrett said. "Sorry. I think that came out wrong."

"Back before Jillian and I were together, you'd have been right," Jackson admitted. "But as I stood on the Jericho, looking at what Kohl had done on that planet surface, all I could think of was how glad I was she and the kids were on a Fed stronghold like Arcadia. I felt like shit for having any sort of emotion other than grief and anger when so many people had just been snuffed out below me."

"I don't understand—"

"Captain Barrett to the bridge! Admiral Wolfe to the bridge!" The call over the intercom made both men jump in their seats before running back out through the hatch to see what was happening, Jackson expecting the worst.

"Report!" Barrett said, striding to the center of the bridge.