"If the base coms are down, then they're probably on short-range tactical radios," she said. "A detachment like this wouldn't likely be issued the equipment to talk to an in-system starship since they were stationed here as internal security."

"And the facility is EM-hardened," Jackson said, blowing out through his lips. "We could broadcast high-power on their net, and they'd never get it. Damnit."

"We have four Scorpion-class assault shuttles in the hangar bay, sir," Beck said. "We can breach at a soft point and move in to do a quick recon."

Jackson mulled over her proposal. In addition to carrying the full complement of Marines on all five ships, the Saber was also carrying a NOVA team. The two groups were kept in separate parts of the ship to keep the extra-curricular training accidents to a minimum. NOVAs were Starfleet's elite Special Forces units that were better trained and equipped to do what Colonel Beck described, but he didn't want to risk any of his own personnel just yet until he had better info. Right now, he wasn't being pressed by the Alliance to make a rash decision regarding the base. If a sizable fleet of warships showed up, there would be some tough choices to make.

"Let's hold off on that for now, Colonel," he said. "But, in the meantime, it wouldn't hurt to get your detail picked and ready in case we decide to go that route."

"Yes, sir!" she said enthusiastically before pulling her headset up, stepping away to relay his orders down to the detachment.

"It's not a terrible idea to get some real-time intel, sir," Ellsworth said.

"We have time," Jackson said, not wanting to burden his ship's captain with the knowledge that, if it looked like the base couldn't be secured or if a sizable force arrived to take it from them, he'd turn his mag-cannons on the planet and erase Exeter Base from the surface regardless of who was down there. The idea sickened him, but losing Bluebird and the other technologies in the facility to a surging ESA would guarantee the Federation's defeat within a short time.

10

"We have a new target! Everybody, listen up!"

Sergeant Enders was mechanically chewing on a protein bar that promised to taste like strawberries and cream. In reality, it tasted like the sole of a boot that had at one time stepped on a strawberry, but when you were hungry, exhausted, and coming down from an adrenaline shock, you barely noticed.

He'd made it back to 2^nd Platoon and found they'd taken more losses than just Hann. His own 1^st Squad was down two people, 3^rd Squad had almost been wiped out. Enders was numb to it right now, but Lieutenant Pritchett looked to be taking the casualties hard. She was still functioning as she passed down their new orders, but her eyes were haunted as she looked over her Marines.

"What's the target, LT?" Enders asked after she trailed off and stopped talking. Pritchett shook her head and nodded to him.