The first two Vorpals roared out of the bay as the next pair were lined up on the cat, following less than a minute later. It took under ten minutes to put the entire squadron into space, and they were burning fuel at a truly appalling rate as they vectored around and headed for their targets.

“Bravo Actual, Enterprise Actual.”

“Go for Bravo, Enterprise.”

“Clarke, watch your back out there,” Captain Carrow’s voice came on the line. “Those ships are putting out enough power to erase the Enterprise from existence. Do not get between the Heroics and the enemy ships, that is an order.”

“Yes sir.”

“Get into range, hit them with everything you’ve got, and then get your sorry asses back on my decks. Are we clear, Mr. Clarke?”

“Crystal, Cap. We’re on it.”

“Good. Go wipe those bastards from my sky.”

“With pleasure, Cap,” Clarke said calmly before switching channels. “Alright, boys and girls, the captain’s given us our flying orders. We hit them fast, hit them hard, and clear the sky of those alien pieces of crap. Bravo Squadron, on me.”

The drive flares of the Vorpals hitting full burn briefly eclipsed the Sun as the lithe fighters tore away from their carrier and toward their targets.

On the Odysseus, Admiral Gracen eyed the closing tags on her screens with a baleful eye, recognizing just how close she’d let the enemy get to her squadron before they were spotted.

If we don’t get them fast, they’ll cut us down to pieces.

“Admiral! Movement from the main body of the enemy ships!”

It was everything Gracen could do not to start cursing out loud, despite what an admiral losing her shit would do for morale.

“Vectors?”

“They’re pulling past cislunar space, climbing up-well, ma’am.”

Gracen grimaced, knowing just who they were climbing up to meet. “Damn it.”

“It’s worse, ma’am,” Winger said, shaking her head.

“How?”

“If I’m reading this right, they must have cleared their decks before coming our way. The siege on Earth must have just taken on a whole new level, ma’am.”

Gracen closed her eyes. I never wanted to be the trigger for Armageddon. What do we do now?

She gritted her teeth and took a breath, setting her jaw. “We can’t do anything about them yet, but keep one eye on that force, Michelle.”

“Yes ma’am.”

“We’ll wipe them from the Black as soon as we’re finished with their friends out here,” Gracen said steadily. “Miss Chans, if you please, lock all lasers on the closest Drasin and relay intercept coordinates to Mr. Michaels.”

“Yes Admiral. Coordinates relayed.”

“Mr. Michaels,” Gracen said simply, “I would much appreciate it if you and Miss Chans could make that ship . . . disappear.”

“Aye ma’am. It’ll be a genuine pleasure.”