Eric shifted in the command console chair, uncomfortable with how it felt. He’d been living in armor for the last five weeks or so, and now the form-fitting seat felt too soft for him. The records and current instrument scans of the Drasin formation were puzzling him, though, and distracting from the discomfort.

They didn’t do all this for Earth, he decided, frowning in thought. They had the Earth right where they wanted it. Anytime they chose they could have ended it, so what the hell are they up to? It’s almost like they think . . .

He rocked back in his chair, eyes bulging as he realized just what it was that the aliens were thinking.

“Holy shit,” Eric whispered out loud. “They think we’re a colony world. They think we have reinforcements coming . . . They don’t know that Earth stands alone.”

That was the only thing that made sense, the only thing that changed the alien actions from incomprehensible gibberish to something resembling an actual plan!

Eric half turned. “Susan?”

“Yes sir?” Lamont looked up instantly.

“How many more ships are we due to pick up?” he asked.

“The Odysseus or the squadron?”

“Just us.”

Susan bent to the console for a moment. “Fifteen more and we’re at capacity.”

“How long will that require?”

“Another three or four hours,” Susan admitted, eyes flicking to the tactical map.

He didn’t blame her. That would bring the enemy ships into a much tighter noose, making their getaway plan all the harder to execute. He settled back, nodding, mostly to himself. “Are the other ships about the same?”

“Yes sir.”

Eric stood up. “Steph, make ready to break orbit.”

Michaels turned around, confused. “Sir?”

“Trust me.” Eric grinned.

Stephen stared for a moment, then slowly smiled back. “Alright, you got it sir. Starting engine fire-up. How fast do you want it?”

“Yesterday. I want to be in the orbit of Jupiter . . . yesterday,” Eric said. “Get everyone awake, all weapons stations ready, all defensive systems primed.”

“Yes sir,” Steph said, nodding to Milla, who also nodded. “And Raze?”

Eric glanced back. “Yeah?”

“Good to have you back.”

“Good to be back,” Eric said, walking to the back of the bridge. “By the way, you have the con, Commander.”

Steph scowled at the chuckling his boss let loose as he walked out, knowing that Eric was making a little dig at him for not being able to strap on his fighter anymore. “Yeah, yeah, I’ve got the con.”

“Captain Weston to see you, ma’am.”

“Send him in,” Gracen said, glancing to the screens. “I’ll just be a moment.”