“Not us specifically, but they’re tracking something,” Eric said, “and when we encountered them, I think that put us on their radar.”

“Well, we’re outside of relay range,” Miram said, “but we could send a short burst with some intelligence back to Earth from here.”

“No point,” Eric said. “They’ve got the same data we do by now.”

Eric looked over to the displays showing the alien megastructure just beyond their hull, then back to the star charts. He considered the odds, the mission priorities, and a thousand other things in a few seconds.

“Signal the task force,” he said abruptly. “We’re pulling out.”

“Captain?” Miram frowned.

“Helm, start plotting transition coordinates for that system,” he ordered, glancing over at Sams. “How deep in the system are the signals coming from?”

“Deep, sir, close to the fourth planet.”

“Right.” Eric walked over to Steph and laid a hand on his shoulder. “We’re going to transition in as deep as we can . . . Steph, I need to know, how reliable is NICS on this heap?”

Steph looked up over his shoulder. “Pretty tight, Raze, but these aren’t Double A fighters.”

“I know that, but how tight can you maneuver this heap?”

Stephen considered the question for a moment, then gave a slight grin. “Pretty damn tight. I’ll need to coordinate with the others, though.”

“They’re all Archangels. I don’t see that as a problem.”

“Right you are, sir.”

Eric straightened up. “Good. Go to it.”

He left his pilot to his task, then turned to Miram. “I want the Rogues online in five. I’ll take it from my office.”

“Yes sir.”

“In the meantime, Commander, triple-check the transition coordinates,” Eric said. “We’re going to drop in hot on that AO, but I’d rather we didn’t scatter ourselves across the galaxy doing it.”

“Got it, sir, I’ll get them locked down.”

“Good.” Eric looked around. “Alright, you have your orders. Get to it. Oh, and Commander? Best sound general quarters. Beat the drums, Miram, beat the drums.”

“Aye aye, Skipper.”

►►►

► “Cardsharp.”

“Stephanos,” Jennifer “Cardsharp” Samuels said with a slightly wry look. “Nice to chat again. Been thinking you’ve been avoiding me.”

Stephen chuckled. “Don’t be like that. You know a pilot only has room for one love. How is your Booty anyway?”

Jennifer rolled her eyes. “The Boudicca is just fine, Steph. I assume this call has something to do with the general quarters call we just sounded?”

“You assume right.” Steph nodded before glancing at the other screen. “Burner, you ready to fly?”

“In these tugs? Should be interesting, I suppose,” Burner answered. “What bug got up the boss’ butt, do you know?”

“A Primmy cruiser, one of the old class but refitted, just abandoned ship in one of the minor systems. Might not be related, but the boss thinks the cruiser’s attacker might just be the bandit we tangled with a couple weeks ago.”