Eric knew that if he were still a junior officer, he wouldn’t worry about motivations. Actions spoke, not intentions. Attacking his people was action enough to decide his course, even now, but he also knew that these weren’t the Drasin, and part of Eric desperately wanted to know why they’d attacked.

Why attack Steph in the first place? Why were they even in this system?

And, of course, the big question: the genocide in the solar system, as it were. Were these the ones who held the Drasin’s leash? And if so, why?

Why any of it?

“Signal them again,” he ordered finally. “Tell them to stand down.”

“Aye sir,” Miram said, nodding to the communications station.

The ensign standing at the station swallowed visibly, but turned to his console and quietly began signaling on Priminae frequencies.

Eric’s jaw clenched and unclenched reflexively.

Part of him wanted nothing more than to burn that pocket destroyer and its ground forces to ash for attacking his people, but if he wanted answers, then restraint was required. Additionally, he was aware that his anger wasn’t entirely rational at the moment, which was a strange feeling. To know that you’re not thinking rationally was not a comfortable thing.

Such circumstances could lead to Eric second-guessing his actions, especially if things turned out badly.

“Still no response, ma’am,” the ensign said in response to Miram.

“Damn!” Miram glared at the screen. “What is wrong with them? They have to know we hold every tactical advantage.”

“So did the other two,” Eric said quietly, “and they still opened fire on us. There’s something going on here that we’re not seeing. These people, no matter what their technology seems to indicate, are not the Priminae.”

Miram hesitated, then nodded slowly. “True enough, from what we can see.”

“Captain!” yelled Sams with a jolt. His hands were frozen over the console as he was an instant from firing the ship’s weapons reflexively.

Eric and Miram twisted toward the display, eyes widening in shock as the target ship vanished in a ball of fire and light.

►►►

Moon Surface

► Deirdre Conner flung herself over the commander’s body as the blast blew over them, shielding him with her armor and hoping that the pressure wave itself didn’t kill him. The flash of light had been her only warning that something had gone wrong, but she’d seen too many explosions in her career not to recognize the signs.

The blast blew away their smoke screen, which meant that she and her Marines had other problems coming their way as they picked themselves off the ground. As she got to her feet, however, she noticed that the opposing forces were more concerned with the sudden loss of their ride home.

“Marines! Take them now, while they’re distracted!” she snarled. “I want prisoners!”