"Captain, we're detecting krahteon emissions from the asteroid," Aminia Smith said. "That's . . . not good."

Jaya leaned forward, looking towards Cutter. "Could the zerodrive down there have activated?"

"Seems impossible," Cutter said thoughtfully. "But krahteon emissions would account for lost contact with teams."

"Move us so we have a line of sight on their location," Jaya said. "Use direct communications methods!"

"Aye!" Ji-min Bin called.

It was a testament to the discipline of the command staff that they obeyed her order. Line of sight for the teams would put them into the trail of the moon; where the most debris was.

It was not a position they could hold long, but there would be places of safety within it. But such safety was relative, and their frontal shield was going to take a beating.

The ship shuddered.

"Two-meter asteroid," someone called. "PDCs got it just a dozen meters from the nose, pelted us with debris."

"Keep up the defensive fire, but be mindful of the teams," Jaya cautioned.

"Captain," Shomari Eboh called. "A coded transmission just came from the moon."

"The teams?"

"No," Eboh said. "It is not using Union codes. It was a tight-beam transmission, and wasn't even pointed towards us."

"Show the path," Jaya said. It appeared on screen.

It was headed out of the system. But where? There was no one else out there to hear. Even if someone was listening from out of the system, light could only travel so fast. It would take hours to leave the solar system.

"Can you break its code?" she asked.

"Working," Eboh said. "It is extremely complex."

Perhaps it was originally meant to speak to someone far closer, she thought.

It took them precious minutes to get into position where they could see the teams. The Craton took several more hits, none serious, but each one alarming.

"We're going to need a new nose shield after this," Ji-min Bin muttered.

"Quiet," Jaya said calmly. "Display countdown until we achieve line of sight."

The countdown appeared on screen; only seven seconds left.

As soon as they got into position, Eboh had the line open. "Teams One and Two, this is Craton. Evacuate the site immediately!"

"We can't stay here more than two minutes," Ji-min Bin said. "A big piece is heading towards us."

Jaya could see pieces coming from the moon's surface. And highlighted was the position of the team.

"Maximum zoom," she ordered.

The image appeared, and she could make out the shuttles of their teams.

"We're getting an IR message," Eboh said. "It's Commander Pirra."

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"Put it on."

"Captain!" Pirra's voice came through. "The station zerodrive is activated, we're pulling out right now."

"What's your situation?" Jaya demanded.

"Team One is preparing for liftoff, but the ground is shaking down here. Team Two has a landing strut stuck in a crack, and they're trying to get it free."

Alerts suddenly sounded across the bridge.

"Something big is coming out of zerospace!" Aminia called. "It's - oh, dark."

They all stared, as the object in question appeared.

The vessel was eleven kilometers in length. It was a warship, one of a type that had not been seen by the Union for thirty-six years.

"Annihilator-type Aeena Battlecruiser has fully exited zerospace," Aminia Smith said, her voice soft, in shock. "Armed with twenty coilguns and . . . at least six particle cannons. We're . . . we're no match for that thing. Not any day of the week."

"What is it doing?" Jaya demanded. "Is it warming up its weapons?"

"Uh . . ." Aminia's hands were shaking.

"Cutter, tell me what it's doing," Jaya demanded, whirling.

"It is warming all weapons," Cutter said, even his voice just a soft hiss. "And we are within range."

----------------------------------------

"Commander Pirra, an Aeena Annihilator has just appeared," Shomari Eboh's voice came. "You are ordered to take off immediately."

"What?" Pirra called back. An Aeena Annihilator, one of the most heavily-armed warships of known space, had just appeared above their heads?

How in the depths had that happened?

"Team Two still has a landing pad stuck. I was about to send some of my team over to help get it free," she called back.

"Belay that. You are to take off now," Eboh said. "Captain's orders."

Pirra felt a surge of fury. The Captain could not order her to abandon her people!

Except she could, she told herself.

But it wasn't right, she argued.

She didn't have all the information. She didn't even know if her people could get over to Team Two fast enough.

"Belay order to go out," Pirra told Kiseleva. The woman, two others with her, paused. "Get back in your seats. We're lifting off."

"Why?" Kisleva asked.

"I'm saying so," Pirra snapped. "Sit, now!"

She switched to Team Two's line. "We can't send over help, Team Two."

"That's okay," Devilleneuve called back. "I've got two people out right now with shaped charges, they should cut the rock and then we'll be free."

It was a risky move, Pirra thought. They had to have laser cutters, but those would take longer.

She felt her ship shudder, the engines roaring to life. Thrown back in her seat, she turned her feed to the outside view of the other shuttle.

Small figures could be seen around it. They moved back, then there was a flash.

"Ship's free!" Devilleneuve called out. "Getting team back in . . ."

There was another flash, though, and he cut off.

"Devilleneuve?" she called out.

"We're okay!" his voice came back. "Something happened . . . small explosion. My people outside are down."

There was a pause. "They're alive. We're heading out to get them."

Another signal came through.

"Commander, this is Captain Yaepanaya. The Annihilator is charging weapons, and they are aimed upon your location. Get all you can out immediately.."

Pirra felt her heart as a hum in her chest.

"Devilleneuve," she said. "Belay that. Lift your team off now. Our location is being targeted by enemy vessels."

There was no answer.

"Devilleneuve, this is not an option," Pirra said. "You'll lose everyone if you stay."

The line clicked twice. It was not a voice confirmation, but it was acceptance, she thought.

Then she saw the second shuttle lift off.

A voice message came; it was from an individual still on the surface.

One of the two that she had just ordered to be left behind, she realized.

"We heard, everyone," the woman's voice said. Pirra did not know who it was immediately. "Get yourselves out of here. Give 'em hell, and long live the Union!"

"Something big just fired!" Kiseleva yelled.

Pirra's external view was just a flash, no true image resolving; even these cameras could not capture coilgun rounds, they simply moved too quickly.

The damage to the surface below was total; a full coilgun volley that left, down below, only a glowing crater.