“Captain on the bridge.”

Lieutenant Mallory relinquished Fury’s center chair to Commander Hunter. Jayce put a hand on Mallory’s shoulder and the two women exchanged a moment’s regard for one another. Then the lieutenant returned to her station. Hunter took her seat and swiveled to face the forward screen.

“Comms, bring me up on the J-A. Signal all ships, Task Force Perseus.”

“Affirmative, Commander.”

The clear channel signal sounded from every commlink, intraship station and signal receiver aboard nine starships simultaneously.

“Attention all stations. Attention all stations. This is Perseus Force Command on priority channel. Stand by for a message from the Flag.”

The communications net quickly switched all receivers to green and the Fury Signals officer nodded to Jayce.

“This is Commander Hunter aboard the Fury. All vessels stand down from quarters. Maintain intruder protocols. Survey Station Nineteen has been secured. The Task Force will plot a course to Gitairn Sector Ten to relieve the Starship Argent. Spruance has the point. All vessels report navigational readiness on signal Buster. Flag out.”

The comms officer closed the channel and switched communications nets to receive priority navigational computer signals.

“Helm, bring the Fury about. New course one one zero mark three one. Stand by to engage the mains.”

“Aye, ma’am. Helm responding. Mains at your command.”

A yeoman stepped up alongside Hunter’s command chair. “Ma’am, I have a request from one of the Exeter’s signals officers for a moment.”

“Have Tom handle it,” Hunter replied as she examined a handheld tablet. “I have dorsal hull damage to inspect.”

“She says she has information on what the station intruders were looking for.”

“Who has that information? Where?”

“Lieutenant JG Brittany Hawkins, ma’am. She’s waiting in the executive inboard cabin on Deck Three.”

“Who the hell is Lieutenant JG Brittany Hawkins?”

“Uhh, ma’am. Uhh, she’s the second watch signal–”

“Belay the question, Yeoman. Dismissed.”

The yeoman vanished in ways only yeomen who recognize an angry CO can.

“Mallory, you have the conn.”

The Fury’s Third Officer looked up in surprise as Hunter walked through the bridge entrance hatch grumbling.

“Captain’s off the bridge.”

The door to the inboard executive cabin opened abruptly.

“Attention on deck!”

Two Exeter marines and three fleet officers rose to attention in a snap instant as Commander Hunter and Lieutenant Commander Huggins entered. The Fury XO closed the door and then hesitated a moment before standing at attention himself. The Fury’s captain did not give the customary order to allow the occupants of the spacious room to stand at rest. That non-action instantly set everyone’s nerves on edge.

“I’m not going to ask the question, because that would presume there are personnel aboard this ship who believe they have the choice whether or not to answer me. I’m only going to say this: If I don’t walk out of this room with a five by five understanding of every last detail of just what the hell is going on in this command, I will find the person or persons responsible and have them skinned.”

Lieutenant Hawkins swallowed nervously.

“Captain, what is the status of Exeter?”

“The intruders escaped in much the same way our enemy escaped aboard the station ma’am. One minute they were there. The next they were gone,” Cleghorn replied. “An explosives alarm went off, but we believe that was a malfunction. Further analysis indicated no weapons present.”

“Very well,” Hunter replied. “Gunnery Sergeant Daly? What is your involvement in this?”

“Ma’am, Exeter First Marines were alerted to the intruders by the lieutenant. I was informed she responded to a signal from Echo during the first attack.”

Hunter glared at Hawkins. “Seems to me all roads lead back to you, lieutenant. Report.” The look on the commander’s face told Hawkins she was in no mood for nonsense, so Hawkins led with her biggest bombshell.

“The station intruders were on Deck Six first for a reason, ma’am.”

“And how do you know that?”

“Echo’s first alarm was sounded nine minutes before you were attacked in the records lab. Echo sounded that alarm on Deck Six. They weren’t counting on being discovered, and I now believe they got there the same way they left.”

Hunter continued glaring at Hawkins.

“The rest of you are dismissed.”

“Ma’am, there’s–”

“That will be all, Captain.” Hunter still didn’t look up.

Cleghorn hesitated a moment, then assented. “Aye, ma’am.” Everyone stepped past the Fury XO quietly. The last one out closed the door.

“Lieutenant JG Hawkins, I don’t know where you got the idea you were on some kind of secret mission in my Task Force, but I’ve got news for you and you better listen close. The next time you decide to freelance in my fleet I’ll bust you down to a two-stripe mudroller and have you cleaning spoons in a craphouse before the next bell rings. Do you read me, miss?”

“Yes, ma’am. I thought–”

“The next time, you think after you get permission, lieutenant!” Hunter snapped. “So help me if I have to give that order twice, I’ll have the quartermaster signing written requisitions for you to change your socks every morning.”

“Permission to speak free–”

“Denied.”

Hawkins intensified her posture and blinked, desperately trying to hoist herself out of the fire.

“Jayce–”

Hunter gave Huggins a look that forced him back to attention. His voice was considerably stronger. “Permission to speak freely, Commander.”

Hunter’s glare at the lieutenant only intensified. “Be brief.”

“I spoke to Commander Pierce aboard Exeter. Hawkins discovered the intruders, ma’am. There’s ample reason to believe she simply didn’t have time to prudently follow the chain of command.”

“Is that true, lieutenant?”

“Yes, ma’am. I was prepared to report to the Commander after I verified my suspicions first hand.”

“She was being shot at, Skipper.”

Hunter glared. It all sounded like the kind of confusion she had long since banished from her ships. “Stand easy, lieutenant.”

Hawkins shifted to the regulation rest stance, clasping her hands behind her back. Hunter collapsed into one of the comfortable chairs and pinched her eyebrows together. “That will be all, Commander.”

“Aye, ma’am.” Huggins dismissed himself and closed the door. Several moments passed before Hunter looked up again. The lieutenant stared straight ahead, focusing her attention on the Fury insignia plaque on the opposite side of the room.

“They taught you discipline at the Academy, did they not?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“So you understand the danger involved in taking the initiative without at least telling someone what the hell you’re up to?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“And I trust we won’t be having this discussion again, will we, Lieutenant JG Brittany Hawkins?”

“No, ma’am.”

“Permission to speak freely granted. What is going on at Station Nineteen?”

Hawkins tried to relax, but her body wouldn’t obey. “Ma’am–” She cleared her throat nervously. “Ma’am, the intruders were on Deck Six looking for survey probe communications designators.”

“How do you know that?”

“It was part of my Signals practical at the Academy, ma’am. Our objective was to defeat a fleet maneuver using only a subset of our operational protocols. All survey stations store their probe network analysis equipment on their sixth deck. I used that knowledge to re-program a series of survey probes to respond with the wrong navigational data and to do it with the wrong vessel designators. By the time the simulated enemy fleet realized their mistake, they were facing a three to one disadvantage in the least favorable region of space.” Hawkins took a breath. “Ma’am.”

“What is your theory?”

“The intruders have Skywatch training, ma’am. That’s the only way they would know what to look for and where to find it.”

Hunter rose to her feet and placed her hands flat on the table. “Now that’s useful, Hawkins. Explain.”

“With genuine information from those probes they would know what ships were in Gitairn space and where they were deployed. With a little time they would also be able to extrapolate patrol routes and timing.”

“And know exactly when and where to strike?”

“Affirmative, Commander.”

“I think you bought yourself a temporary reprieve, lieutenant,” Hunter said. “You ran the wrong play, threw the ball to the wrong receiver and managed to score a touchdown anyway.”

“Thank you, ma’am.”

“Don’t ever do it again, or I’ll drop you in a hole so deep they’ll have to air-mail you light. Do I make myself clear?”

“You do, ma’am.”

“Very well. Dismissed.”