“Get me the Fury on a priority frequency,” Jason Hunter snapped. He was frowning and intent, scanning his engineer’s message for any other information he might have missed.

“Fury, Ensign Callomy.”

“Ensign, this is the Flag. Patch me through to Commander Doverly.”

“Sir–I–um–yes sir!” It was likely the first time Callomy had been given an order directly from a flag officer.

“Fury, Doverly.”

“What’s your status, XO?”

“We’re all powered up. Commander Hunter’s crew is working like a Swiss clock factory. How’s the fort?”

“Well, it’s under the command of a man who should really work on his reading comprehension. My Chief Engineer and Signals Officer apparently found a new toy and used it to zap themselves off the ship and on to Barker’s Asteroid.”

A pause. “At this range?”

“Unless they’re playing a prank on me.”

All of Argent’s tactical readouts went haywire at once. The bridge crew’s alertness intensified. A proximity alarm sounded.

“Report!”

“I have confirmed heavy weapons fire bearing three-eight mark sixty true!”

The combat frequency alert tone sounded. One of the handsets above the conn buzzed.

“Sir I have a message from–” Hunter held up a hand, trying to hear his engineer’s warning from below decks.

“Affirmative, Madison. You are authorized to bring her to maximum power. Bridge out.”

“Sir, Squadron Nine Nine Four reports they have engaged hostile fighters at point Uniform Tango.”

A flash of impossibly intense light filled the bridge for a moment and then faded just as quickly. The aft tactical display showed DSS Revenge trailing fiery plasma and tumbling pieces of ablative armor.

“Tactical!”

“Sir! CIC reports the origin point for that attack is Barker’s Asteroid.”

Hunter pounded on the arm of his command chair. “Signals! Bring us up on the J-A! Smartly!”

The fleet-wide alert tone sounded and automatic communications systems went active across Strike Fleet Perseus. Moments later, Captain Hunter’s channel patched in.

“Attention All Stations. This is Argent Force Command on priority channel. Engage battle conference and stand by for a message from the flag.”

The signals officer nodded.

“All commands, this is Hunter aboard the Argent. Under no circumstances are you to return fire against Barker’s Asteroid. Skywatch personnel are engaged in combat operations on the surface and one of our ships may be caught in the crossfire. Do not fire on the station or any other contact inside that minefield without my direct orders. All commands acknowledge.”

As if to answer his order, a titanic blast from the faraway Sentinel slammed into Fury’s port quarter. Uncontrolled secondary explosions ripped across her dorsal armor and took out battery two.

“Lieutenant.”

The signals officer looked up and met Captain Hunter’s gaze.

“You have two minutes to raise the Dunkerque, or a lot of people are going to die.”