"Captain Wolfe to the bridge." Celesta's voice came over the intercom speaker in his office and from his comlink.

"On my way," he said, climbing out of his seat and slipping his comlink back into his pocket.

"The Atlas has checked in, sir," Celesta said as soon as he walked onto the bridge. "Systemic failure with main power is what they're telling us. Apparently it killed everything: coms, propulsion, steerage... the works."

"I'm going to assume Captain Caruso didn't activate the emergency beacon because he wasn't sure if the enemy was still out there or not." Jackson stared at the bright green dot representing the Atlas on the main display.

"Correct, sir," Celesta confirmed. "They informed us that they were ready to fire the mains and would be coming our way as soon as they were under power."

"And the Icarus?" Jackson asked.

Celesta motioned for him to approach the terminal she was using at the back of the bridge. Wordlessly, she pointed to a message that had been sent to the Ares from Captain Jonathan Caruso, CO of the Atlas.

Captain Wolfe, I am sending this message separate from our official communications regarding the Atlas's power plant failure, as I am not sure how you will want to handle it. While I cannot tell you where the Icarus currently is, I can tell you that she is likely still in one piece. When we split from the formation to intercept the Alpha circling around Xi'an, the Icarus began to lag back slightly. We sent a message requesting that they get back on the line, but we were engaged by the enemy before we received an answer.

The Atlas took a glancing blow from two of the Phage missiles, something I was unaware they even had, and when we tried to energize the forward laser projectors for point defense, the main power bus failed to the forward sections. We accelerated out and past Xi'an and requested that the Icarus cover our withdrawal until we could fix the problem. They never answered. A review of the sensor logs shows that as we were fired upon, the Icarus turned from the engagement and accelerated away from Xi'an at max burn. Our power plant went into safe mode and shut us down before we could track their trajectory.

I do not know where Captain Levitt and his ship are. All I do know is that he abandoned us as soon as the shooting started. As I said, I am not sure how you will wish to handle this, so I am keeping it off of official records for now.

Captain Caruso CO, TCS Atlas "Oh, this isn't fucking good." Jackson muttered under his breath, running a hand through his short, dark hair.

"Indeed," Celesta said just as softly. "Right now, we're the only two people who have seen this, and I'm sending it to your personal directory."

"Thank you," Jackson said. "First, we need to find the damn ship. Once that happens, I can figure out what I'm going to do. Obviously we can't just let him keep it but I don't know who I can stick in the chair for the duration of the mission." Despite the seriousness of what Levitt was being accused of, Jackson couldn't help but feel enormously relieved that the Icarus was intact and not destroyed or captured.

"I'm scanning the entire system with the high-power array," Celesta said. "Even if they're running silent, we know exactly what sort of return to look for from the ship's hull material. It may take a bit, but we'll find her."

"That's assuming she hasn't already warped out of the system while we were engaged," Jackson said quietly. "Keep looking, and update me with every detail on my comlink if I'm not on the bridge."

"Yes, sir.".

As it turned out, it didn't take them nearly as long to find the ship as they'd feared it would. It was less than an hour after Jackson and Celesta had spoke when the com beacon for the Icarus lit up on their display, chirping out the destroyer's position and status loud and proud. The beacon was followed shortly by a terse com message from a terrified looking lieutenant commander.

"This is Lieutenant Commander Nimski, tactical officer of the TCS Icarus." His voice shook. "I've assumed command of this ship and have had Captain Levitt and Commander Carlton taken into custody. I would like to speak with whoever is currently commanding Confederate forces in the system."

"Coms! Tell Commander Nimski to rendezvous with the rest of the squadron." Jackson leaned forward, vigorously rubbing his temples with the heels of his hands. "Provide coordinates. Let him know if he needs assistance we can help him further."

"Aye, sir," the young ensign at the com station said.

"You have the bridge, Commander Wright," Jackson said. "I'll be in my office. Just get that ship back into the formation so we can get the hell out of this system."

"Yes, sir." Celesta slid into the command seat.

The single knock at his door made Jackson jump as he was so focused on his task. "Enter!"

"Sir, the Icarus has rejoined the formation." Celesta stepped in through the hatchway. "The Artemis has sent over two requests to withdraw since... are you well, sir?"

"Yes, yes." Jackson waved her off. "Just trying to stitch together all the sensor logs from the squadron into a cohesive picture of the encounter."

"We have an entire team of analysts down in CIC doing just that." Celesta frowned. "Is there something in particular you're looking for?"

"I want an unfiltered view," Jackson said. "The analysts are always trying to be helpful by excluding what they deem to be extraneous, but you and I both know a small detail that seems unimportant can actually be the key to understanding the thing as a whole."

"You're worried about something specific." She walked in and closed the hatch.

"I had a suspicion," Jackson said. "I didn't know for sure until I synced up all the time codes and played the logs from the Ares and the Artemis simultaneously.

"The reason the Artemis never got a killing shot in on their target is that at the exact instant our missiles impacted the first Alpha, the second wheeled and fled at what I previously would have considered an impossible rate of acceleration for that type."

"Our target warned the other we had new weapons and tactics," Celesta offered.

"And the other ship fled back beyond the frontier, likely to warn its... people... and analyze the information from the battle the same as we are." Jackson said with a scowl. "I have a feeling the next Alpha we face will already have modifications to defend against what was observed over Xi'an."

"Are you certain?" Celesta asked. "Our kinetic weapons were still largely effective."

"Not entirely." Jackson spun his monitor. "Watch."

Celesta sat in one of the unoffered seats and watched the high-resolution thermal imagery of their auto-mag shells impacting the first Alpha they'd engaged. Some obviously punched through the tough organic hull, but just as many smashed against it, exploding against the surface and not penetrating. Jackson had filtered a lot of the flashes out so they were able to clearly see that had two of the shells not flown unimpeded into one of the missile ports, their first salvo wouldn't have caused near the amount of damage it had.

"Maybe we're looking at a coincidence?" she asked after watching the opening shots of the engagement multiple times. "We did inflict a lot of damage to that ship before handing it off to the Artemis and Atlas."

"Besides the fact that I don't believe in coincidences like this, we didn't cause that much damage with those two lucky shots." Jackson shook his head. "It's certainly something to think about. This is just some preliminary looks at the battle... We'll do a more comprehensive debrief once the backshops get done with their own analysis."

"Of course, sir." Celesta stood and smoothed out her utilities. "What should I tell Captain Forrest?"

"Tell the squadron that they are clear to withdraw," Jackson said. "They are to follow all randomization protocols with Captain Forrest in overall command. I want them to fly to Neatlantia and wait for us there. Inform Captain Forrest she may replace the Icarus's current CO at her discretion but that Levitt and his XO are to remain in custody."

"Sir?"

"We're going hunting, Commander." Jackson's eyes stayed locked on the video of the nuclear blasts ripping apart the other Alpha. "There's a reason that other ship ran from two Terran destroyers and there's a reason the Phage keep coming back to Xi'an. We're going to find out what that is. Let Commander Singh know that we'll be departing within the hour."

The four remaining ships of the Ninth Squadron broke out of their orbit around the sixth planet, an impressive Class II gas giant, and began accelerating for their jump point. Jackson had declined Captain Forrest's request to accompany him once she found out that he intended to track the escaped Alpha. Despite the fact that she had made it clear how much she disliked him since their first meeting nearly ten years prior, he had to grudgingly concede that she'd handled herself very well in her first foray into battle.

She quickly got over her initial shock and was willing to fly into potential combat with him again as well as having stood toe to toe with something as overwhelming as a Phage Alpha. He'd looked over the Artemis's logs, and Forrest hadn't backed down or retreated. In fact, she'd driven her ship forward to make sure her point defense overlapped with that of the Hyperion after they'd taken that first volley on the chin.

Conversely, Captain Levitt, one of his long time allies, had completely fallen apart. Jackson couldn't have been more disappointed and disgusted with the man's behavior. There would be no saving Levitt's career, nor should any attempt be made. Had his actions resulted in the loss of the Atlas and her crew, Jackson would have been more than tempted to toss his ass out the nearest airlock and save CENTCOM the trouble of a general court martial.

"They're on their way, sir," Celesta said. "Chief Engineer has cleared the Ares. We can get underway at your discretion."

"Thank you, Commander." Jackson stood. "Helm! Prepare to break orbit. Nav, get me a destination to Jump Point X-ray. Use any gravity assists if they're available, but don't make a special trip around a planet just to save a few thousand pounds of propellant."

"Aye, sir," the helmsman said. "Main engines coming online now."

"Course laid in and sent to the helm," the specialist at nav reported.

"Very well." Jackson sat. "Let's not keep the Phage waiting... Helm, at your discretion, all engines ahead full."

"All ahead full, aye!" The helmsman gave a small, tight-lipped smile.

Jackson let them all enjoy the moment. For many of them, this was the second Alpha they'd killed. Why should a third that's already been wounded be any different? As the engines ran up, the mild surge pressed them back slightly until the gravimetric generators could catch up. The swirling clouds of the gas giant blurred as the destroyer accelerated hard to slingshot around and pull out of orbit.

"Jump Point X-ray?" Celesta asked. "I don't recall seeing that on the latest star charts, sir."

"It won't be on the official one," Jackson said. I have a set that Agent Pike gave me before we departed Jericho Station. once the Ares was cleared for duty."

"Pike," Celesta said as if the name caused her pain. "If I may, sir... what is beyond Jump Point X-ray?"

"The warp lane that leads to the system the AU had been colonizing in secret, the one we think tipped the Phage off to our existence," he said. "If they pushed back into Xi'an and gathered enough raw material to create another slick big enough to spawn two Alphas, I have to believe this next planet will be their logistics hub for the operation."

"I would expect it to be fairly well guarded then," Celesta said.

"Maybe," Jackson said. "There's another world beyond that one that could be the real target. Either way, we're going to transition out of warp well short of the system and begin gathering intel as we go. This is more of a fact-finding mission than anything else. If we can take out the wounded Alpha, so much the better, but what I really want is to know what's happening just outside of Terran space."

The Ares charged hard down into the system, altering course only slightly to swing around the primary star in as efficient an arc as they could before spiraling back up the other side of the well. They were only five hundred kilometers from their jump point when Jackson ordered the main engines killed and the warp drive deployed.

The Starwolf-class was sporting a seventh generation warp drive that utilized four fast-deploying nacelles, two fore and two aft that were always charged. The ship had no sooner locked the nacelles into place and turned them into position when the capacitor banks poured the power into them, and the Ares transitioned out of the system with barely a flash to mark her passing.

Chapter 5.

The trip out to the next star system-simply called X-ray by the crew, as the Asianic Union was still trying to pretend they didn't have any knowledge of the planet or its previous human colony-was shaping up to be as boring as Jackson had hoped it would be. Since the ship was more or less brand new, there was little in the way of maintenance to be done, so Singh tried to fill his crew's days with near endless drills and training on the intricacies of the new ship. By the end of the first week, there were more than a few grumbles and hostile looks shot his way as he walked the corridors.

If Singh was getting dirty looks, Major Ortiz's Marines looked at him with expressions that promised violence if he ever turned his back. The Marine officer was making sure his charges didn't have the chance to get bored and start causing trouble on a ship that, oddly, was slightly more cramped inside than the Blue Jacket had been.

For his part, Jackson let Celesta train the bridge crews undisturbed. Instead of hovering and generally being a pain in her ass, he took the opportunity to walk around to all the different work centers, meet his new crewmembers, and reacquaint himself with those who had come with him from his last command. By his side, whenever he descended into the lower decks, was Master Chief John Green, an imposing man of early middle age whose physical presence was only eclipsed by a voice that could be heard echoing ten compartments away. Jackson had met the man when he'd first taken command of the Ares and, remembering the last pile of shit he'd had as a senior enlisted advisor, had accepted his transfer with a certain amount of resignation.

But, joy of joys, Master Chief Green was a no excuses, no bullshit, real deal senior NCO that kept his finger on the pulse of the crew and was an invaluable conduit of information to and from the captain. The more Jackson got to know him, the more he began to have a genuine fondness for the foul-mouthed man from New America and looked forward to the Chief's visits up to Officer Country, where he would inevitably blister the paint and cause more than a few officers to blanch with a string of obscenities so creative that it would leave Jackson mesmerized. Was he really that quick on his feet, or did he have them memorized and chambered, just waiting for a chance to unload?

"Things are looking good, Chief," Jackson said, as they walked along the central access tube. "The ship is spotless, and it seems like the crew is really getting their proficiency dialed in on the new systems."

"They're marginally better than they were a fucking year ago," the Chief growled. "But calling them proficient may be a tad too generous, sir."

"Maybe," Jackson said. "But please tell them that overall I'm pleased with what I'm seeing."

"Will do, Captain," Green said.

"I'd also like to make sure they're getting some downtime," Jackson continued. "I'll speak about it in the next meeting with the department heads, but it's something I think I'd like to see you take charge of."

"Downtime," Chief Green repeated, as if trying out how the word felt in his mouth for the first time. "Are you certain you want them having too much time with nothing to do? There's always something that needs cleaning-"

"I'm sure, Chief." Jackson tried not to laugh. "They've earned a bit of a break after the excitement of the last few weeks. I need them rested and sharp when we hit the X-ray System."

"I'll make sure it happens, Captain." Green's tone indicated he didn't fully agree with his boss's assessment. Like most NCOs, he seemed to feel the best way to keep a crew sharp and happy was to keep them too busy to worry about anything but doing their jobs.

"Thanks, Chief," Jackson said. "I'm heading back to the bridge. Let me know if anything comes up."

"Of course, Captain."

"Captain's Mess tonight at 1830, Chief," Jackson said, watching the Chief closely. "I expect to see you there."

The Chief tensed up, not turning around and not saying anything, before stalking off around the corridor. Jackson noticed that the man loved to skirt the edge of disrespect when dealing with officers on the Ares almost as much as he despised the forced social interaction in which he would have to get into his dress blacks and nod politely while some lieutenant junior grade prattled on about what they thought the keys to leadership were.

The conversation at the semi-formal evening meal was mostly compartmentalized, with people talking to those in their immediate vicinity while Jackson and Chief Green both held themselves apart from the individual groups. One conversation, however, was becoming decidedly more animated, even heated, and began to absorb those around it as more people entered the fray to voice their opinions.

"I simply can't understand how you can be so enthusiastic about a war that's already cost billions of human lives before it's even really started," Commander Owens, the Ares's Chief Medical Officer, was saying, his tone full of righteous indignation.

"You're twisting my words, Doctor," Major Ortiz said calmly. "Enthusiastic would be a gross mischaracterization of what I said. My only point was that if we are to fight an inevitable war, I hope my men and I are able to participate as more than starship ballast. But let's examine your premise... humans are mortal creatures. We all die. In the grand scheme of things, how is death by alien invasion different than death by influenza or exposure?" The last sentence silenced Owens but only because he was gaping in shock.

"Major Ortiz, are you seriously suggesting that a Phage invasion is simply nature running its course?" Lieutenant Davis asked.

"Of course," Ortiz said. "It's simply nature on a far larger scale than we've ever experienced. For millennia, humans have stood outside of the natural order of things, our tools allowing us to observe without truly being a part of the cycle of life as evolution intended it. Our tools are now nuclear fission missiles and starships, but the underlying principle is the same."

"I can't understand how you can be so cavalier about what could be the systematic annihilation of the human species," Commander Juarez said.

"Accepting reality on reality's terms and having a cavalier attitude are two different things." Ortiz still didn't break his calm, relaxed demeanor in the face of a multi-pronged assault.

The flight operations officer frowned at the answer, but remained silent.

"Are you really so enthusiastic about fighting the Phage, Major?" Celesta Wright asked. Jackson watched the conversation with interest, but sat silently. The Major's words had struck a chord. Where did he stand on this war? It had been thrust upon him before, but did he agree with Ortiz that it was a chance for humanity to prove their worthiness?

"Again, enthusiastic would incorrectly label me as a warmonger or battle junkie," Ortiz said. "I am a warrior and a soldier. If there's to be a knock-down drag-out match for our right to exist, then yes... I want to be at the tip of the spear.

"Can none of you see it? Win or lose, we're living in legendary times. Our actions will determine the fate of our entire species, and the choices we make, or don't make, will ring through history for centuries. So no, I am not enthusiastic, but I am willing to accept the challenge that's been given us. What is the point of being alive if only to exist and consume? The universe has asked if we are worthy. How will we answer that question? That's all I'm saying."

The short speech left the rest of the room stunned. Nobody offered a rebuttal, and there were a few uncomfortable throat clearings before Jackson raised his glass.

"To accepting the challenge." He nodded to Major Ortiz.

"To the challenge!" came the ragged chorus from the rest of the Fleet officers in the room, some looking a little shamefaced after the Marine major's impassioned words.

"I'm glad I came to mess tonight, Captain." Chief Green smiled from his place on Jackson's left.

"I'm thrilled you're so entertained, Chief," Jackson deadpanned, sipping his water as the conversation began to subside into its previous, smaller groupings.

He sat and contemplated Jeza Ortiz's words, not entirely sure he was comfortable with their implication. So far, he'd been concentrating on the small, immediate targets in front of him. The single Alpha invading Terran space, the single challenge of getting the Starwolf-class ships tested, the single challenge of getting his new crew up to speed... Never did he sit and fully try to comprehend what implications his actions could have on his entire species.