Chapter 36
December 5th, 4233
Priorii
Outer Reaches
United Terran Concord
Primus orbit
Officially, it was known as Combat Reconnaissance Drone 3649, though the AI aboard preferred to think of itself in much grander terms. It had one of the least glamorous, but unquestionably, vital positions in any recon shell; deep flank to give the fleet early warning in case of incoming ambushes from hyperspace or lurking marauders. Currently it was examining the fleetward hemisphere of Primus, the largest of Priorii’s gas giants. Such planets were always favorite spots for surprise attack; their plentiful moons, storm-ridden atmosphere, intense radiation and magnetic fields and the resultant sensor shadows and natural ECM made them nightmares to secure. However, this one appeared to be clean.
Primus’s orbit was being swept by scouting destroyers from BG 97, as was the entire system.
Had it the capacity for smug self-assurance, CRD 3649 would have been brimming with it, pleased as punch that it was fulfilling its mission ably and that it had not detected-
Wait.
Anomaly.
There were perturbations in Primus’s A ring structure.
Anomaly.
CRD 3649 moved closer to investigate, camera lenses and sensor antennae straining to discern the cause of this unusual disruption. Ah; that was it. A new moonlet had drifted into the giant’s rings. Before long, the asteroid would be broken up by the tidal forces of the planet and its moons, the invader’s own fragments contributing to the rings. Such a process had already begun, apparently and the moonlet was shedding pieces of itself as it blundered its way through the rings of Primus.
Satisfied with its answer, CRD 3649 adjusted its course for a return to UTCNS Sea Wasp.
~
Hidden within the shadow of the fragmenting moon, some of their smaller kin anchored to the asteroidal shards, obscured by dense swathes of asteroid fragments and chunks of ice, more then five dozen of the Angel’s vessels lay in wait, watching the departure of the Enemy Scouting Vessel with equal measures of trepidation and glee. Despite all the power assembled there, they were yet helpless.
It was up to the Enemy now; if they refused the invitation that Command had laid out for them, then all this effort, all this power was impotent, all this time wasted. But if the Enemy did decide to come Sentinel Nine, did decide to dance with the Fleet, then… well, then the Lake of Sorrows awaited them.
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