York Class Destroyer CSR Corvidae

High Orbit

Arcadia

30 June 2821

"Say again, Star Commander?" Greta's mind struggled with the words she heard.

"Date confirmed, Star Captain. It is the thirtieth of June, twenty eight twenty one," came Holson's reply.

"Thank you, Star Commander. Continue with the plan and await Star Commander Otto's instructions."

"Aff, Star Captain," then Holson clicked off the channel.

Greta stared at the viewscreen displaying the burning hulk of the Perth. She felt a sadness inside her as the majestic Texas class battleship continued its uncontrolled burn away from Arcadia. Though the massive WarShip's weapons were in a poor state, she had still managed to inflict serious damage on the Corvidae. Numerous hull breaches along the York's port broadside had been sealed by Harjel but not before several crewmen had lost their lives to the vacuum of space.

The hull of the Texas had been tough to crack but the Corvidae's weapons finally found their target and shattered the Perth's bridge. Without the benefit of Harjel the Perth's bridge crew, those that survived the weapon barrage, were ejected into space. With no bridge crew or controls the battleship's engines propelled it on a locked course away from Arcadia. It would pass close to Liny, Arcadia's moon, but would fly past it and on into the depths of the Arcadia system.

Greta felt for the crew and the fate they would face but she couldn't afford to follow them and grant them a warrior's death. The Admiral Schone was still out there and, though crippled, she was not certain that they couldn't bring it back under control. The Schone remained a threat that had to be dealt with.

On top of that she now knew that they were a mere two days away from facing the ships of four Clans when they came to reclaim the Pentagon Worlds. She could neither face them in a fight nor explain to them the Corvidae's existence here. The York class wouldn't exist for another hundred and twenty six years. How was she supposed to explain that?

She looked again at the path that the Perth was plying. "Here is what will happen, people. I want to take up a position behind Liny. We know that, after their initial jumps, the Clan fleet uses a pirate point near Arcadia. That should be between Acadia and Liny. They will be looking to Arcadia and the ships that defend it. They may be curious about the disappearance of the Perth but when they see the Schone they will target that. They will not be looking towards Liny."

"We are going to hide?" Walter asked with a tone that implied he disagreed with Greta's decision.

"Aff, Crewman, we are going to hide. Or would you prefer to face four Clan WarShips and their compliment of assault ships?"

"Neg, Star Captain," Walter replied abashed.

"I thought not. You will not question my orders again, Crewman. Is that understood?"

Greta was normally a calm, reasonable commanding officer, one of the more relaxed in the Snow Raven fleet. Her tone now was as much of a warning as Walter needed.

"Aff, Star Captain. I apologise."

Greta inwardly sighed. The question was not uncalled for. Under normal circumstances hiding would never be considered. Her crew had to understand, however, that this was far from normal circumstances.

"Listen to me, all of you. Our actions may seem unClanlike but you all need to be aware that we are way out of our depth here. What do you think would happen if the Clan fleet engaged us?"

"We would be destroyed," Deirdre responded.

"Yes, but more than that. We would have to fight back and we have no idea what effect that might have on the assault of Arcadia. What if our actions directly lead to the Pentagon Powers defeating the Clans on Arcadia? How would that affect us?"

Dierdre offered a hesitant answer again. "I do not know, Star Captain."

"Exactly. We could be instrumental in changing our own future and I do not know what would happen to us. I do not hide because I want to. I hide because we have to, for our own sakes. Does everybody understand?" A series of affirmatives came from her crew. "Good. You have your orders. I will be in my ready room. Dierdre, you have the bridge."