Asami paces around the holo table, staring hard at the system map currently being displayed, another readout showing specs of the familiar defense cylinder as well as the bombardment devices. Ling and Mei shadow her, occasionally throwing out questions. The twins hover near the table controls, adjusting the read outs at Asami's instruction.

Foster sinks down in a chair next to me, handing me a cup of coffee. "Your man Wei confirms they're read for the stasis pods to be loaded onto your ship. Fast turnaround"

"The twins are very efficient," I agree, then give him a nod of respect. "You did well, by the way, getting all of your wounded secured."

Foster shrugs. "Desperation is a good motivator." He nods to where the three scientists continue their slow march. "Your doctor seems to be something of a celebrity."

"I guess," I shrug, trying to play it off, but as he rolls his eyes at me I know the stupid grin on my face is giving away my poorly hidden pride. "She's got three doctorates and basically invented a new field of biomechanics. She's the CEO of Future Industries, and is an advisor to the United Republic Planetary Council."

He narrows his gaze, but I see his lips curl. "What's she doing with you, then?"

Kuvira, sitting nearby, snorts out a laugh. "Korra's apparently good in the sack. It's the only thing we can think of. "

I feel my face heat up even as I kick out one foot, upending her chair. She's still laughing as she hauls herself back to her feet. "I think I'll go find Bolin before I get shot."

"You do that," I grumble, my middle finger waving a special salute in her direction.

Foster shakes his head. "Wish we had you and your crew for security instead of the knuckleheads we got. Their CO viewed this as a punishment assignment and made everybody's lives a living hell trying to impress people back at headquarters. His troops hated him, and most of them hated us for dragging them all out here I guess. Not very exciting, running security for a science outpost."

"Doubt any of them had seen combat then, or they'd appreciate the quiet." I snort. "So, you weren't impressed by his efforts?"

"No particularly, no." He looks at where Dix and Yun linger awkwardly near the scientists, clearly awed. "Those two were always all right, though, nice kids with helpful attitudes. It saved their lives in the end, too, since they always were happy to volunteer to be escorts and were off base when the shit show hit."

He pauses as Kuvira drags Bolin into the room. She pushes him down into a chair and gives him a playful slap on the back of his head. "No more exploring for you, young man!" At my questioning look she clarifies. "He was in one of the labs, doing a whole lotta poking around."

I roll my eyes.

Asami and her new acolytes come over as Wei and Wing troop in. Her face is thoughtful as she seeks me out. Our gazes meet and she gives me a slow smile that makes my heart stutter in my chest.

I clear my throat. "Okay, status from the Valkyrie?"

"All sorted," Wei declares. "And before you ask, Raava double-checked."

Bolin grins, and mutters something under his breath, his fingers tapping his goggles.

"Anything yet on the long range scans?"

Wei opens his mouth, but an alarm starts ringing on his sensor tablet. His gaze drops down in alarm. Wing and Kuvira lean over his shoulder to look.

"Valkyrie's sensors are picking up massive readings from Daedalus Five," he says soberly. "Scanners read almost like a fleet launched."

My stomach drops, terror at what kind of 'fleet' it was. "What's the trajectory?"

The twins are pale, and there's a mixture of fear and rage in Kuvira's eyes as she looks up at me. "Whatever it is, it's heading towards the Terran home system."

—

I rub my jaw where Foster had punched it. The decision to leave the pods behind was heartwrenching but necessary. Kuvira had pulled him off me and demanded he shout out a better idea or stand down. I hadn't so much as blocked given my own heartache at the decision.

After a long and tense moment he had whirled and stalked off. Ling and Mei had fallen into step beside him, giving me dirty looks as they left.

I seriously couldn't blame them.

"Colonel Korra," Raava draws my attention back from my self-loathing, the AI's voice quiet through the speakers in Valkyrie's cockpit. "The communications packet has been sent to fleet headquarters."

"Thanks, Raava," I mutter. At least now the pods have a chance of recovery even if we don't make it. Assuming there's anyone else left to recover them.

"Lieutenant Colonel Kuvira and Captains Opal and Jinora are stationed in escort formation," Raava continues. "And Sergeants Wei and Wang are manning Guns One and Two."

I stare at the control panel.

"Colonel?" The AI's voice sounds confused, if that were even possible for a synthetic intelligence. "What are you orders?"

A hand grips my shoulder and I glance sideways to see Asami looking at me, her face showing her concern. "Korra?"

I turn away quickly and rub at my temples, then slap the comm button.

"Boss, take us away," I choke out, still struggling to focus with the crushing guilt and worry eating away at me. "Raava, you have the stick."

"Copy that, Valkyrie One," Kuvira's voice is steady, as always my rock despite the storm raging within me. "Bitches away."

"I have the stick, Colonel," Raava adds, her voice quieter than usual. I recognize her new use of pilot vernacular in passing, but can't manage any other response.

I see the fighters streak away, and after a moment I hear Valkyrie's engines roar under Raava's control, then feel the surge as we're launched. Under any other circumstance I wouldn't have dreamed of letting anyone, including the AI, control a ship when I was sitting in the pilot's seat, but I couldn't shake the look of rage and disgust in Foster's face

Asami's hand slides down my arm and grips my hand, tugging at me until I turn to face her.

"Honey," she whispers, searching my face.

"We're leaving them behind, 'Sami," I choke out hoarsely. My chest is tight with despair. "I've never left anyone behind. Ever."

She sighs, her thumb rubbing comforting circles across my knuckles. "Was it the right decision?"

"Yes," I reply with no hesitation. I know it was. It didn't help.

"You didn't leave them behind, Cap," I jump, startled by the sound of Bolin's voice behind me. I had left him in the crew quarters with the Daedalus crew but he was now sitting down in one of the rear jump seats, his face earnest as always as he looks at me. "You're keeping them safe. Until we finish the mission. That's what I told the Daedalus crew but they were still mad and Foster made me leave." He shrugs, seemingly not bothered. "I'd rather be here anyway."

I stare back at him, then nod slowly, letting that truth seep in. "Copy that, Little Mouse."

His return grin is huge, and I can't help but smile at the sight of it, though I also can't help but notice they way his gloved hand is slightly curled against the arm rest of the chair, as if he were hold someone else's hand in his own. My bemusement, however, is interrupted.

"Contact," Raava announces. "Course change from enemy target. One element breakaway on intercept to Daedalus Three."

"Fuck," I growl as I slap the comm. "Boss, we've got an incoming!"

"I heard," Kuvira responds irritably. "I didn't think they could see us from this far away yet. Can we tell what it is?"

"Scans indicate a match in readings to a single IDW6 Defense Mine. I see no other evidence that we have been detected."

I stiffen until Asami speaks up. "The mines are not re-entry capable, so it's not an attack on the base, and yet it's heading towards the base and not towards us. I think Unalaq is covering his tracks in case anyone comes around."

"I agree with Doc," Jinora comments, joining the discussion. "The mine you guys ran into chased you as soon as it detected you."

"You better hope we stay out of range," Kuvira says seriously. "That was not a fun experience."

"So what's the plan, Avatar?" Opal asks.

I don't even hesitate. "We run a stakeout on him, stay just on the edge of our sensor range, which will be well out of his." I squeeze Asami's hand in appreciation for her work on the sensor arrays that made this even possible. "We had hoped to sneak up on him planet-side, and try to capture him before he did anything. That's out now, so we need to wait and see if we can get a new opportunity." I flip the map to go wide view, and Raava obliging plots the current trajectory of Unalaq's little party of death. "How long do you think we have? He's going a lot slower than we can, at least."

"At current velocity they will enter the Terran System in eleven days," the AI responds after a brief hesitation. I try hard not to notice Asami looking very smug even as Wei decides to pipe up.

"How about those engines upgrades, eh? That's barely half our speed."

"Shut up, Wei.