?Clearly an electro-magnetic pulse. Powerful, too. We’re far enough away to avoid any damage, but it scrambled some of our sensitive sensors.“


    Captain Zala was standing on the bridge of the DSF Volcano, behind the officer working the sensors and navigations panel during the night shift. Her unkempt hair showed she had been summoned to the bridge out of bed.


    ?The Erulas battleship?“, she asked. Another window with readings and sensor data appeared on the screen, followed by a stylized map with a plotted course.


    ?Began moving two minutes ago.“, the duty officer summed up. ?They are closer to the pirate outpost, so they’ve had about one minute longer than us to analyze the data.“


    ?Bring us closer to the station. 90 light seconds. But close to the planet so we can duck behind it if needed.“


    ?Aye, captain.“


    Zala walked the few steps to her captain position and sat down. Lines moved across the map display at the navigation station, still close enough for her to see. The navigator and the ship AI were going over various course options. It took them half a minute to agree on an optimal solution. Then the navigator signaled the ready.


    Zala gave the command. With a shudder, the DSF Volcano turned and accelerated.


    Seconds later, as she had expected, the communications panel lit up. She tapped on it to accept the call and an Erulas space force uniform appeared on the screen in front of her. The man inside the uniform was slim, with hints of grey hair starting to show on his head. His rank insignia showed him as a one-star general. Zala raised her eyebrows for a split second. That was slightly above what she had expected as a battleship commander.


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    ?General Norge, Battleship Aegis Prime.“, the man stated plainly.


    ?Captain Zala, DSF Volcano.“, Zala answered, seeing no necessity to provide a more detailed designation.


    The general continued: ?The pirates have been hit by an EMP attack. We are moving to investigate and provide support to our marines on the station. What are your intentions?“


    ?Same as yours.“, Zala said, ?Investigate and find out what is going on. We plan to stay well clear of the station.“


    Space was an unusual battlefield, and the early space forces of Earth had quickly found out that many of their strategies did not apply. Satellites and drones had done plenty to pierce the fog of war earlier in human history, but space was still a different game. There was nowhere to hide and nowhere to run. Inertia meant rapid course changes were near impossible. Stating your intentions openly did rarely give up an advantage and helped avoid misunderstandings.


    ?Understood.“, General Norge replied, ?I offer to share sensor data and analysis results.“


    Zala imperceptibly shook her head. Typical high-ranking Erulas officers. Never say a word too much. She wondered if they got special training in tight-lipping. Out loud she said: ?Agreed. Once we know the situation down there we can coordinate further steps.“ - that was a hidden offer of assistance. Erulas had two detachments of marines on the station, they had a vested interest in figuring out quickly if those men and women needed help.


    ?I’ll have my analysts open a channel.“, Norge said and then switched off the call.


    On her screen, Zala could see the Aegis Prime accelerate towards the pirate outpost. Not at full burn, but possibly three quarters.


    Then she called the Dephyr headquarters to report.