"Call your people in," Raider ordered Wren, coming to a decision.
Wren nodded, touching the communication panel on the forearm of his synth armor.
"Oh. Oh. Not good," Blue cried. "Another set of ships just came into range."
"Your people?" Raider asked Wren.
His seon'yer shook his head. "Doubtful. They were instructed to keep their distance until otherwise directed."
Shit.
"You two—go strap yourselves in," Raider ordered Devon and Joule.
"We can help," Joule argued.
"Go!" Raider pointed. To Wren, "How soon can your people get here?"
Wren shook his head grimly. "Not soon enough."
"Looks like it'll be a fight after all," Talon murmured.
Finn arched an eyebrow at him. "You did say you thought you were getting flabby."
Talon's chuckle made Raider shake his head. They were as crazy as the Curs. No wonder Kira and Finn got on so well.
"Wait a minute. They're human,” Blue called.
Their comms beeped, announcing an incoming hail.
"I don't believe it," Blue said, a stunned look on her face as she looked over her shoulder at Raider. "It's Jace. Those are his ships."
"Put it through," Raider ordered.
Blue tapped a button.
Jace's face appeared on one of the displays. "This is the CSS Reliance, hailing the Wanderer. Phoenix, if you're there—answer me."
Thank the God Raider no longer believed in.
"Jace, it's me. We hear you loud and clear," Raider said. "You sure are a sight for sore eyes."
He'd certainly earned his call sign of White Knight all over again today. Raider had never been so grateful for the other's tendency to appear just in the nick of time.
"What can I say—I got tired of waiting for you two to report for duty. Good thing I came. Looks like you've gotten into a little bit of trouble," Jace drawled. "Shall I handle it for you?"
"Be my guest," Raider said.
If his friend wanted to do a little cleanup, who was he to stop him?
"How did you even find us?"
Raider didn't know if it was Kira's paranoia infecting him, but Jace's arrival felt convenient. A little too convenient.
On the screen, one of Jace's ships fell behind as the other three took the lead, opening fire on the Tsavitee fleet as they scrambled several of their single manned fighters. Waveboards included.
The ship in the rear made its way toward the Wanderer. It set up a flanking position that would allow it to protect the smaller ship from any further weapons fire.
"Himoto," Jace confessed. "He tagged Kira's ship when she was on O'Riley. He was afraid of her trying to slip away unannounced. We've been tracking you since you left Tuann territory."
