"There should be a few clicks to the north, where the current base is," Jedriek said.
While they worked out the geography of the ship's location and where the nearest shuttles were, Eleanor put her hand on Veta's arm.
"Have you found Caoimhe? Is my sister okay?"
She looked down. "No. We haven't."
Eleanor felt the words like a hot knife to her chest.
"We're not done looking," Veta said. "But we need to get you and Bianca back to Sol-3 so that you both can rest and be protected. The stars are getting thick with Terran ships."
"It is an invasion army," Wrathin said.
Eleanor looked him up and down. Not as big as Jedriek, but it was apparent, just from the way the two stood, that they had a common unit connection.
Jedriek was cuter.
"And how do you know?" Eleanor asked. Though she was pretty sure she knew the answer.
"The numbers do not lie," he said.
Eleanor believed him.
"Is Sol-3 safe?" Jedriek asked.
"When we left a few hours ago, it was," Veta said.
"They've instigated Protocol 7," Wrathin said. He glanced at something on his gauntlet. "We are short on time."
Jedriek didn't move. He didn't act like he heard the words, but he did. Eleanor saw his eyes shift slightly, the light from them changing then going back to their usual white tone.
Whatever Protocol 7 was, it was big. Eleanor knew from the way the two of them looked at one another.
"What is Protocol 7?" Veta asked.
"Everything on Sol-3 is locked down. Shielding goes up, and nothing goes in or out."
"For how long?" Eleanor asked.
"As long as necessary."
She glanced at Veta.
"A siege," Veta said.
"We should move. Gather whatever you have," Wrathin said.
Jedriek glanced at Eleanor. "Did you make any progress on that scanner?"
She shrugged. "Some."
Veta glanced at Eleanor. "You were, uh, trying to scan things?"
"I never said I was very good," Eleanor said.
Veta raised her eyebrow and smiled.
Jedriek came over to the terminal and downloaded the data and progress she'd made. "What was that for?" he asked softly to her.
