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“Concentrate on that battleship and yell at me later.”

She has a point, he huffed and turned his attention back to the cruiser hounding them.

His cruiser was smaller. That meant agility was on their side. But given the news from Aculus, the foreign vessels were armed to the teeth.

“If they want us so bad why are they just hovering out there?” Abby tilted her head as she stared at the screen.

Ashtoret’s gaze swung to the control panel. She was right. The foreign vessel was maintaining its altitude just outside the atmosphere.

“No,” he whispered incredulously.

“What?”

“I was just thinking these might be Miran Sona vessels, except I’ve never seen ones that look like this. Then again, I’ve only ever seen their collection vessels. But it would certainly explain why they arrived so fast and are keeping their distance.”

“So, let’s assume it’s them and they’re trying to protect Earth. Maybe we can just wait them out.”

“Not with Aculus’ vessel out there. The Miran Sona will go after them if they stay in your system.”

“What if we try to talk to them? You said you guys are friends,” she asked.

“We’re friends with a few of the Miran Sona. It’s a tenuous relationship with the others in our quadrant. We keep an eye on the human colony, but we’ve also absconded with a few of their colonists.”

“Oh. Well, shit.” She tapped her fingers on the armrest. Her head popped up. “Do you think their desire to avoid detection extends to our satellites?”

“It would garner unwanted attention if they damaged your orbiting equipment.”

“What if we use the satellites like shields?”

“That might actually work,” he replied as he stood.

“What are you doing?” Abby tilted her head.

“Since they don’t seem eager to come and get us, I’m going to take the opportunity to make sure your mother has all the protection available.” He grabbed another shell of armor from the recessed panel.

“I can put that on her.”

“No. Stay strapped in.” He wasn’t about have Abby take that harness off with the enemy out there.

He raised Carol’s sleeves and applied the armor, then did the same on her legs. He depressed the knot on the wrist plate and watched the armor expand, shredding her clothes with the spiky ridges to cover her completely.

“Thank you.” Abby smiled gratefully at him.

Ashtoret nodded and strapped back into his seat.