Armaggedon Station
Union Fleet Covert Deployment Base

The shuttle gently rumbled under the feet of its occupants as it flew among greater ships hanging in space around Armaggedon Station. Aboard it, one of its passengers was quietly counting the assembled force in mixed awe and skepticism of why it had been concentrated so. Admiral Gwenevere hadn't finished counting yet, but the numbers were just not adding up with what she knew of of the war with the Phoenix Empire as a whole. 

"A fleet carrier, two escort carriers, and four destroyer squadrons. Torpedo frigate wing off Intemperate..." She muttered under her breath as she kept reading the display in her cabin suite, not having to adjust or amplify the digital display of what hung outside the base she was being sent to besides showing the hull names. "Damn. Mostly newbuilds. Hell of a force to add to the Third Fleet."

<<Would prefer more cruisers.>> Pointed out her traveling companion in electronic monotone. The dog-eared captain's gaze was seemingly locked on the video game he was playing on his holo-com, but he followed his Admiral's intent. <<Even with your flagship plus escorts, still not a full task force.>>

"Indeed, but you know what our industry is like Baylet." Replied Gwenevere, turning away from the display to pick up a cup of tea on the table between them. "Miracle we got this many ships here to begin with."

<<Uncovering key areas is more likely.>> The dog intoned, with the Valkyrie only able to grudgingly nod in acknowledgement. Baylet made too much sense in that regard, these ships would be useful in any number of places. Why would they be all concentrated here, on the far edge of the Union away from the Empire? <<You see the list of mech pilots they sent with us? A third veterans, the rest are rookies fresh out the vats, but a lot of first-rate hardware. I bet its the same for those ships out there.>>

"What is so much heavy metal doing out here?

<<We'll find out soon. We're coming up on the station.>>