[color=0076a3]“Contact, Contact!”[/color] screamed the sensor officer. Marissa snapped out of her analysis of the starboard gunnery crews recent performance, dumping the data with a flick of the finger and remoting the sensors officer display. He continued to report but she was already speaking.

[color=0076a3]“Helm execute a 15 degree roll to port to clear battery seven,”[/color] she ordered calmly.

[color=0076a3]“Have the CAP…” [/color]she started to order her escorting fighters into position to intercept ordinance but was interrupted.

[color=0076a3]“IFF confirms a friendly,”[/color] the sensor officer reported. He looked a little abashed at having jumped, but it was far better not to take chances. The newcomer had came out of transit within virtual spitting distance. Sometimes ships used micro jumps to launch attacks that way and it was better to be prepared than to be caught napping. This was a long range jump though. That was fine astrogation, damn fine. It could be luck of course but few people were that lucky.

[color=0076a3]“Incoming vessel this is Europa Actual, to what do we owe the pleasure.”[/color]