With a flash of Cherenkov radiation and transdimensional photons, the diplomatic cruiser [i]Olive Branch[/i] emerged from hyperspace and made rendezvous with the pirate warships. An assault shuttle launched from the [i]Acheron[/i] and docked with the Envoy's vessel, and immediately began negotiations under the watchful guns of the Fleet battlecruiser and pirate vessels.
The Envoy's assistant kept Stardust informed of their progress, as minutes dragged into hours.
"They aren't budging from their original demands," she told Stardust. "Independence of the Dellar system and legitimacy & recognition of their 'republic.' Nothing the Envoy is offering is having much effect; you'd better be ready to move soon, Admiral."
The Dellar system, along Sirius Sector's outer limits, housed a colony of several million humans led by a dictator in all but name; several peacekeeping efforts were underway between said dictator and two independent rebel groups demanding greater representation in the planetary government. Though unconfirmed, there was evidence of humanitarian war crimes and widespread starvation among the colony's cities and towns.
"Acknowledged," Stardust replied.
"The assessment over here is that they are buying time for something else to happen," she added. "Be on your guard."
"No problems there," Stardust said. "Battleaxe, out."
Terminating the connection almost as an afterthought, Stardust had been closely watching three pirate cruisers slowly drifting into new orbits away from their fellows. Plotting their trajectories put them passing over the three largest trade ports and their anti-space defenses.
At their present altitute, all ships in the area were well within range of several orbital defense batteries on the surface, yet none had opened up. Indeed, scans indicated they were still fully operational. And yet a large pirate force had negated Central's orbital defense platforms and driven the militia squadron off... or destroyed them entirely.
Yet they would reach optimum range in less than twenty minutes; it was also the best position from which to launch kinetic impactors or nuclear bombardment projectiles and decimate the cities.
[i]Something's not right, here,[/i] Stardust thought.
"Tactical!" he barked. "Track these three cruisers. Warm up the forward batteries and load all torpedo tubes with standard packages. Stand by to engage on my order."