The Holy Trinity carved lazy circles in the stratosphere, high enough that even the contrails dissipated before they could betray their presence to anyone below. Zeph watched the tactical display with the kind of patience that came from years of learning that warfare was mostly waiting punctuated by moments of absolute chaos.
"Fuel status?" he asked, more to break the silence than because he didn't already know.
"Seventy-three percent. We're good for another hour of loitering before we need to think about heading back."
Laxana adjusted the sensor array, refining the thermal imaging to track individual heat signatures moving through the compound below.
"Question, Admiral, Master. Why are we staying? The reconnaissance is complete. We could be back on the Quantum Wings in forty minutes, planning the operation from there."
