The first Compact formation had finally restored part of its line, but it had lost several cruisers and more than a dozen escorts. Its ships were now fighting with the sanctuary on one side and Solenne's fleet on the other.
The second formation was still crossing the station field.
Marshal Orvek Taran watched both battles from his command ship farther outside the system.
He had remained behind with his heavier reserve ships, expecting the two forward formations to surround the sanctuary before he committed his main force.
That plan had seemed reasonable when Sanctuary Ardent was still thought to be under Compact control.
Now every report was worse than the last.
Commander Yarric had been captured.
The demolition network had failed.
The reactor was secure.
Human forces controlled the sanctuary.
Weapons that did not exist on any Compact map were firing from inside the mountain.
Taran did not panic, but he understood the danger.
