"They are preparing to leave," Solenne said.
Aurelian studied the depot.
The station itself was not especially valuable. It contained ammunition storage, repair docks, fuel tanks, and several old defensive batteries. Drann could replace all of those eventually.
The ships gathered around it were different.
Twenty-eight Compact combat vessels had arrived over the previous twelve hours, including six cruisers and more than a dozen destroyers. Several had come from positions Drann was abandoning.
If they reached his inner territory, they would strengthen whatever defensive fleet he was building there.
"Route?" Aurelian asked.
Eirenne highlighted two possibilities.
"Most likely this one. It is the shortest connection to Drann's inner defensive region. The second route adds nearly nine hours."
Astra looked toward the first path.
"Can we reach it before they leave?"
"Solenne can."
Aurelian glanced toward her image.
"With how much?"
"Enough."
