The return to Earth's orbit was uneventful.  Several of the recovered pilots from Fox Squadron were up and about again, others were conscious, but still bed-ridden, including Dutch...much to his frustration.

The Captain called for a general meeting of all available flight personnel, shortly after the Ranger settled into her normal patrol orbit of Earth.  In the past, such meetings had been small, in one of the briefing rooms, usually with squadron leaders or a few key members of each squadron...this time, however, it was on one of the hangar decks, and Captain Wilson was visibly agitated.

"We've had a lot of disturbing news that's come in recently, and it's going to require a lot of changes in how we're handling a few affairs here.  First off--Fox Squadron will be minus Lt. Abernathy for a few weeks.  His condition isn't extreme enough to send him planetside, but he won't be flight-ready for at least another week and a half, and won't be combat ready for a week after that."  He turned a look at Lt. Hardy, then at Lt. Khan.

"I know we touched on the subject a while ago...and, Lt. Hardy, I know that you expressed a great deal of reluctance to part ways with your XO.  But Fox Squadron needs someone combat-ready, now, and you've got enough support within your squadron that you can adjust for the loss."  He focused on Alexa and said, "Lt. Khan, until further notice, you are acting squadron leader for Fox Squadron.  Upon Lt. Abernathy's return to duty, you will be made squadron leader for Revolt squadron, because we need someone who can kick a little ass and take the green off the new pilots that keep getting sent to us.  With a very few notable exceptions, they're taking too long to be ready to rotate into our front line squadrons and we can't afford the delay."

Without waiting for reactions, and ignoring the discomfited squirming that broke out in Revolt Squadron at his assessment of their collective progress, Captain Wilson continued, "That's the easy part.  The hard part is this...Orbital Tracking lost the escape vehicle the Separatist leaders used to flee Mars.  There are two possible destinations they project...there were a couple of rudimentary observation posts that, while technically finished, never got staffed and used before the anti-Unification wars pulled all our military forces back to Earth.  One is on Europa, in Jupiter's orbit...the other is on Titan, in Saturn's orbit.  And while they'd be relatively harmless in either location, if they'd just stay there, we have no guarantees that they would just stay there.  Both bases have fusion reactors and back-up fission plants...it would be easy for them to put together a massive dirty bomb from either location.  If they did...and escaped into the Asteroid Belt...they could effectively terrorize the entire planet and we'd be practically unable to find them.  So, Command wants us to catch them before they get the chance."

He turned to Commander Ritter.  "You're the highest ranking officer that they feel can be released from his duties here on or near Earth to oversee the operation.  They've got a specially-fitted destroyer...the Harry Truman...that's come off the line, designed to be a high-speed recon vessel, with the latest in ECM and stealth technologies.  It's also been retrofitted to house four Veritech fighters, which can get down in close to make sure the outposts are vacant when you get to that point. The Truman can also make the run from Luna to Jupiter in half the time the Ranger could.  Congratulations, Commander, she's your ship.  I took the liberty of picking your fighter team for you, based on who we could afford to release from the Ranger for a few weeks.  Lt. Skrull, due to your work as XO for Raven Squadron, you're getting a field promotion to 1st Lieutenant and command of the Truman fighter group.  I'm giving you lieutenants Oakenbear, Begay, and Gagarin.  Report to my ready room after this and I'll give you information you'll need with regards to the outposts.  The Truman will be leaving Earth orbit in three hours, however, so there isn't time for any of you to drag your feet in getting there."

He looked at Lt. Hardy again.  "That leaves us short a Chief of Fighter Operations.  I know that's not normally a position filled by an active pilot...but these are abnormal times.  Lt. Hardy, you're promoted to Lt. Commander, and you're my man for the job, for at least as long as it takes Lt. Commander Ritter to carry out his assignment.  If he gets back and decides he'd rather wrangle fighters than command a recon destroyer, we'll revisit the posting."

He looked over the rest of the pilots.  "I know it's been a while since we've seen any direct sign of the aliens, aside from what happened to the Madison.  Let that be a warning to us all...ferrying prisoners back from Mars was supposed to be a do-nothing milk-run, and it got most of them killed.  Don't let your guard down, keep your eyes open for anything out of the ordinary, and watch out for each other while you're out there flying patrols.  We've got most of the remaining orbital carriers operational again, and almost all of the destroyers...but many of you saw just how quickly the aliens went through us before.  Our technology hasn't increased that much since then, and most of our brightest minds disappeared with the SDF-1.  We don't know where the aliens went...or why...but we know they're still out there, and watching us...and they aren't any friendlier now than they were then.  Don't take any stupid chances and if you see them, let's hit them with everything we've got right away, because we already know what happens when they get in the first punch."

He fell silent for a moment, as he looked over the group.  "Good luck out there...dismissed."  He gestured to Lt. Skrull to come with him, who gathered his other three pilots and followed closely on the Captain's heels.