“Time to intercept?” Nathan asked.

“One minute,” Jessica answered. “He’s still not slowing down.”

“Is that him?” Cameron asked as she entered the bridge.

“We don’t know yet,” Nathan said.

“How can you not know?” Cameron wondered aloud as she took her station at the helm.

“All stations manned and ready,” Jessica updated. “Thirty seconds to intercept.”

All eyes were on the main view screen that wrapped around the front half of the bridge. The approaching ship started as nothing more than a tiny speck, hidden amongst all the other tiny specks against the starry background of space. It grew rapidly until its shape finally formed into something resembling a spacecraft, as it streaked past barely missing them.

“Jesus!” Nathan exclaimed. The bridge was located deep within the ship, but every time something streaked past them in such a manner, it made him want to duck.

“He’s coming back around,” Jessica reported. “He’s making another pass.”

Jessica grimaced, clenching her teeth. Nathan could see that it was taking every ounce of willpower on her part to refrain from blasting the cocky little ship into a million pieces. “Steady, Ensign,” Nathan mumbled as he leaned over the tactical console next to her, watching the display. Jessica just sneered at him.

“Message coming in,” the communications officer announced.

“Put it on,” Nathan ordered as he straightened back up.

“Aurora, this is Tobin Marsh. I will land on your flight deck.” The signal immediately clicked off.

“Channel closed, sir,” the comm officer reported.

“Arrogant little shit, isn’t he?” Jessica muttered. After spending the last two years amongst the testosterone-filled special operations cadre, she had yet to become accustomed to the more well-mannered atmosphere of the bridge.