"Difficult to confirm. At least several hundred smaller signatures and eight larger ones."
Aurelian looked at the readings. "Tier?"
"Mostly Tier II and III. The larger ones may be Tier IV."
That was almost ideal.
Dangerous enough to train.
Not so dangerous that the fleet needed to retreat immediately.
Astra studied the formation. "They are not moving toward us yet."
"Then we choose the battlefield," Aurelian said. "Solenne, deploy drone markers. Rhoswen, you hold the forward line again. No independent pursuit."
Rhoswen answered smoothly this time. "Understood."
There was no pause.
No complaint.
No attempt to redefine pursuit.
Aurelian exchanged a brief look with Astra.
Astra's expression did not change, but the silence was approving.
The creatures they found near the warm dust current were nothing like the glass serpents.
