“In due time, Admiral,” he answered. “I’m not the type to keep field commanders from leading.” Marines from both Avalon and Pierce’s own guard escorted them as they enter into the greater hull of the battlestar.
Pierce was not privy to the reason Sinclair was aboard Avalon in the first place, but it didn’t really matter to him at the moment. The attack had been a complete surprise. Avalon had its orders to immediately jump to her current position according to the contingency plan in effect. Sinclair was one of many flag officers in a fleet, one of over 120 who commanded a battlestar strike group, but in her case she was separated from hers.
“Are you familiar with Project Stonewall?” He finally asked as they walked. The project was a new defense initiative, but he had been misled to think it had been about armor plating or deflection shield technology. It had only been a cover for its real purpose. Only a select few knew. Avalon’s peacetime deployment was in part to test it, along with a few other battlestars. Pierce learned of it in the last thirty minutes, if only in a brief summary.