Technically, TGT said that the Everest is operational 'for' just a few hours, not 'in' a few hours, but I think that is probably a typo.  Anyway, it looks like we could get the whole fleet together and move out into the nebula 'in' just a few hours.  Nice that the Kobras Aqquirre is so fast, isn't it?<br/><br/>I doubt we'll get Exelion Squadron, they're the force assigned to the Commodore's flagship... I'd wager that they'll be sticking to the Exelion.  Now, if we were to let the commodore know that we've figured out where the pirate base was, I expect she'd join us in her flagship and it's attending Squadron of ships in a heartbeat.<br/><br/>The question is, is inviting the commodore the right move?  I'm not so sure about that.  We should go... clearing the nebula is our job... and with a fully functional fleet, we're ready to handle the pirates... probably, anyway.  The Everest is probably the second most powerful vessel in the area, (with the Exelion being #1), and our pair of 13 speed ships make the best escorts in the system, bar none, so I'm pretty confident in our chances.<br/><br/>Calling the Commodore's flagship and it's squadron out for a scouting mission in force seems like overkill.  They're the only other fully functional battlegroup in the area, so leaving them behind is probably better.  If Ares is attacked, it'll be nice to know that they have a proper fleet to defend it.  If there is an emergency elsewhere in the area, they will be free to act... and if we do scout the pirates and discover that they have reinforced enough to be to much for us to handle, we can use an astropath and double our forces for the final assault.<br/><br/>But until we have actually gotten a look at the pirate base for ourselves, I think Exelion Squadron is best kept in reserve.  After all, if it IS something we can handle ourselves, and we do so without the Commodore, the prestige and the salvage will be wholly ours as well.  We have the option of asking for help, but let's save it for when we know we need it.