We've got one foot in the bear trap... we need to avoid sticking our neck into it as well.<br/><br/>My flash of insight last night has faded... I cannot see a sure path to catching Commisar Antony without greatly increasing our own risk... and my largest desire is to leave this trap alive and capture the holoprojector that is powerful enough to turn a whole nebula into a projector screen.<br/><br/>So, Tagan's suggestion is the most prudent, although I have a small addition to it, stolen from a master tactician know by some as Dr. McCoy...  We burn out of here at full speed... in different directions... go into silent running, and we all turn and burn for the location that marks where the images are coming from after clearing direct sensor range of the station, so that our opponents do not know that we know where they are.<br/><br/>I have realized that our opponents do NOT have a superior ability to detect us, so while they can play hide and seek, so can we... and I bet that the holoprojector can't move fast.. and in fact may be stuck in place while active.<br/><br/>So that is plan A.  To fly away, go dark, and then, hopefully unobserved, make a single engine burn to put us on course for the target.  A single burn like that will probably give away where we were when we make it, but will not tell where we are going.  If we plan it out ahead of time, we can time our respective journeys so that we arrive at the spot together at the same time but from three different directions, and get very close to the target without getting spotted coming in... at least in theory.<br/><br/>The downside to this plan is that if our opponents figure out what we're up to, they can go dark themselves, shut down the holo-projector, and set up shop elsewhere... at which point we begin a very long dangerous game of tag in the dark... submarine tactics.<br/><br/>Or, plan B, we pretend we're heading for the Wayfarer station, and accelerate up to full speed heading for it... push for every ounce of speed we can muster, in fact, and then, instead of stopping and sending shuttles as we approach, go even faster, pushing for as much speed as possible while turning abruptly toward the target cruiser to port...<br/><br/>This will mean that the bad guys will almost certainly be fooled at first, and will probably try to spring their trap, but if we are fast enough, they'll bite down on our wake as we speed away... AND at top speed, the Alexander and the Kobras Aquiarre can reach easy sensor range of the target in two combat rounds... which is almost certainly not enough time for it to escape.  A cruiser MAY get up to a speed of ten from a standing start in two rounds, but that means that it's burning hot the whole time... and will be no more than 15 VU from it's starting point.  If they have to take time to shut down their projector and then try to sneak off, they'll not get even that far.<br/><br/>Downside of plan B, it's a LOT more risky.  Our two light and fast ships will have to face a cruiser alone for a minimum of 4 to 5 combat turns... and very likely, the Everest will be getting attacked from behind by pirate frigates in the meantime.<br/><br/>Upside of plan B?  Our chances of actually catching the bastards responsible goes up a LOT, although it'll be a bit like catching the tiger by the tail...<br/><br/>Other upside?  It's crazy, it's risky as hell, and only a bunch of heroes could pull it off.  And who wants to live forever.  What shall it be?  There is risk to either plan, but "victory or death" is really appealing to me right now.<br/><br/>Edit:  One more upside to plan B?  I just figured out how to put Commisar Antony' balls in a vise, and it involves plan B.  We simply order the Katana to take up a rear guard position behind the Everest.  As our escort vessel, it falls under his clear line of responsibility to obey, and if he continues to pretend all is well, he has no excuse not to obey, especially if he isn't asked to get within blast range of the station.<br/><br/>He'll have to obey... and put the Katana in SERIOUS harms way, (if my plan works, anyway), or disobey a direct order without a justifyable excuse.  I kind of hate putting the good men on that ship at risk like that... but Antony needs to go DOWN.