A sudden interruption

"All combatants all combatants. Priority alert. All combat is to immediately cease. Fighters return to ships. This is a Code 1 directive." The only thing that surprised you more than the message was the fact that the Swiss were the ones sending it out. While it was their job to observe and help with the aftermath of fighting they usually stayed completely silent unless being asked a question about the rules. In fact, even in this circumstance they normally would have sent out the message to the fleet admirals and allowed them to issue the order to withdraw just as a matter of protocol. Still, a Code 1 directive was binding. What it meant was that there was a huge imminent risk to multiple human lives that required all combat to cease. A Code 2 was a large risk that could be mitigated and a Code 3 was a slight risk that just needed a quick adjustment. Your sensors weren't picking anything up and your data link to the larger ships wasn't telling you anything but if the Swiss said something was going on the inclination was to believe them. If they were wrong all that you lost was a little time. The 'destroyed' frigate was returned to full power and you could see it maneuvering back into its formation. If nothing was found wrong it would be 'destroyed' again before the battle resumed.

You decided to call in and see if you could figure out what was going on.

"This is Vice lead, requesting reason for termination of action." You called in as you maneuvered your fighter back towards the carrier so that the auto system could load you back up. It was obvious you weren't the first as the CAG sent out a message to all of the squadrons.

"We currently don't know the reason for the Code 1. Both fleets are speaking with the Conglomerate representatives and will make a determination about the battle when they finish. It's likely just a settings error." If that was true then someone was about to have a very bad day. A settings error would mean someone had set a weapon to lethal levels. It rarely happened and in all previous cases it had been caught before it became dangerous but the penalties for it were severe. **** for life severe.

As your fighter was once again grabbed by the automated systems to dock you, you were left to wonder if that was all it was. You'd know later if they decided to make the information public.