686 Intercepted

With a good meal in them to help focus, the trio and their disguised ship followed the path of the freighter halfway to the system, where they expected the warp signature to end before it abruptly vanished. 

"Check the region. Let's see what we can find." Max ordered and entered a sub-light speed course that would take them in a large circle around the point where the signature disappeared. 

They had just begun their loop when the sensors detected four incoming vessels from a nearby star system. It was well off the course of the freighter that they were following, but it was likely that they were waiting for anyone following this course. 

[Unknown Vessel, power down your drives and lower your shields. Resistance to our boarding effort will lead to unnecessary casualties.] The closest incoming ship informed them while the others kept their distance.