The frigate sails on. It detects and plots the locations of powerful land based radars. It also quite easily picks out the small Velucian fleet preparing at the mainland by their radar signatures. While unable to tell class or size of ships, the frigate easily separates the various signals and is able to discern the number of ships and their locations. [I would like to know how many ships are in this small fleet since I have established that I am able to discern such things.]

Capitaine Toutain grows worried. "Quartermaster, I don't trust our new Velucian shadow. I would see the crew armed. Hand out rifles to those qualified, sidearms to the remainder."

The Quartermaster salutes. "Oui Capitaine." He hurries from the bridge to the ship's small arms locker. He distributes rifles to a dozen men and stations them on the deck. He issues sidearms to the remaining members of the crew and sets them back to their normal tasks.

The newly armed sentries stand on deck, rifles held low, watching the Velucian ship. The Quartermaster also orders the ship's autocannons prepped. a pair of crewman moves to each and loads it, preparing it for action. After the autocannons are prepared, the crewman manning them step back away from them, not wanting to accidentally cause an incident.