Here's a carrier update on ZH via Stratfor...
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/three-us-aircraft-carriers-now-middle-east-fourth-en-routeAsking "If a carrier moves, will ZHer's go apesh*t with 'the-end-is-near' hysteria?" is like asking "Does a bear crap in the woods?"!
The Stennis could be reving up to merely fill a deployment gap as easily as any nefarious purpose, but there is no telling that to the doves at ZH.
As soon as Ike got on station the Lincoln transited "the ditch" and entered the Med, a typical move to give sailors long on station a liberty port or two before heading back to the barn. Could they be pressed into service? Uh, yeah,
any ship currently at sea
can be pressed into service at
any time.
It's like having options is a bad thing for doves no matter what.
Stennis could be pulled back if nothing happens the next couple weeks and the Nimitz could be ready by then to steam to the Enterprise's releif, letting the latter finish the homeward leg of her farewell tour.