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“I am.”

  “I’m Roger Castiano, an associate member of the Brethren Council. I have it on good authority that you’re holding Council Member Grace Hyperion. You will immediately release her.”

  “Who?” Valerie asked.

  Castiano shook his head. “That won’t work with us, as we’re familiar with the tactic, having used it ourselves on many occasions. You’re trying to buy time by claiming ignorance.”

  “Excuse me, please,” Valerie said. “But I’m a representative of Star Watch. I do not take kindly to slurs against our organization. If I say I don’t know—”

  “Enough,” Castiano said, interrupting. “If you don’t immediately hand over Grace Hyperion, we will execute Captain Maddox.”

  Valerie stiffened, blurting, “Do that and the Grand Fleet will arrive and burn your little pirate base to cinders.”

  Castiano licked his lips as he grimaced. “Do you deny knowing about a planned assault upon the deep tunnels?”

  “Associate Council Member,” Valerie said. “We’ve been waiting for Captain Maddox to report. He missed his scheduled call, and we would like to know the reason why.”

  Castiano stared at her with his single eye before turning to the side and saying, “I don’t think she knows.”

  “I demand that you put Captain Maddox on the screen,” Valerie said sternly.

  Castiano faced her. “Sorry, but I can’t do that.”

  “Why not?”

  “Because we don’t have him.”

  Valerie’s eyes narrowed. “You just said you were going to execute him.”

  Castiano raised a hand, showing the minute distance between his thumb and index finger. “That was a small white lie.”

  Valerie inhaled, readying to rebuke him. She reconsidered at the last second, recognizing the futility of it. “Why have you ceased jamming?”

  “Listen well, Lieutenant. The Council demands that you act peacefully while in orbit around Tortuga. Any military measures will be met in kind by us.”

  It took Valerie a moment to register the words’ meaning. “That was out of left field.”

  Castiano stared at her.

  “Just to be sure,” she said, “are you threatening us?”

  “No threats are intended, Lieutenant. I’m simply reminding you that this is a sovereign planet, and we demand that you act with decorum and dignity while in our star system.”

  “Valerie,” Galyan said. “May I speak to you in private?”

  She glanced at the holoimage, and then turned toward Galyan so she couldn’t be seen speaking. “Oh,” she whispered. “He’s doing what Maddox does to others. Castiano is stalling.”

  “Yes, Valerie.”

  She faced Roger Castiano. “Call me when you have the captain. Until then, I’m dealing with something else.” She made a chopping motion with her hand.

  Warrant Officer Shell cut the connection.

  “Get Keith up here,” Valerie said. “Galyan, start warming up the neutron and disruptor cannons. Andros, make sure the shields are at full strength. Those battleships—it’s time we make them take notice of us. I suspect someone is trying to get away, and that means we’re not going to let them until the captain tells us otherwise.”

  -20-

  “Lieutenant,” said Keith Maker, the ace pilot sitting at the helm. He was a small Scotsman with a cocky attitude, an on-again, off-again boyfriend of Valerie and possibly the best pilot in Star Watch—in his opinion for sure. “The battleships are sliding toward the three Star Watch vessels. They seem to be trying to make it look like an innocent maneuver.”

  “I see them,” Valerie said from the Captain’s Chair, as she watched the main screen.

  The two battleships in question were a little over 200,000 kilometers from Victory. The giant debris field around Tortuga meant that various vessels could orbit the debris cloud and still be far from another orbiting vessel. The two star cruisers—the New Men vessels—were 350,000 kilometers away, with the battleships between them and Victory.

  Valerie eyed the three ex-Star Watch ships that the battleships approached. There was a heavy cruiser, a missile cruiser and a much smaller destroyer. She had no doubt that fanatical Humanity Manifesto crews manned the warships. The crews might have voted to leave Star Watch instead of facing charges from Brigadier Stokes’ Transition Team. The fact that the battleships were heading there indicated they had common cause.

  “Galyan,” she said. “Were the battleships modified?”

  “I am rechecking the possibility,” the holoimage said. “Yes. I give it an eighty-nine percent probability that each used to be a Bismarck-class battleship. They now have heavier shields, more outer detection gear and thicker armor, oh, and several false or decoy hull areas. Despite the decoy reconfiguration, they have been upgraded—Valerie, they have disruptors instead of heavy laser cannons.”

  “I was afraid of that,” she said. “Two upgraded battleships, one heavy cruiser, a missile cruiser and destroyer… This could get ugly.”

  “At these ranges, with combined fire, they might smash through our shield and obliterate Victory,” Galyan said.

  “Don’t forget the many pirate vessels,” Andros said. “The council member threatened us, remember? Individually, the pirate ships aren’t worth much in a stand-up fight. If they all add their firepower to the battleships…”

  “And if some of those haulers are Q-ships,” Keith said over his shoulder.

  A Q-ship was a disguised merchant vessel with added military capabilities.

  “Enough,” Valerie said. “I didn’t ask for opinions. I’m not Captain Maddox, but you will give me the respect due my position and not shout out whatever you feel.”

  “I beg your pardon, Lieutenant,” Andros said. “I meant no disrespect.”

  Keith hunched his shoulders and grunted something unintelligible.

  Valerie fingered her chin. The Brethren Council had threatened them. The jamming had ceased, and an unknown assailant was using a transport ray that enemies of Star Watch had employed against them on Earth not so long ago.

  “Sir,” Warrant Officer Shell said. “One of the battleships is hailing us.”

  “Put him or her on the main screen,” Valerie said. “Galyan, run through your data files once you see the person. I want their records and history, assuming they once served in Star Watch.”

  A lean woman appeared on the main screen. She had a buzz cut, narrow features and a deep-space tan and wore a stylish red uniform of unknown designation. “I am Patrol Chief Roga and represent the Sovereign Hierarchy of Leviathan.”

  “What the hell?” Valerie blurted.

  “That is an unusual response,” Roga said sternly. “Do you wish to initiate hostilities against us?”

  “I recognize her from the personnel files,” Galyan whispered.

  “Just a moment,” Valerie told Roga, swiveling her chair. “Mute her,” she told Shell. Valerie turned to Galyan next. “Give it to me.”

  “She is Captain Charlotte Rios of the Battleship Lauenburg, a Bismarck-class vessel as we suspected,” Galyan said. “She was last operating in the Vega System. She fought with the Grand Fleet against the Spacers at the Forbidden Planet. Ah. She once firmly stated her belief in HM Doctrine and formally applied for reassignment to the Political Intelligence Division. That was during Lord High Admiral Fletcher’s term of office.”

  “And now she’s a renegade, unable to shift with the political winds,” Valerie said.

  “That would be my own conclusion as well,” Galyan said.

  “Lieutenant,” Keith said. “Would you allow me to make an observation?”

  Valerie nodded to him.

  “The Sovereign Hierarchy malarkey is meant to scare us off,” Keith said.

  “Thank you, Lieutenant Obvious,” Valerie said.

  “Hey!” he said.

  Valerie scowled, looking down, angry with herself for becoming sarcastic. She nodded and looked up. “Sorry. That was unwarranted. I agree with you.”
/>   “No problem,” Keith said a second later.

  “We’ve solved one mystery,” Valerie said. “They’re all ex-Star Watch people. Have they joined the hidden enemy or joined the Tortuga Brethren? I…” She quit speaking, having almost said, “I don’t know what to do next.”

  If all the pirate vessels helped the five ex-Star Watch ships and if some of the haulers were Q-ships, that would be the end of Victory, as they would be severely outgunned at close range.

  Valerie noticed the waiting “Patrol Chief Roga” on the main screen. Perhaps it would be best to play along. “Unmute,” she said.

  “I’m sorry for the delay,” Valerie said. “The Sovereign Hierarchy of Leviathan—that would put you a long way from home?”

  “I’m representing them.”

  “Oh. Well. What can I do for you?”

  “You can remove your vessel from Tortuga orbit, as we have detected hostile intent from your ship. In the interest of peace, we demand that you do everything in your power to avoid open hostilities with a foreign government.”

  Valerie stared at the impostor, with a rebuke on her lips.

  “Oh my,” Galyan said.

  Valerie glanced at the holoimage, and said over her shoulder, “Mute.” A second passed. “What is it now?”

  “Valerie, I have found the captain, as I have been sweeping the debris field. He is in a shuttle and is heading for us.”’

  “That’s why she wants us gone,” Valerie said.

  “Lieutenant,” Andros said. “The Star Watch vessels are powering up their weapons.”

  Valerie snapped her fingers. The others might try to destroy the shuttle and the captain with it. “Battle stations,” she said crisply. “Galyan, go take a look and talk to the captain if you can. Let him know what’s happening out here.”

  “Yes, Lieutenant,” Galyan said, vanishing from sight.

  -21-

  As Maddox sat in an aisle seat aboard a Tortuga shuttle, he saw Galyan appear in ghost form. The little holoimage floated near the middle ceiling. Galyan couldn’t project himself invisibly because his optic sensors wouldn’t have been able to see a thing if he did.

  A second later, Galyan disappeared and reappeared half-merged with the sleeping Grace Hyperion. As quickly and quietly as possible, the Adok AI informed Maddox about the current situation.

  The captain rubbed his jaw. Clearly, aboard the shuttle he and Riker were vulnerable to the renegade Star Watch vessels, as the little craft was only halfway through the debris field. Would Ural have foreseen this? It was more than possible. As much as Maddox hated to admit it, his uncle likely knew more about what was going on than he did. The Throne World New Men did have an excellent intelligence agency. Still, he couldn’t rely upon his uncle to bail them out.

  Maddox examined Grace Hyperion. Why had Ural given the woman into his keeping? Trust, it had something to do with trust.

  “Ah-ha,” Maddox said quietly, believing he understood.

  “Sir?” Galyan whispered.

  “Tell Valerie to watch the star cruisers,” Maddox whispered. “I believe the answer will come from there.”

  “Could you be more specific, sir?”

  “Transfer technology, the kind we faced in Antarctica. Do you remember it?”

  “I never forget anything, sir.”

  “Yes, yes, I’m sure. Now, Listen, Galyan. I suspect my uncle—that is to say the New Men—are about to acquire or already have acquired the ability to build a small transfer gate.”

  “Of the kind we saw in Vostok Station in Antarctica?” asked Galyan.

  “Exactly. That was why Ural wanted to split up. He didn’t want to share the tech with Star Watch. I can’t say I blame him, as I wouldn’t want to share it with the Throne World if our roles were reversed.”

  Galyan’s eyelids fluttered. When they stopped, he asked, “Are you suggesting that Ural will have transferred to his star cruisers?”

  “I am.”

  “I understand, sir. I dearly hope that you are correct. Is that all you would like me to tell Valerie?”

  “That’s it,” Maddox said. “She’s sitting in the Captain’s Chair. I expect her to come up with a plan, a good one, and save my hide.”

  Galyan waited.

  “Now, if you will do as I ordered…” Maddox said.

  The ghostly Galyan vanished.

  ***

  “That’s it?” Valerie asked, after Galyan finished giving his report. “He doesn’t have one of his Maddox plans?”

  “I think there was a hidden message in what he said,” Galyan replied.

  “Don’t hold back. What is it?”

  “You are in command. The responsibility is yours. Therefore, you had better come up with a plan, a good old-fashioned college try.”

  “A what?” she asked.

  “Do your best, Valerie. The captain is counting on you.”

  “Oh, damn,” she muttered, staring at the deck. She sucked in air, stared longer and sat up. “Andros, focus on the star cruisers. Is there any unusual activity over there?”

  “You mean other than the transfer ray?” Andros asked.

  “What?” Valerie said.

  “I was waiting until you finished speaking with Galyan,” Andros said. “The ray was in the general vicinity, but I can’t say for certain—”

  “Look at that,” Keith said, interrupting. “The star cruisers are rotating and aiming at the renegade flotilla.”

  Valerie leaned forward, staring at the distant star cruisers. They were on the other side of the five renegade Star Watch vessels. “Helm,” she said. “Let’s start moving toward the enemy. Maybe all the pirates will join in, and maybe they won’t. If there are Q-ships—Galyan, are the cannons ready?”

  “Which ship should I aim at?” Galyan asked.

  “The renegade flagship,” she said. “If we can take out the heavies, the others won’t have anything to hide behind. If it’s a fight they want, let’s make it hot from the get-go.”

  “The star cruisers have target lock,” Andros said.

  “Do they have fusion or disruptor cannons?” Valerie asked.

  A yellow disruptor beam speared from each star cruiser. The two beams crossed the 150,000 kilometers to stab at Battleship Lauenburg.

  “That answers my question,” Valerie said. “Lock onto the same vessel.”

  A hum had begun on the bridge as the antimatter engines increased power.

  “Fire when ready,” Valerie said.

  The purple neutron beam fired first. It was a shorter-ranged weapon. Even so, it stabbed across 200,000 kilometers to hit the Lauenburg’s red-glowing shield. Seconds later, Victory’s disruptor cannon fired, and another yellow disruptor beam struck the enemy shield.

  “The battleships are firing,” Andros said.

  Disruptor beams reached out from the enemy battleships, striking one of the star cruisers.

  “Let’s hope it’s too little, too late,” Valerie said.

  The Lauenburg’s shield that encircled the vessel had changed from red to brown and was now heading toward black.

  “Enemy missiles are launching,” Andros declared.

  Valerie nodded. The enemy’s missile cruiser was unloading. The first of the missiles began its run, heading for the star cruisers. Even though it might be a fast missile, it would take time to reach its target, nothing like speed-of-light beams.

  “Tortuga Central is hailing us,” the comm officer told Valerie.

  The lieutenant waved that off.

  “They’re all launching missiles,” Andros said. “And that includes the one battleship and two nearby haulers. I think the renegades are firing everything they have.”

  Valerie’s fist flew into the air.

  “The Tortuga Brethren rep is making threatening demands, Lieutenant,” the comm officer said, with her hand against one ear.

  “I want that battleship before I talk to the Brethren,” Valerie said.

  Masses of missiles now burned for the star cruise
rs as even more launched. Many of the missiles came from two haulers that were bigger in tonnage than the battleships.

  “Q-ships,” Keith said. “I bet there are more of them hiding out here, too.”

  “Tortuga pirate vessels have begun powering up,” Andros said. “Maybe you should speak to the Brethren member hailing us.”

  Valerie frowned but nodded a moment later, turning to the comm officer. “Put him on the screen.”

  A split-screen appeared, the orbital space battle on one-half and one-eyed, piratical Roger Castiano on the other.

  “Lieutenant, this breaks the Tortuga Concord,” Castiano said. “We expect all vessels orbiting here to obey our strictures.”

  “Chose sides, Castiano,” Valerie said. “We have no grudge against you or Tortuga, but we won’t allow renegade Star Watch personnel to steal our equipment.”

  It took Castiano a moment. “You mean the ships they’re in?”

  “That’s right,” Valerie said. “This isn’t about you in the slightest. Or are you harboring Star Watch outlaws?”

  Castiano failed to answer the question.

  “Very well,” Valerie said. “I’m giving the Brethren fair warning. If you attack this vessel, you can expect the Grand Fleet’s appearance this year or the next.”

  “And if we hold off?” Castiano asked.

  “Star Watch will leave Tortuga in peace.”

  “You can guarantee this?”

  It was on Valerie’s lips to say yes, but she couldn’t do it. She would be lying, and she abhorred lies. “No guarantees,” she said, “as I’m just a lieutenant, the second in command of a starship. I will tell the Lord High Admiral of Star Watch about your conduct and give him my opinion if he asks for it.”

  Castiano eyed her slyly. “If we aid the renegades today, Star Watch won’t ever hear about what we did because your ship and you will cease to exist.”

  “I wouldn’t count on that,” Valerie said. “Word eventually leaks out, as you likely know all too well.”

  Castiano bit his lower lip, staring to the side, waiting, waiting—he nodded sharply to someone else and faced Valerie. “We won’t interfere, Lieutenant. This is a battle between Star Watch factions. Please refrain from damaging any of our vessels or affiliates, however, as that will cause a reaction from us.”