“I’m glad to see you, too.” She tightened her arms around him, and she knew she was only telling the truth. She was glad to see him, despite the fact that she expected almost no one to give her more trouble.

  The two held each other for a few more seconds, but the presence of her crew members behind her cut short their reunion.

  He pulled back, and he spoke to the officers and spacers behind her in the tube. “Congratulations to you all…truly.” He was genuine, but Andi could hear the resistance in his tone, and the continuing disapproval of a full-scale effort to wipe out the enemy. He wasn’t soft on them, not by any measure…but he wasn’t ready to risk taking the battle to the very edge either. For one thing, he knew the enemy didn’t want to destroy humanity…but he was unsure how they would react to a serious effort to wipe them out. Would they counter with their own attempt to destroy humanity…or at least the humanity that lay on the Rim, and in the systems occupied by the Hegemony?

  That was a consideration, even to Andi…but she didn’t want to survive anyway, not as a slave of the Hegemony. And she didn’t want her child to endure in that kind of world either.

  Tyler was the same as she was in that regard, she was sure of that. But he still held some hope that his fleet could find a way to win, to at least gain a brokered deal with the Highborn. She had no comparable thoughts.

  She stepped up onto the pedestal, and she saw at once the half-finished nature of the work completed on Striker. She knew the massive structure had been pummeled almost to its ruin, and now she saw the cost of the miraculous work that had been completed.

  “You got a lot done here in the past month,” she said. It was true…but it also overlooked much work that needed to be done.

  “Yes, we did. But only by focusing almost entirely on the minimum amount that needed to be done to restore each system.” He gestured around, clearly expressing his awareness that the structure was a strange mix of completed…and not even started. “The longer we get, the better we’ll do…” His voice descended to silence. He knew the enemy was also making good time with the break between fighting, and he was sure, on some level, that the Highborn were doing better than he was…if only because they had a smaller area to manage. He was pulling most of his new ships forward from the still far off Confederation—though he’d just gotten three Hegemony battleships from one of the shipyards his forces still controlled, too.

  “You did well, Ty…really well. Better, it looks like more than I’d dared to hope for.” That, at least, was true.

  “I’m glad to hear that, Andi.” Tyler’s voice suggested that he was as uncomfortable as she was, about the next steps, about the enemy…about the resolution between them. Neither of them had changed their view. That much, at least, was clear.

  Andi knew the serum might not work, that the formula put together so quickly might deviate from the one the empire used to drive the Highborn from imperial territory. That would put her conflict with Tyler on ice, at least until her people had another formula to try.

  But she didn’t believe that. She was convinced the formula was right…and her mind had already gone on to phase two, to the plan to inflict as much damage on the enemy as possible. She was sure the plan would work—if only because there was no point in imagining if it didn’t—and she was determined to make sure her people made the best effort possible to win.

  Still, she was only human, and she had just come back from almost a month away. She could spare one evening from her efforts—and she suspected Tyler could too. She knew that wouldn’t change anything that lay ahead…but it was welcome, nevertheless.

  * * *

  Stockton sat quietly. His covering—that’s what he called it at least—had actually slipped, and the structure of the device was visible, he knew, though not to him, at least not away from a mirror. It was irritating, but he was getting tired of trying to hide it, at least when he was alone.

  He knew what he had to do, and he was going to go right to the top. He wouldn’t tell Stara, not until the moment had almost come. He knew she was completely against the procedure, and he understood. But the truth was, he just couldn’t face life with the construction still attached to him. He knew it was possible that the implant was completely shot…but the doubts about that would last his whole life. He was far from sure he could get over all he had done anyway…but he was sure the only way was with the attachment removed.

  Even though none had been successfully taken out yet.

  That was true, of course, but it had only been attempted a few times. His situation was different, in many ways. First, he was willing and able. Second, while the doctors had definitely not perfected even a hopeful way to perform the surgery, they were much farther along than they’d been when the last effort was made. He believed all that. Even more importantly, he’d decided he’d rather die on the table than go on as he had. He was far from sure he could recover even if he was able to somehow survive the surgery…but he was sure he had to try.

  He just had to convince Tyler Barron to go along with it. He wasn’t sure, but he thought he had at least a reasonable chance. Barron was strange sometimes, caught between various layers of influence. But he thought he knew the supreme commander better than most people…and if he could convince him of his seriousness…

  He turned and looked around, and he stared at himself in the mirror. Stara had removed all of them from the place, but he had hidden one, and now he stared at himself in it. The detritus hanging from the back of his neck was ominous, even though it appeared to be completely inoperative. He tried to go back on his recent decision, to convince himself he was being foolish, that he could survive with the attachment.

  But as he looked, his opinion only hardened. He couldn’t be sure the thing was dead—and no one else could either—and he couldn’t live with that, even if he could tolerate the rest of it. He wasn’t sure a return to his old position, or something comparable to it, would allow him to recover from all he’d been, all he’d done…but he was sure it was the only way. He’d tried to endure for Stara, and for all the others, but he couldn’t do it. He had to have a real go at coming all the way back…or he had to die trying.

  He was sure of that…as sure as he could be of anything…and he just had to convince Admiral Barron of it.

  * * *

  “Clint, I am glad you could make it.”

  Winters paused for an instant, but then he walked the rest of the way into the room. “I wanted to see what the opposition looked like,” he said grimly.

  “That is not necessary, Clint…you know we all want the same thing. All of us.” The voice was different from the one that had first pierced the silence. The first voice had been Chronos…but the second was Andi.

  “Andi…I didn’t know you were going to be here.” Winters was as non-committal as he could manage…which was far less than usual.

  “I arranged the meeting, Clint…and I invited you. I’m afraid our Hegemony personnel are no more decided than you.” Andi stopped for a moment, but then she continued before Winters could. “Please, Clint…I know you haven’t decided yet…neither have Akella and Chronos. And I am far from comfortable speaking with you behind Tyler’s back. I hope you know, I would never do anything I didn’t believe was in his best interests.”

  Clint almost shot back a caustic response, but the desire passed almost as quickly as it had appeared. “I do know that…but what if you and he decide on opposite ways to go?”

  Andi stared back at Clint, almost as though the others were gone for a moment. “I hope you understand me well enough to realize I would never move against Tyler.” That was almost true…she hoped they would ultimately agree on the final effort, but she realized there was a chance they would come all the way to the end with different points of view. And she didn’t know what she would do then. “But Tyler isn’t ready to prepare for the second phase of the operation…assuming the first phase proves successful…and I believe we have to have the plan ready to proceed, at least.”

  “Because you want to see it carried out.”

  “Because I believe it is our only hope…and I feel like you at least share some of that view.” She pulled her head back. “I believe all of you do…at least partially. That is why you are here.”

  “I thought Akella had put this meeting together.” Winters had been surprised at Andi’s presence, but he only just realized that Andi had organized the whole affair.

  “No…I just came. To be honest, I am not sure how I feel about this. My loyalty to Admiral Barron is considerable, but I have responsibilities as the head of the Hegemony state as well…and they are not always in line.” A pause. Then: “Particularly if we lose the next fight…or if the Confederation decides to pull back and leave the rest of the Hegemony to enemy occupation. I do not believe Admiral Barron is of this opinion, though I do believe a fair amount of those supporting his position are. And, I don’t know what he will do if this proposition becomes the dominant one for a more…normal…resistance to the enemy.” Another pause, then, “Or if another battle is fought at Striker…and lost.”

  Andi nodded. “Look, I wanted to get you together, because I wanted to discuss this with people who are at least…sympathetic…to my concerns. I admit that I feel this way, that I’m more in the direction of taking out the enemy completely…but I’d still listen to opposing views.” It was the one thing she wasn’t being honest about. In truth, she couldn’t imagine any circumstance that would change her opinion on destroying the enemy. “But I do believe that our best attempt to destroy the Highborn, or come as close to that as possible, is the way to go. I am honest about that.” A pause. “And I’m pretty sure everyone here at least partially agrees.”

  The room was silent for a moment. Finally, Akella spoke again. “Andi, you’re definitely farther along toward launching an all-out assault on the enemy than I am…but I feel like most of the Hegemony Council will be in agreement with you.” She paused, and then she continued. “I am sure they are, in fact…what I just don’t know is how long I can keep them from going in with you. Or if I even want to.”

  Chronos was silent, but Andi could tell that Akella was the one farther from her than he was. He clearly wasn’t exactly comfortable with it, but she bet to herself that without Akella, Chronos would be with her…or at least closer to it.

  “Again, my purpose isn’t to raise up any kind of resistance. It is simply to make sure that phase two proceeds as quickly as possible. Phase one was only a single planet. Phase two will be the actual implementation of the program…” She paused for a moment, not sure just how to proceed. Then she said, “And I’m afraid there will be much more resistance to it. I’ll be honest…I don’t care about the enemy, not at all. But I don’t believe you need to reach that level to support me. All you have to do is believe as I do, that our efforts to defend ourselves through normal means are hopeless. You can regret that our only choice for survival is so terrifying, so desperate. As long as you believe it is our only choice. And I feel like all of you are at least halfway there…if not farther.”

  Chapter Seven

  Forward Base Striker

  Vasa Denaris System

  Year 329 AC (After the Cataclysm)

  “I know there has been some…discussion…about what course we are to take.” Tyler Barron spoke cautiously, even with Atara. He trusted his longtime aide almost completely…but the ‘almost’ was poking up at him. He was fairly sure Atara would never go against him, but he wondered what she really felt.

  The instant of silence before she replied only increased his apprehension.

  “Admiral…I want you to know, I prefer the same option as you, the destruction of the enemy’s will to fight, but…” She was silent again, at least for a brief moment. “But, I’m far from sure we can attain a victory that way.” She had put forth her doubts, more or less, before…but this was the first time she’d laid out her concerns completely. “And I don’t know what to do…because I feel the odds of the other plan, the effort to completely destroy the enemy, are poor as well. In truth, I don’t know what to think.”

  Tyler wasn’t entirely prepared for the level of—honesty—his aide laid on him. “I appreciate your candor, Atara…but you’re going to have to make a decision at some point. And soon. Another few weeks, probably, and a couple months max. If the captured Highborn don’t show symptoms, the choice will be made, of course, at least until a new formula is ready. But if they do…then we’ll have to choose whether to commit a large portion of the fleet to phase two. I understand the allure of that, obviously, but I also feel it is problematical. We don’t know that it will actually work, of course…and that is true, by the way, even if it is effective. Perhaps worst of all, is a definite probability that once the enemy knows what we’re doing, or trying to do, they will reconsider their own efforts. I am one hundred percent opposed to the enemy’s goals, but they are not trying to destroy us, at least not wholesale. If they move to that as an effort…they already have over half of the Hegemony. That’s what, 175 billion? All of which they could destroy fairly quickly. They haven’t done that…yet.”

  “You’re right, sir…but then I’d expect you don’t plan to survive a defeat. You put up the survival of the species as an argument, but it’s not something you want yourself, not if you can’t prevail.”

  Barron felt the edge of the response, and it cut at him. Mostly because it was correct. He did not intend to survive defeat…and as much as he held aloft the possibility that he would prevail, in truth, he was fully aware that the likely result was downfall, and the conquest of humanity by the Highborn. And that was something he was unwilling to survive.

  He knew the odds were against securing a military victory, but it wasn’t impossible. Not yet. At least, not certainly.

  “Look, Atara…I’m not going to try to convince you we’ve got an edge, because we don’t. I just want to be sure you consider all the possibilities. The other option…it requires the formula working…and working perfectly. Even a half-effective formula won’t work. And we don’t even know for a fact that the thing will have an effect at all anymore. It is over three hundred years old. If the enemy came up with a cure—not a ridiculous notion—then we’re dead. Unless we fight it out…and win.” Barron was sure he was right, but he also knew an argument could be worded just as well the other way.

  “Admiral…I promise you I will be with you. To the end.” Atara paused for a moment, and then she spoke again, “I can’t tell you what I believe is the best route. I don’t believe anyone knows that. It is certainly possible that the formula will work, and that we can present it in enough places so that it spreads adequately…but there are also a hundred things that could go wrong. And you’re right as well that mankind surviving, even as the slaves of the Highborn, is probably a better result than mass death…though I, too, would choose to meet my end in that result. Perhaps in another hundred years, or a thousand, the Highborn will develop out of their current viewpoint. They may even become worthy masters, and not brutal overlords.” Barron could tell she didn’t really believe that, at least not the last part. “But I don’t know what is best for humanity…I really don’t. If I did, perhaps I would go with it, even to the extent of ending up on a different side than you. But I don’t…I’m not sure there is a right side. So, I will go as I always have…I will assume that you know the answer.”

  Barron heard her words, telling him what he wanted to hear, and yet he felt only more confused. He was set in his view, determined to proceed as he had decided…and yet he was troubled. Was he right? Or was he wrong? He just didn’t know.

  “Thank you, Atara…I appreciate your support…and your honesty.” He was correct on part of that, at least. He did respect her support.

  Her honesty, he wasn’t sure about.

  * * *

  Sonya Eaton stood stone still, watching the dozens of workers climbing along the battered hull of Colossus. Dozens…just that I can see. There are thousands of people working on the ship…almost three thousand. And that was in addition to the hundreds on the giant ship’s regular maintenance crew…those that had survived the last fight at least. Eaton knew her ship had barely made it through that battle, but her opponent hadn’t, and that gave her a rush that still held her up, even when she actually had plenty to be down about.

  First, she still wasn’t sure she could have her ship ready for the fight coming up. Actually, if the enemy came anytime within the range that she herself had projected, she knew the real answer. Worse, perhaps, she just wasn’t sure she could overlook it, and tell Admiral Barron that Colossus was ready…not when it wasn’t even close.

  The ship was battered in the last fight…severely battered. And as much work as had been done in the last six months, it had only really, just begun. She had a couple years more, at least, to go, and that was before the ship was really even ready to return to battle, not when it would be fully repaired. She didn’t know the time for that…or even if it was possible using Confederation technology.

  “Commodore…we’re going to have this work done in an hour or so. If we could schedule a test, we could scratch one more thing off our to do list.”

  Sonya turned. She hadn’t seen Commander Horace. He was ducked behind one of the new components, hidden from her view. But he’d seen her.

  “Absolutely, Commander…as soon as you are ready.” She knew he only meant a small section of the ship, tiny really…and for that even, only a marginal restoration of the normal power that flowed through it. But it was better than nothing, especially for the crew members who had worked on it almost around the clock. Eaton realized that she was constantly weighed down by the sheer magnitude of the total job, but she also understood that she had to give the various crews working throughout the ship some moments of joy and satisfaction…even if the work done wasn’t all that much of the remarkable total that still had to be completed.