“During my term, I ran Intelligence the wrong way, trying to oversee far too many projects that I thought were important. But how do you know what is important in such a mass as ours? General Mackinder understands the truth. He facilitates. He gives authority to this gentleman, to that lady, and they give authority to those under them, and so on and so on until you get to the agents in the field.”

  “Are you saying Mackinder has no idea what’s going on in the field?” Maddox asked.

  “Not to the same degree I did. Don’t you see? No one man or woman can have that kind of knowledge. We’re using more and more computers all the time to correlate vast amounts of information. That is how it works. Intelligence is changing. We’re facilitators of data. There are so many worlds, so many people. It is more than what one person can fathom.”

  Stokes squinted at Maddox, leaning forward until his stomach pressed against the edge of the desk. “Which side wins and through what formula? It isn’t through superior excellence. The New Men believe that. They’ve taken the wrong track in history. They believe a superman can achieve what masses of normal men and women can do. But that isn’t how it works. It’s all about mass.”

  Maddox shifted in his chair. This was starting to bore him.

  “It’s mass, and more mass,” Stokes said, with a tinge of excitement in his voice. “That’s why we must grow bigger. That’s why I fear the Sovereign Hierarchy of Leviathan. We know so little about them, but we do know they know how to coordinate mass effort better than we do.”

  “You mean like the Swarm?”

  “Yes, yes, yes! The Swarm and Leviathan have the answer. They will succeed because of it. We, with our ideal of the individual being important… That day has passed. You’re an anachronism, Captain. You follow the ways of the New Men who believe one individual at the right time and place can achieve wonders. Perhaps you’ve shown that can be so a few times. I suspect it’s because of the elements, faith and maybe the gods you’ve done what you have.”

  “You’re a religious man, Brigadier?”

  “Religious? I don’t know about that. Something is out there. Maybe that something is a Yon Soth having gained even greater power. Who’s to know? You read these mythic books, do you not?”

  “You mean the Bible?” Maddox asked.

  Stokes nodded. “I suppose you believe in God?”

  “In fact, I do.”

  “I don’t, as it doesn’t strike me as reasonable. Therefore, I will say ‘the gods.’ I will say ‘fate.’ I don’t know if God exists, though, as you think of Him.”

  Stokes began to cough, hack and wheeze. “Sorry. Sorry. It’s all grinding me down, knowing that all the years I spent working on the wrong path, going the wrong way.” He shook his head. “We’re mechanizing. We’re massing. People like Mackinder understand.”

  “And the Lord High Admiral…?” Maddox asked.

  Stokes stared bleakly at Maddox. “The Lord High Admiral…obviously you realize he’s losing authority. That’s why I lost my position. Cook backed me and he lost. Cook backed your grandmother and he lost there, too. Cook holds some power, a last vestige, I suppose, but there are others manipulating and working behind the scenes. He has done magnificent deeds, and he has seen us through some awful times. How long will he remain at the helm?” Stokes shook his head. “If there’s war between the Sovereign Hierarchy of Leviathan and us and we take staggering losses, I fear the new powers will unseat Cook. A new person will take his place.”

  “Just like Mackinder took yours?” asked Maddox.

  Stokes sighed, seeming to diminish.

  “Do you know who’s doing all the backdoor manipulating?” Maddox asked.

  Stokes looked up, his eyes gleaming. “I do, I do, indeed.” He opened a drawer and took out a small chip, passing it across the desk to Maddox. “At the right time, which is not now, I suggest you examine that. It is a portfolio, if you will, a précis of those aiming for power.”

  Maddox took the computer chip and pocketed it.

  “The Lord High Admiral is like the old oak tree, as many say,” Stokes said. “But he has rotted out, in the sense that he is slower. His mental capacity, while still firm, fails here and there at just the wrong time. But he has symbolism behind him, and he has you behind him.”

  Maddox wondered if that was why Cook had agreed to his demands. “What can you tell me about the Empire abduction campaign?”

  “Very little, I’m afraid. Your grandmother thinks we should crush it. I’ve begun to wonder if she’s wrong.”

  “Why would that be?”

  “Humanity is but a mote in the vastness of space. We have faced the Swarm Imperium. Now we are facing the Sovereign Hierarchy of Leviathan. They may be too powerful for us. But if the Commonwealth combines with the New Men, if they follow their old path as conceived by Methuselah Man Strand as Defenders—”

  Maddox snapped his fingers several times as if breaking through to a hypnotized man.

  Stokes shook his head, blinking.

  “Tell me what you can about the Empire abduction operation,” Maddox said.

  Stokes took a sip of water. “The little I found out amounts to New Men operatives using Commonwealth thugs in our star systems. The criminals seek out these women and offer them payments to go to the Empire. Many agree. The few who don’t are abducted. They will all have children, likely many children. Isn’t that what we need, though? Mass, I tell you. Humanity needs mass if it hopes to survive.”

  A fevered light shined in Stokes’s eyes. “We must grow. We must become bigger than the competition. That means people, more and more people. So perhaps, perhaps the Empire has the right of it. That is what we should be doing.”

  “Surely not against a woman’s will,” Maddox said.

  “So you say, and so we uphold.” Stokes shrugged with resignation. “What do I know? I’ll be here another few months at most. What can I do for you, Captain? Tell me.”

  “Give me a list of Intelligence operatives who know anything or work on or around Cestus IV.”

  “That’s the border region. That’s far out of my purview. You’ll have to go in blind, sir. I know next to nothing, and what I do know has probably changed. You’re on your own. Do whatever you can. I know you have your own sources of information. I’m sorry I can’t be of more help.”

  “No,” Maddox said as he put his hat back on, “you’ve been most instructive. Star Watch is changing.” Maddox pinched his lower lip. “Is this more ‘Humanity Manifesto’ in altered form?”

  “Not as in the old way,” Stokes said. “I’ve included the New Men for a reason. This new idea is against nonhuman aliens only. There’s a growing consensus that believes all humanity should unite—New Men, Spacers, us, and what other fringe groups are out there.”

  “It may come to that,” Maddox said, thinking about the vast Sovereign Hierarchy of Leviathan. “Thank you, Brigadier.”

  Maddox stood.

  Stokes struggled to his feet and held out a palsied hand. Maddox shook it. He wondered if this would be the last time he would see Brigadier Stokes alive.

  Maddox straightened and gave a crisp salute. “To the great work that you’ve done throughout the years, sir.”

  “Please, please. I’m a washed-out rag that has been used one too many times.” Stokes crashed back into his chair and began to cough.

  Maddox turned and exited.

  -16-

  With the orders of the Lord High Admiral behind him, Captain Maddox found himself in command of ten Conqueror-class battleships within six hours of leaving the old man’s office.

  With the temporary rank of commodore, Maddox met with the captains of the battleships while still in Earth orbit.

  The Conqueror-class battleships were round and heavily armored, one of the deadliest class of battleships in Star Watch, if smaller and with less tonnage than Victory. They all had the new components from the heavy metal planet of the Alpha Centauri System. They were fitted with extra heavy armor, the best electromagnetic shields, and the most powerful beam weaponry known to humanity at this point: the disruptor beam. Their shield generators were bigger and more durable than those on Victory. The ten battleships were designed for toe-to-toe combat, pouring annihilating beams at whoever opposed them. They could likely even hold their own against an equal number of Juggernauts, at least for a time.

  After the meeting, the captains and aides returned to their battleships and followed Victory to the pyramidal Nexus. A hyper-spatial tube appeared, and the flotilla of vessels entered it. They appeared on the other side at the distance of a quarter a light year from the Cestus System. Said system contained more dust and debris than most. The fourth planet was inhabited, had heavy industries and too much air pollution.

  The flotilla set course for the Cestus System. As they gained velocity, Victory used its star drive jump and leapt directly into the system.

  Via the comm, Maddox made inquiries with the lone Star Watch destroyer in orbit around Cestus IV. Afterward, the starship began to scan the various haulers and transports one by one. Most of the scans involved Galyan entering the vessels in ghost mode. In none did the little holoimage find the cargo of young women of childbearing age.

  “Sir,” Meta said, who was at the comm station, “there’s a massive Trojan super-hauler expected to arrive within the hour. It will come through the Set Sven Laumer Point nearest Cestus IV.”

  “Is there more to the message?” Maddox asked.

  “There is,” Meta said. “The Trojan super-hauler is headed for Laguna 7 in the near-Beyond. According to this, it plans to offload heavy mining equipment and picking up tons of refined ores there.”

  “What exactly is a Trojan super-hauler?” Maddox asked.

  “I know that one, sir,” Galyan said.

  Maddox nodded at the holoimage.

  “The Trojan Space Company is a mid-sized conglomerate from the Artemis System,” Galyan said. “They specialize in long-distance freight, particularly ores. The Trojan Company occasionally sends freighters into the near-Beyond, such as Laguna 7. The super-hauler in question is the Solar Sovereign. It was built in the Terex Shipyards near Jupiter nine years ago.”

  Maddox nodded, his eyes gleaming. “That, people, is likely our target.”

  In two hours, the enormous Trojan super-hauler, the Solar Sovereign, arrived via the Laumer Point. Unlike many haulers, long cylindrical vessels, this one had five massive round sections connected by passage tubes. There was the central section and the four outer. One of the outer was the engine and fuel container. The Solar Sovereign began heading away from Cestus IV and for a different Laumer Point that would eventually lead it to Laguna 7. The super-hauler dwarfed any of the battleships and even Victory. With its five connected sections, it was truly colossal.

  In ghost mode, Galyan entered the ship and soon returned to the bridge to report. “Sir, it’s filled with young human women—thousands upon thousands of them, with only a few male guards.”

  “Are any of the guards New Men?” Maddox asked.

  “I did not see any, sir.”

  “Keep searching, Galyan.”

  For the next two hours, Galyan searched the Solar Sovereign until he reappeared on the bridge.

  “Sir, the captain is a New Man, one of a lower rank, but still.”

  “Are they awaiting transshipment or other cargo vessels to appear?”

  “Yes, sir. They are waiting for a tramp hauler to appear from the Arius System. That is a nearby star system fifteen point seven light years from here.”

  Maddox thought quickly. “We’re not going to wait for the ships from Arius. We’re going to do this quickly.” He turned to Meta. “Send a message to the crew, Condition One, ready for immediate battle.”

  Meta turned to the comm board.

  “Sir,” Galyan said, “if we move so openly against the Solar Sovereign, won’t the guards harm the ladies?”

  “I don’t think so.”

  “Won’t the super-hauler send distress signals to any hidden enemies?”

  Maddox grinned. “I’m giving you a sabotage operation. I want all communication devices on the Solar Sovereign destroyed.”

  “May I do this in any way I wish, sir?” Galyan asked, sounding enthusiastic.

  “Yes. It’s time we tested some of your new combat systems.”

  “Thank you, sir. I appreciate this. I have been waiting to test them.”

  “Good,” Maddox said. “Now go. Get started.”

  An hour and fifteen minutes later, Galyan reappeared. “All communication devices on the Solar Sovereign are destroyed. There is chaos aboard the super-hauler, however. The New Man captain is considering emergency evacuation onto Cestus IV.”

  “Right,” Maddox said. “I believe it’s time we showed ourselves.”

  Until now, Victory had hidden behind Cestus IV in relation to the super-hauler, using a small satellite to boost Galyan’s holoimage projection range.

  Maddox turned to Keith. “I want you to go to the battleships and tell them to appear at these coordinates.” Maddox provided the coordinates.

  “Aye, sir.” Keith jumped up and hurried from the bridge. He would pilot a tin can and fold to the waiting battleships approximately one-quarter light year from here.

  “If we capture the super-hauler, we’ll have saved the women,” Valerie said, “but I thought we were here to capture New Men.”

  “Not capture,” Maddox said. “I’m after their leader, the archduke. The super-hauler will be our bait to lure him into range.”

  “Won’t we unload the kidnapped women first?” Valerie asked.

  “By no means,” Maddox said. “I need the women there if I’m going to do this.”

  “Sir?” Valerie asked, obviously perplexed.

  Maddox smiled in a predatory way. Then, he shot to his feet and pointed at Valerie. “Inform me as soon as the battleships arrive at their new location.”

  Before anyone could reply, Maddox marched off the bridge and headed for a private gym. No one else was allowed to enter the chamber. All the sensors had been removed from it. Even Galyan wasn’t allowed within. Maddox had been spending an inordinate amount of time in the private gym. Each time he emerged from it, he was drenched with sweat and headed straight for the showers. Once more, Maddox headed for the gym.

  -17-

  An hour after the Star Watch battleships took up their stations behind Cestus IV, Galyan turned to Maddox on the bridge.

  The captain had showered half an hour ago. They’d been openly following the Solar Sovereign for a short time.

  “Sir, I have detected beacons well ahead of the Solar Sovereign,” Galyan said.

  “Beacons, you say?”

  Galyan was motionless for a moment. “Not beacons but sensor buoys. I have noted them because they just scanned the Solar Sovereign and are now scanning us.”

  “Are these Cestus System sensors?” Maddox asked.

  “No. I believe they are of New Men construction.”

  Maddox pinched his lower lip. “Can these sensors send a signal out to the star cruisers in the Nerth System?”

  The Nerth System was a little over five light years from the Cestus System. It had a brown dwarf star twenty times the mass of Jupiter. That wasn’t big enough to start hydrogen fusion. That meant the brown dwarf wasn’t visible to the naked eye. Some referred to brown dwarf stars as failed stars.

  In any case, the system had asteroids but no planets. Because of Ural’s information, Maddox also knew the Nerth System contained seven Empire star cruisers.

  “One of the buoys has ejected a unique unit,” Galyan said. “The unit…is folding. The unit is gone, sir.”

  “Likely gone to the Nerth System,” Maddox said. “Artaxerxes will know what the buoys saw. The Solar Sovereign is headed for a Laumer Point. Where does that LP exit?”

  “Two million kilometers from the Nerth System,” Galyan said.

  Maddox nodded. “The Solar Sovereign is headed there.” He turned to Meta. “Tell Keith and the others to remain waiting at their arrival point.”

  Maddox meant the ten battleships. They had used their star drive jumps to come in behind Cestus IV in relation to Victory and the Solar Sovereign.

  “Have Keith watch us. The moment he sees us enter the Laumer Point,” Maddox paused and pointed at Galyan, “Galyan, I want you to pinpoint the Laumer Point exit beside the Nerth System. Then, imagine the probable location seven star cruisers would be in relation to that LP. Finally, estimate the best ambush point for ten appearing battleships. That point must be hidden from immediate view of the star cruisers but able to come out at a moment’s notice and affect the situation.”

  “This is an interesting tactical dilemma.” Galyan’s eyelids began to blur as he made the computations. In moments, he had them and gave them to Maddox.

  Maddox considered, ran his finger in the air and brought up a holoimage star map. He moved his fingers around as he shifted possibilities. Soon, he had a tactical sequence he believed would bring the greatest results.

  Maddox gave Meta terse commands. She typed furiously, and would send it the latest information to Keith.

  “This is all very interesting,” Galyan said. “I am looking forward to the encounter.”

  Maddox contemplated, mentally preparing himself for what he hoped was about to happen.

  “Sir, what will you do with your advantage over the New Men?”

  Maddox stared at Galyan.

  “What if something happens to you, sir?” Galyan asked. “Should we not know what you planned so we can finish it?”

  “The outcome rests on me, as I’m the focal point and the way to get what we want,” Maddox said.

  “What is it we want again?” Galyan asked.

  “A cessation of these kidnappings,” Maddox said. “Losing the Solar Sovereign will sting and possibly hurt the Empire operations. So will missing the other transport that would have rendezvoused with the Solar Sovereign.”