We approached the transit station and established a communication link with the representatives of Black Mesa by beaming a communication's laser through the gate. The delegation's avatars appeared in spotty pixilated form in the v-space conference room. "We assured them your fleet had not authorized the action," their leader said after we had exchanged brief greetings. "They were offering to return the bodies of your dead when a group of your ships attacked and destroyed them. We were only barely able to escape."

I took a slow breath and forced myself to remain calms despite the angry pounding of my heart. "Were you able to identify the attackers?"

"Not much more than gravimetric logs and AM engine energy signatures. We did capture some long-range optical on a few of the ships though."

Several files showed up in my queue. I opened a grainy image of a ship which looked like a smeared time-lapse photo. "I'll give this to our signals processing people to see if they can identify the ships."

"Would you like us to send you your dead?"

"That would be very—"

An alert sounded. Our alert status jumped to FAS Delta, attack imminent.

"Do what you can for them," I said hurriedly, "We'll trust you to deal with them appropriately." I shut the com connection and switched over to the Situational Awareness Display, whishing I were in C&C instead of my quarters.

A handful of Solarian ships in attack formation had left Legion traveling at 8C heading straight for us. The merchant ships, which normally preyed on the traffic passing in and out of the transit station, apparently alerted by station security, began fleeing to the neighboring system. As I watched, one panicked ship collided with another trying to line up for the exit, spreading debris across the lane. The other ships ignored them, and traffic control, and hurried through the gate as quickly as they could.

I bypassed the tac officer and flashed Commander Brennon directly. "Commander, this is C&C. Put the Phoenix between the fleeing merchants and the attacking ships. Deploy all drones and FACs."

"Sir?" came the startled reply.

"Do not let them fire on the merchants or the station. If they fire missiles, take the missiles out. If they move in with particle emission weapons, take the ships out!" I killed the connection and stewed, wishing someone would invent an EPR transceiver that wouldn't lose connection when the H-drive was activated. I sent the gravimetric info to the communication's laser targeting systems. It wouldn't do any good trying to establish a signal until they dropped back into conventional reaction drives, but I wanted to lock onto them the second they did. After nearly half an hour of helpless waiting, the ships switched off their H-drives and began accelerating towards us at three gravities.

"This is Fleet-Commander Phon," I said the second I got confirmation of signal on the com lasers. "Cease your attack immediately!" I glanced at my SAD to confirm my FACs and drones were in place and ready. The attackers didn't answer and I tried to calculate the response time based on the distance and the natural surprise at finding me here.

"Commander Phon, is that you?" Commander West said.

"Yes! Stand down!"

"Yes, sir," Commander Wilkerson said.

"Are we sure that's him?" Commander Moulthrop asked.

"Check your transponder codes," Commander Hunsicker said.

"Didn't he order us to attack?" Commander Noss said.

"Who's in charge here?" I demanded, cutting into their chatter.

"Well, we got Hunsicker's emergency rally signal and followed him," Wilkerson said.

"Newman's assistant had told us you had ordered us to secure the gate," Commander West said.

"Hunsicker and I were told that the merchants were seizing our transport as payment for defaulted contracts," Noss said.

I sighed and rubbed a hand across my face. I couldn't believe we had come so close to murdering hundreds of people due to a lack of discipline. Glancing at the external monitors, I saw the rescue tugs swarming over the two collided ships. Perhaps we hadn't avoided all bloodshed after all. "Turn around and follow me back to Legion. We'll deal with this there."

* * *

I read the riot act to every commander in those ships' chain of commander. I had to do it several times as most of them were on leave and proved hard to find. As I searched the communications network for my senior leadership, a bunch of messages began showing up in my queue with the subject of starting a new colony. A number liked the idea and assured me they would support my efforts while a majority was against it, some angrily accusing me of trying to keep them here against their will. As I sifted through these messages, trying to figure out how they had read my mind, a request from Abrams appeared in my message queue. I accepted and noticed a disapproving scowl on his face as we connected.

"May I remind you that you are only one fleet commander on the counsel and not authorized to make unilateral decisions for the whole fleet?"

"Of course," I said, stunned. "I know that. Why do you feel the need to remind me?"

"Dr. Hindmost has informed the commanders of your intention to found a new colony."

"What?"

"You should have brought this to the counsel for discussion before announcing it to the fleet."

"I haven't announced anything to anyone. I've been busy trying to keep our ship commanders from attacking passersby."

"Well it's pretty common knowledge you've decided not to return to Solarian space empty handed and intend to found a colony out here in alien space."

"And Dr. Hindmost has been saying this?"

"Yes. Sub-commanders Niva and Worthy have been using this knowledge to extort payments from all the surrounding colonies to get the fleet to leave. They've called for a meeting of all stock-holders and may be making a bid to take over the fleet."

"That duplicitous little crustacean," I muttered. "Shines Like the Sun gave him millions in Cack credits when his prediction of our unopposed arrival in the inner sphere proved true. He must be determined to get that fortune back to civilization so he can enjoy it in luxury."

Abrams cleared his throat suspiciously. "If it's true you do not intend to found a colony, how do you suggest we deal with Niva and Worthy?"

That was a good question. I thought about it a moment. "The fleet has heard these sorts of promises before. I say we wait and see what they actually accomplish. Who knows, if they can get us passage home with pay, I might be willing to give up this unruly command. It's not exactly doing our reputations any good back home."

* * *

"Spacers, don't even think about staying here in alien space. Keep focused on home and only that," Sub- commander Worthy said, addressing the combined fleet in v-space. "I've heard that one of our leaders has consulted the oracle and made secret plans along these lines. But if you'll follow me and leave at once for Solarian space, I can promise you full pay starting this month until we reach my home colony of Green where I know we can find contracts. From there, having campaigned with Sherman, I know a dozen nearby alien worlds anyone of us could conquer if we so wish."

This brought a lot of positive comments and a very high rating from the unofficial instant polling. Several people requested to speak next but Worthy, acting as the official moderator of this session selected sub-commander Niva.

"I agree with Commander Worthy. Furthermore, let me remind you of the so-called Golden Worlds along the rim of Solarian space. They are all habitable and abundant in raw materials. Anyone who wishes to found a colony can easily do so there without opposition and with the full financial support of the Solarian Colonial Settlement Authority. Quite frankly, with all the empty worlds in the Solarian sphere I find it absurd to even talk of taking worlds away from aliens. But if you need more reasons to leave right now, I also will guarantee you full pay until we arrive there."

I knew she was talking about the same funding from Red Rock and New Home that she and Worthy had extorted. Still, if they could pull it off. I might not mind being out of a job.

The conversations continued and most speakers joining in the discussion—at least those who weren't merely talking to hear themselves talk—agreed with returning home. I ignored the casual references to my "deception" until two ship commanders named Valentine and Wolfe began suggestion my actions were criminal. I signaled my desire to join the conference and was promptly acknowledged.

"I don't think I have to tell you of all the long days and sleepless nights I've spent worrying about your welfare and how I would get the fleet home. Arriving at the edge of Solarian space and fearing you'd all arrive with empty pockets and broken ships, I began searching for a world to raid so we could have something to provide for our families. Then I thought how much more valuable possessing an entire world would be, with the idea that once it was established, anyone who wanted to go home could leave. So I consulted Dr. Hindmost as to whether I should even suggest this to the fleet and he assured me that though that future looked profitable, someone would betray me. Ironic, I suppose, since it was he who spread the lie that I was trying to trick you."

I glanced at Dr. Hindmost who stared down at the virtual floor, eyes cowering beneath his carapace.

"Now, however, as Red Rock and New Home are both sending you jump ships, and not one but two people are paying you to be carried safely home, the correct decision is obvious. I say we go home and I encourage everyone who formerly supported my idea of colonization to support me now in this. More important than our destination is the need for us to go there together. As long as we stay united as we are now, we shall not lack for supporters and supplies, but let the fleet be divided and we will not only not have supplies but we will have to fight just to get away. So important do I feel about this that I recommend that we take an immediate vote and resolve that as soon as jumpships are found the fleet will head straight for Solarian space and anyone attempting to remain behind or caught deserting before the fleet arrives safely at its destination should be tried and punished as a traitor."

Dr. Hindmost's eyes shot out in alarm and fixed on me.

The measure was quickly seconded and a vote was taken. As everyone punched in their votes, Dr. Hindmost tried to object that no free citizens should be held against their will, but no one listened to him. Many, laughing, assured him they'd be happy to space him if he tried to leave the fleet. I tried not to gloat too much.

* * *

Once it was known that the fleet had formally voted to go by jumpship and that I had proposed the plan, ships from Red Rock, New Home and even From the Stars began arriving and the logistical nightmare of organizing and loading the fleet began. In the middle of this, Worthy, Niva and a dozen or so wing and ship commanders messaged me requesting a meeting. I accepted it reluctantly.

"What is it? I'm busy."

Worthy licked his lips and turned to Niva who had a chin-up-before-the-firing-squad look of determination on her face.

I paused in my shuffling of data screens and gave them my full attention.

"Now that we have the jumpships," Niva began and paused to clear her throat. "We've reconsidered your prior proposal. We'd like the fleet commanders to call for a meeting of the shareholders for the purpose of discussing seizing a possible colony world from among The Speaking Ones."

"You're kidding."

Trembling beneath my glare, they shook their heads.

"No." I turned back to my progress reports from my transport commanders and tried to control my rising anger.

"Please!" Worthy blurted out. "They've reneged—"

"Don't tell him—" Niva snapped.

I paused and looked back at them. "What is it?"

"They've, sort of, failed to come through with the promised funds," Worthy said. "They're now saying those were credits to be applied to the cost of transport...."

I leaned back in my chair and smothered a smile before it had a chance to start. "I won't have anything to do with this, but if you want to call your own meeting, I won't stop you."

"They'll kill us after what happened in the last meeting," Niva muttered.

Worthy turned on Niva. "They'll kill us when they find out we don't have their pay!"

"Let's not talk about that now. Let's try with the other wing commanders before we bring this up before the rest of the fleet."

They logged off and I chuckled to myself feeling vindicated.

* * *

For the next few days, as the jump ships continued to arrive, I processed endless reports from a variety of ad hoc committee chairs on the plan to transport the fleet. Everything proceeded as well as could be expected under the circumstances until one of my lawyers warned me we had a sudden spike in threats by angry ship commanders to separate from the fleet. Such threats were usually little more than a negotiating tactic. The tangled webs of ownership and debt made the separation of a dissatisfied ship's crew nearly impossible, but from what my lawyers said, a bunch of them were ready to turn pirate.

Delegating my office work to Harlow and my subordinates, I investigated the cause of this uprising and found that news of Niva's and Worthy's proposals had leaked out and that Smith's sub-commander, Newman, was telling everyone that I was using them to trick the other commanders and was pushing my plan to colonize a world among The Speaking Ones. My gut told me Newman had orchestrated this as an attempt to undermine me and seize control of the fleet. What he didn't know was that the fleet was more likely to break up.