"I didn't tell you to sit down and shut up!"

"You made it plain I should stop speaking," Rione stated in a voice lacking warmth. "I don't blame you. It would have put you between a black hole and a supernova."

"Why?" Geary asked, thinking that Rione probably qualified as the supernova.

"Because if I'd spoken up against Midea's ship going to the other formation, any agreement by you would have looked like confirmation that I, the unspeakable politician, exercise too much influence over you." Rione made an angry gesture. "But if I don't speak up, as I didn't, you don't get a perspective you might find worthwhile. You can't act on opinions I don't give you."

Geary sat down, thinking. "That's what my opponents in this fleet want, isn't it? To drive wedges between me and the people whose support and advice I need. You're a prime example. The prime example." Rione sketched a mock bow from her seat. "And those rumors are getting in the way of Desjani and me working together. How do I deal with this?"

"With Captain Desjani or with me?" Rione asked in a voice gone cold again.

"Both of you! She's my flagship captain, and you're my adviser and myauha"

"Lover. That's the polite term. If you call me your mistress, I promise you'll be sorry."

"Warning noted. So what do you suggest?"

"Make sure your behavior around Captain Desjani is so impeccable that it cannot be used to feed rumors any reasonable person would accept. I a.s.sume there's at least a few reasonable officers among your commanding officers? For me, continue to display your independence of me in public. I a.s.sure you that I was far from the only one to notice your command that I silence myself."

"I didn't-"

"And I'm sure most people who noticed will see it as I described it." Rione twisted one corner of her mouth up. "Evidence that you're dominating me will help calm the worries of those who think I'm controlling you."

"Dominating you?" Geary couldn't help laughing. "That's one concept that honestly never occurred to me."

Rione raised one eyebrow.

"You're not the dominatable type," Geary added.

"At least you've learned that much," she noted dryly.

"I've had a few lessons." Geary stood again. "I think I'll go to the bridge and go through some of the fleet status information again and maybe run some simulations."

"Why the bridge? You can do all of those things in your stateroom."

"That's true." He frowned slightly at her, wondering why she'd made a point of that. "Are you headed that way?"

Rione shrugged. "Eventually. I've a few things to deal with first."

"If Captain Midea is found dead with a knife in her, I'll probably have to have the knife checked for your fingerprints and DNA," Geary remarked, trying to defuse a renewed sense of tension he couldn't understand.

She smiled in reply, her tone half-mocking, half-serious. "There wouldn't be any fingerprints or DNA on the knife, John Geary. Not if I did it."

NINE.

MORE than three days gone, and the Syndics hadn't moved. As the fleet cut across Lakota Star System, the distance to the hypernet gate off to one side had gradually diminished. In another couple of hours the Alliance fleet would be at its closest point of approach to the hypernet gate (though close was a relative term when talking about a distance of three and a half light-hours), and then begin opening the range again as it proceeded toward the jump points.

Geary had kept his eye on both the Syndics and his own Formation Echo Five Five. But since arriving in the formation, Captain Midea and Paladin had behaved themselves, holding station near Orion and Majestic.

The only excitement that had happened was watching the kinetic barrage launched by the Alliance battleships slowly spread out across the vast distances of the Lakota Star System, scores of tracks headed on intercepts with the orbits of certain moons and planets and installations. As the barrage reached each objective, the sensors on Dauntless provided sharp, clear pictures of the impacts, Syndic defense installations and fixed weaponry vanishing in fountaining bursts of plasma and debris.

"At least we've done something in this system," Desjani grumbled after they'd watched one more Syndic facility turned into craters rimmed with broken junk. Then she gave Geary an embarra.s.sed look. "I didn't mean-"

"I understand. I'm frustrated, too."

Off to one side, the captured Syndic ore carriers were slowly converging on the Alliance formation, the two squadrons of Alliance destroyers escorting them like vigilant sheepdogs. In order to make the intercept, the lumbering Syndic merchant ships were burning almost all of their fuel cells in sustained acceleration, but since they wouldn't be going anywhere once the Alliance was done with them, that scarcely mattered.

"Seven hours until Echo Five Five meets up with those ore carriers," Desjani observed.

"Yeah. Why aren't the Syndics doing anything? They've never been this pa.s.sive when we entered one of their systems."

Unfortunately, intelligence couldn't provide any answers, either, though Lieutenant Iger suggested that if Geary swung close by the habitable world, it might provoke more Syndic message traffic that could be exploited. Not wanting to burn more fuel cells by diverting the fleet from its path to go closer to that world, and not wanting to put any ships in danger from Syndic defenses mounted on the planet, Geary declined to implement the suggestion.

The Alliance fleet was almost an hour past its closest approach to the hypernet gate, with Geary seriously considering additional steps to make his auxiliaries more attractive targets for the Syndic flotilla still guarding the hypernet gate, when something finally happened. Unfortunately, it wasn't a good thing.

"Captain Geary, there's a Syndic flotilla exiting the jump point from T'negu."

By the time Geary reached the bridge of Dauntless, the fleet's sensors had finished a.n.a.lyzing the size of the new force. Captain Desjani pointed to the display. "We ran the numbers, and it looks like this was the blocking force at T'negu, where they expected us to go. One of the HuKs watching us at Ixion surely jumped for T'negu as soon as they saw we'd jumped for Lakota. If our information on jump transit times from Ixion to T'negu, and then T'negu to here, are right, there would have been just enough time for that HuK to reach T'negu, inform the Syndics there of where we were actually going, and for them to jump here."

"We should have expected that," Geary noted, angry with himself. During its retreat so far through Syndic s.p.a.ce, the Alliance fleet hadn't encountered many situations where that sort of s.p.a.ce geometry applied, but that was no excuse for missing it here.

"Syndics don't usually react that quickly," Desjani pointed out. "It should have taken them a while longer to get approval to leave T'negu and come here."

Geary didn't debate the point, gazing glumly at the size of the new Syndic flotilla. "Eighteen battleships, fourteen battle cruisers, twenty-three heavy cruisers." Plus plenty of light cruisers and HuKs. The Syndic forces at the hypernet gate and this new flotilla combined now roughly equaled the size of the Alliance fleet. "The odds in this star system just evened up."

"We still have an advantage over each of those forces individually," Desjani argued.

"Yeah, if we can bring one of them to action without the other. But that new force is heavy enough to be a big problem." He thought about what would have happened if the Alliance fleet had arrived at T'negu and run into a maze of minefields plus that big Syndic flotilla. Things could definitely be worse. He took another look at the display. "They must have seen us the instant they entered the system. Why aren't they headed to intercept us?"

Desjani shook her head. "I don't know, sir. Smaller Syndic forces have been more aggressive than that when we've met them." She turned to look at him. "Maybe they're frightened of you."

He almost laughed, but Desjani appeared absolutely serious. "That'd be nice if true," he finally noted. "But-"

"They're turning!" a watch-stander called out. "Syndic Flotilla Bravo is adjusting course and speed."

Geary's eyes went back to the display. The Syndic force was a good three light-hours away. They'd seen the Alliance force over three hours before the Alliance fleet had even been aware that the Syndics had arrived. Plenty of time to plan something or to send or receive orders from the Syndic authorities in this system. Yet only now was the new flotilla apparently reacting to the presence of the Alliance fleet.

"They've turned past an intercept course," Desjani noted, surprised. "Where are they going?" Unfortunately, the answer to that became apparent all too soon. "They're heading for the jump point for Branwyn," Desjani noted sourly.

"Obviously not to jump that way," Geary added. The Syndic forces he'd encountered before this had tended to be aggressive, even when that didn't make much sense. This flotilla wasn't acting like that. "Are they just going to sit at that jump point like the other flotilla is sitting at the hypernet gate? Is this the new Syndic tactic, to wait us out until we do something dumb?"

Desjani frowned. "They were laying mines at T'negu, we think."

"Yeah." The meaning of that got through to him. "They're going to mine the jump point to Branwyn, aren't they?"

"I think so, sir. With us trying to leave this star system, they can completely block the jump point so that we can't reach it without going through part of the minefield."

"Which we'd have to slow down to do to keep from losing too many ships, thus making us vulnerable to high-speed attacks from that flotilla." The number of good options was shrinking rapidly now. "Do you think we can lure them away from the jump point for Branwyn by pointing this fleet at the hypernet gate?"

Desjani thought, biting her lower lip, then nodded. "They can't afford to let us reach that gate with superior numbers, and the commander of that new flotilla will catch h.e.l.l if he or she forces the first flotilla to destroy the gate by not coming after us. But the gate flotilla can destroy it on their own if need be, and threatening the gate now would mean turning our heels to the new Syndic force. It won't look right."

"I want to get this new Syndic flotilla out of position so we can attack it," Geary pointed out.

"That's true," Desjani noted doubtfully.

"They won't attack rashly," Rione observed.

Geary turned to look, not having realized that Rione had joined them. "Why not?"

"Because even Syndics learn eventually if hit hard enough." Rione looked at Geary. "How many Syndic warships has this fleet destroyed under your command? How many battles have you won? Not only won but done so in a one-sided manner not normally seen. You've done this again and again." She waved toward the depiction of newly designated Syndic Flotilla Bravo on the display. "The Syndics have learned. They doubtless have orders to engage you only under favorable circ.u.mstances, to force you into a bad position. They can wait us out, but we don't have the luxury of trying to wait them out."

"They're frightened of Captain Geary," Desjani repeated triumphantly. "But the only way they can stop this fleet from using the jump point for Branwyn is by fullscale battle."

Geary studied the situation. Everything important was pretty much in the plane of the star system right now, neither significantly up nor down relative to each other. The Alliance fleet, taking an arcing path through s.p.a.ce, had traveled more than halfway to the new jump point and was now heading outward through Lakota Star System, its ships' bows pointing toward deep s.p.a.ce. The Syndic hypernet gate and the enemy flotilla standing sentry near it were just over three light-hours away in a direction just aft of the port beams of the Alliance ships. The inhabited world orbited partway on the other side of the star Lakota, nearly a light-hour distant and totally irrelevant in terms of threats to the Alliance ships right now. The new Syndic flotilla had entered through the jump exit from T'negu about three light-hours off the starboard bows of the Alliance fleet and had turned onto a course that would take it slowly across those bows. If neither fleet changed course or velocity again, the new Syndic flotilla would cross the bows of the Alliance warship at a distance of about half a light-hour, continuing on toward the Branwyn jump point. But the Alliance fleet had to change its trajectory. It couldn't simply keep heading out into empty s.p.a.ce. The question was, how to change it and where or what to aim for?

Make a pa.s.s at the habitable world to see if the Syndics would follow to try to keep the Alliance from bombarding it? No, he'd already seen enough in other star systems to know that the Syndic leaders wouldn't waste time worrying about the fate of civilians or even the industry on a world. More than once the Syndic leaders had actually tried to provoke such a bombardment, probably in hopes of ensuring their people remained fearful of the Alliance.

Dodge back toward the hypernet gate in hopes the new Syndic flotilla would follow? As Desjani had pointed out, there wasn't any guarantee the Syndics would cooperate. Continue on toward the jump point for Branwyn, knowing that the new flotilla would be laying mines and waiting to pounce if Geary's fleet actually tried to jump out of Lakota there? He didn't need to look at Desjani again to know she expected Geary to charge the biggest enemy force, and most of his other commanders would have the same att.i.tude. If he turned away, some might continue on toward the jump exit, determined to force battle.

Geary's eyes went to the fleet status readouts, and in particular the fuel cell levels on each ship. I don't have the fuel cell reserves to go charging back and forth across this system. The Syndics don't have to react unless I actually close on the hypernet gate, and then they'd destroy it and leave this fleet out of position for reaching any of the jump points to leave Lakota. And if the gate collapsed in such a way that it released one of the higher levels of potential energy discharge, this entire star system and everything in it might be destroyed. Everything-including this fleet.

Keep it simple. Try to avoid using up this fleet's fuel cells, so I'll have them when I really need them. I don't really have a choice. "Captain Desjani, we're going to intercept the Syndic flotilla heading for the jump exit for Branwyn." She grinned, and so did the watch-standers on the bridge. "Can you give me a recommended intercept course?"

"One three degrees to starboard, up zero four degrees," she answered immediately. "That's if we increase speed to point zero seven light to intercept the Syndic flotilla as it reaches the jump point for Branwyn. Time to intercept will be forty-one hours, twelve minutes."

"Thank you, Captain." Desjani must have already run the intercept calculations, naturally. Even though the Alliance ships were currently all oriented so they would be turning to their left, or to port, fleet maneuvering commands used the external star system as their reference. Otherwise, in s.p.a.ce where ships might face in any and all directions, no two ships could be certain of what each other meant by left and right, up or down. The rule in a star system was that port was away from the sun, and starboard was toward it, while up and down referenced the plane of the star system. Since the intercept course required the Alliance fleet to turn a bit toward the sun of Lakota, that meant the turn was to starboard.

Rione had one hand pressed against her forehead, an expression of resignation on what of her face could be seen. "Off to battle, Captain Geary?" she asked.

"We'll see." He sat down and activated the fleetwide circuit. "All ships, turn starboard one three degrees, up zero four degrees, and increase speed to point seven light at time three two. We intend intercepting the new Syndic flotilla. Expect combat in about three days." Hating to give the next order but unable to see any alternative after the arrival of the new Syndic flotilla, Geary spoke again. "Second and Seventh Destroyer Squadrons, set the power cores on those Syndic ore carriers to self-destruct and then rejoin the fleet at best speed. Ensure any remaining Syndic prisoners from the ore carriers are put into escape pods. I don't want to have to worry about them on your ships during the battle."

What else? Oh, yes, the lure, which hadn't attracted any Syndics. "Captain Tyrosian, ensure all resupply activity is completed and all shuttles recovered as soon as possible but no later than twenty-four hours from now. Captain Mosko, increase speed of Formation Echo Five Five as necessary to bring your formation back into position relative to the rest of the fleet."

"Three more days to wait before we close on the Syndics." Desjani grimaced, plainly wishing the fleet was already approaching engagement range. "I hate this part."

"ARE you planning on jumping the fleet out of this system or fighting those Syndic ships?" Rione demanded. She had kept quiet while they were walking back to his stateroom, but the moment the hatch sealed, she hurled the question at him.

"That depends." Geary flopped down on a seat and activated the display showing the situation in Lakota Star System. "What do the Syndics do? How do they react? I can't chase them with this fleet. We don't have the fuel cells to waste on that."

"There's more fuel cells on the auxiliaries. If you-"

"Not enough!" He made a face. "Sorry. I didn't mean to cut you off." Rione, whose eyes had started to blaze, relaxed slightly. "If I get every fuel cell the auxiliaries have managed to manufacture distributed throughout the fleet, it'll bring the ships up to about sixty percent fuel cell reserves by the time we reach the jump exit for Branwyn if we don't do any more maneuvering. That's not enough of a safety margin for routine combat ops. For a fleet trapped behind enemy lines, it's scary as h.e.l.l."

"I thought you said the fleet would have to slow down to get through any mines the new Syndic force lays at that jump point. That'll require burning more fuel cell reserves, won't it?"

"I did, and you're right. So you see how bad it is."

Rione eyed Geary for a moment, then smiled. "I underestimated you again."

"You did?"

"Yes, Captain John Geary." Rione laughed. "Limited fuel cells so you can't race around this star system, and subordinates who would create problems if they thought you were running from the enemy. So you pretend to head for battle on the straightest course to the jump point we need, knowing the Syndics are likely to pull back and let you get this fleet out of this star system. Well done! You might make a politician yet."

He returned a crooked smile. "I'm afraid I'm not half that clever. I think the Syndics will fight at the Branwyn jump exit. They know we have to use it. They don't want to let us out of this system unscathed."

Rione, her smile gone, searched Geary's eyes. "Then what do you intend doing?"

"Like I said, it depends. Will the new Syndic force try a major engagement, hitting us full force? Or will they try to avoid a big battle and instead hammer at any weak points? If they want to do that, they can follow us through the jump point and be right on our tails at Branwyn."

She considered that, sitting down and bending her head. After several minutes, Rione looked up at him again. "Are you sure you want to go to Branwyn?"

"What other choice do I have? It's not like T'negu is a good option."

"You're getting into a situation where you have to fight this Syndic force."

"I know." Geary sat up a bit and called up something on the display above the table that he had only rarely consulted. "Recognize this?"

Rione stared at the display grimly. "The Syndic home system. I'm not likely to ever forget it."

"The Alliance fleet suffered awful losses when it got ambushed there." Geary pointed to where a long list of ship names shone in red. "The leading elements were annihilated and the rest mauled as they fought their way through the ambush."

"You don't have to remind me of that!" Rione looked away, her face pale. "Just the memories are bad enough."

Geary nodded. "Sorry. But as you pointed out on the bridge, we've been winning some one-sided victories of our own. Not a one of them comes close to what the Syndics did to this fleet in their home system, but taken together, they've inflicted very heavy c.u.mulative losses."

Her eyes intent, Rione studied the display again. "And if you destroy this Syndic force in the same way, you'll have come close to evening the score. Is that what this is about? Revenge? I thought better of you, John Geary, though I admit the idea of getting even with the Syndics is a pleasant one."

"It's not just revenge. h.e.l.l, it's not really revenge. We've had to run like crazy because the ambush in the Syndic home system left the Syndics with a big numerical advantage over the Alliance."

Her expression shifted again. "You're erasing that advantage."

"Right. We've come quite a way to doing that, which is why the Syndics had to employ barely trained crews and brand-new ships at Ixion. If I wipe out the new Syndic force that's arrived in this system, the ability of the Syndics to meet us with equal force at any new star system will be severely impaired. They'll have to spread out their remaining forces, so we'll have the numerical advantage in any particular star system, which should give us the time we need to get the auxiliaries restocked again and all our ships loaded out with full inventories of fuel cells, specters, and grapeshot."

Rione spent a while thinking about that, too, then turned a questioning gaze on Geary. "And if you get hurt as badly as the Syndic force?"

"Then we're in trouble."

"It's a big risk."

"Yeah. But we're already in trouble. We've been in trouble since this fleet got mangled in the Syndic home system and ended up stuck deep in enemy territory. The big risk here comes with a potentially big payoff. I can easily lose by trying to play it safe, but I can't win unless I throw the dice."