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〃And？〃　Exedore　asked。

〃He　can　do　nothing。　Offworlder　contact　has　mitigated　the　impact　of　the　pulsion　on　Vowad　as　an　entity；　but　he　is　still　obliged　to　answer　to　the　Elite；　who　have　thus　far　remained　fully　responsive　to　the　programming。〃

Dana　felt　her　anger　rising　again。

〃Perhaps　I　should　remind　you　that　one　incident　of　violence　has　already　been　answered　in　kind；〃　Veidt　sent　in　her　direction。

〃The　Karbarran　vessel；〃　Exedore　said。

〃Vessels；　unfortunately。　One　Spherisian　ship　did；　however；　escape　the　acceleration　unscathed。〃

〃Has　Karbarra　been　informed　of　the　incident？〃　Max　asked　out　of　genuine　concern。

〃Yes；　by　the　Spherisians　themselves；〃　Veidt　sent。　〃In　fact；　there　is　some　reason　to　believe　that　a　Karbarran　battle　group　is　en　route　to　Haydon　IV　at　this　very　moment。〃

Max　shot　to　his　feet。　〃But　you　just　said　that　interference　couldn't　be　permitted！　You've　got　to　see　that　they're　warned　away。

Veidt　grew　quiet；　as　though　accessing　some　remote　mainframe。　〃I'm　sorry；　all　of　you。　But　it　is　apparently　too　late　for　that　now。〃


At　Admiral…Elect　Lron's　urgings；　the　Karbarran　dreadnought　had　been　named　N'trpriz　in　honor　of　some　Terran　ship　of　primitive　design。　And　while　mander　K'rrk　had　not　been　against　the　idea　at　the　time；　he　would　have　preferred　a　different　vessel　to　call　his　own；　a　Sekiton…powered　ship…of　the…line　with　a　proper　Karbarran　name。　The　Tracialle；　if　he　bad　had　a　choice　or；　failing　that；　the　battlewagon　Yirrbisst。

K'rrk　sat　in　the　mand　chair　of　the　N'trpriz；　shaking　out　the　lingering　effects　of　spacefold　as　his　bridge　crew　fed　him　updates　on　the　ship's　position　and　readiness。

〃Haydon　IV　ing　into　view；　mander；〃　Mav　reported　from　one　of　the　forward　duty　stations。　〃All　cruisers　accounted　for。　Establishing　matching　velocity　with　the　planet　three　point　seven　units；　sir。〃

〃Thank　you；　Mav；〃　K'rrk　said　from　the　helm　chair。　〃Let's　have　a　look　at　it。〃

The　artificial　planet　resolved　on　the　bridge's　forward　screen；　variegated；　rotating；　but　atmosphereless。　A　celestial　wanderer　no　longer；　but　more　the　starship　it　was。　Parsecs　distant　from　that　which　it　had　called　its　home　star　for　a　time；　and　still　accelerating。

K'rrk　cupped　a　paw　around　his　muzzle　in　a　contemplative　gesture。　Off　to　one　side　of　the　helm　chair　stood　an　enormous　wooden　wheel；　a　vestigial　adornment　overruled　by　Tiresian　made　astrogational　puters　buried　deep　in　the　ship's　heart　but　left　in　place　out　of　respect　for　the　Sentinels'　〃steam　ship；〃　Farrago。

K'rrk　turned　to　regard　his　science　officer。　〃Could　they　be　preparing　to　fold；　Lorek？〃

〃A　distinct　possibility；　mander。〃　〃What　do　scanners　show？〃

〃Areas　of　extensive　surface　damage；〃　Lorek　responded　after　a　moment。　By　Karbarran　standards；　he　was　tall　and　lean；　with　mottled　fur　and　a　curious　cant　to　the　diminutive；　mushroom…shaped　horns　set　between　his　ears。　〃Glike　appears　to　be　pletely　deserted；　sir；　although　bio…indicators　are　registering　life　signs　in　several　subsurface　chambers。〃

〃Do　we　have　a　fix　on　whatever's　powering　the　thing？〃　Kirk　asked。

〃Affirmative。　All　drive　systems　are　controlled　from　a　central　AI　nexus　concealed　under　what　used　to　be　a　system　of　reservoirs　and　interlinked　canals。　It　has　apparently　been　given　the　name　Awareness；　mander。〃

〃Defenses；　Lorek。　Shields？　Antiparticle　fields？〃

〃None　that　scanners　can　discern；　mander。〃

K'rrk　growled　with　pleasure　as　he　turned　to　the　ship's　munications　officer。　〃Reeza；　inform　all　battle　group　manders　to　hold　their　positions。〃

〃Done；　mander；〃　she　responded　almost　immediately。

K'rrk　made　an　approving　sound。　〃Open　up　a　hailing　frequency；　Lieutenant。　〃

〃Frequency　opened　to　all　traffic；〃　Reeza　told　him。

K'rrk　cleared　his　throat　and　slapped　a　paw　down　on　the　chair's　translator　stud。　〃This　is　the　Karbarran　starship　N'trpriz。　We　wish　to　make　contact　with　whomever　is　presently　in　control　of　Haydon　IV。〃　He　repeated　the　request　twice　more。

〃Ining；　sir；〃　Reeza　said　as　a　synthesized　voice　speaking　formal　Karbarran　began　to　issue　from　the　bridge's　munication　ports。

〃Attention；　N'trpriz；〃　the　voice　began。　〃Your　vessel　is　being　scanned。　Do　not；　repeat；　do　not　attempt　to　arm　or　deploy　any　weapons。　〃

K'rrk　flashed　his　weapons　officer　a　paw　signal　for　restraint　and　patience。　〃Understood；　Haydon　IV；〃　he　directed　toward　overhead　audio　pickups。　〃With　whom　are　we　speaking？〃

〃You　are　in　munication　with　Haydon　IV's　Awareness。　State　your　purpose；　N'trpriz。〃

K'rrk　glanced　at　his　crew；　then　said；　〃We　must　be　permitted　to　establish　a　docking　orbit　around　Haydon　IV　for　the　purpose　of　extracting　our　citizens；〃

Ursine　eyes　fixed　on　the　forward　screen　and　speakers。　〃That　cannot　be　permitted；〃　the　Awareness　replied　at　last。　〃Your　citizens　are　in　no　danger。　Do　not；　repeat；　do　not　attempt　an　approach　or　your　vessel　will　have　to　be　destroyed。〃　K'rrk　bared　his　fangs　in　a　twisted　smile。　If　the　normally　dour　Karbarrans　had　learned　anything　from　the　Sentinels'　victorious　campaigns；　it　was　that　fate；　destiny；　could　be　grasped　as　one　would　a　prize　piece　of　fruit。　And　just　now　Haydon　IV　was　that　prize；　a　conquest　that　would　consolidate　Karbarra's　power　among　the　worlds　of　the　Local　Group　and　reward　a　certain　mander　with　the　dreadnought　of　his　choosing　for　all　subsequent　sorties。

〃Nonsense；〃　K'rrk　told　the　Awareness　with　a　gurgling　snarl。　〃Release　your　prisoners　at　once　or　suffer　the　consequences。〃　He　hit　the　…interrupt　stud　and　swung　to　Lorek。　〃Do　we　still　have　a　fix　on　the　nerve　center？〃

〃Affirmative；　mander。〃

K'rrk　struck　the　arm　of　the　mand　chair　with　a　huge　fist；　nonretractable　claws　finding　their　usual　grooves。　〃Activate　all　electronic　countermeasures　and　prepare　for　evasive　action。　Mav；　prepare　to　secure　us　a　counterrotational　orbit　at　my　mand。　Cano：　target　primary　torpedoes　ground　zero　on　nerve　center　coordinates。〃

〃We're　being　warned　away；　sir；〃　Reeza　said。

〃Engineering；〃　K'rrk　growled　across　the　…line　as　the　N'trpriz　began　to　close　on　the　accelerating　sphere　that　was　Haydon　IV。

〃Engineering　here；　mander；〃　a　thickly　accented　Highlander's　voice　returned。

〃We're　going　to　try　a　hit…and…run；　Rash。　Will　your　engines　back　us　up？〃

〃By　Firrbisst；　you　know　they　will；　mander。〃　K'rrk　grinned。　〃All　right；　Cano；　on　my…〃

A　blare　of　two…note　warning　horns　overpowered　his　words。　〃mander；〃　Lorek　reported　in　an　astonished　voice。　〃Ship's　auto…destruct　has　been　armed　and　is　counting　down！〃

K'rrk　rose　halfway　out　of　the　helm　chair。　〃What？〃

〃Auto…destruct　set　for　thirty　units；　sir。〃

K'rrk　spit　a　curse　at　Haydon　IV's　on…screen　image。　〃Toy　with　us；　you　will　not！　Mav；　plot　a　course　directly　for　the　surface。　I　want　us　in　this　ship　sitting　right　over　the　Awareness！〃

〃Twenty　units；　sir。　〃

K'rrk　slammed　a　paw　down　on　the　chair's　control　panel。　〃Ship's　puter；〃　he　said；　catching　a　whiff　of　his　own　muskiness。　〃Abort　auto…destruct　sequence。　Priority　override；　K'rrk…two…K'rrk…one；　cancel。〃

Lorek　entered　a　similar　verbal　code；　and　the　warning　horns　were　silenced。　〃Auto…destruct　sequence　aborted；〃　Lorek　up　dated。

K'rrk　grinned　knowingly。　〃All　engines　full　reverse；　Mav。〃　The　navigator　tapped　a　flurry　of　mands　into　his　console；　then　threw　a　wide…eyed　look　over　his　shoulder。　〃Sir；　the　ship　isn't　responding！〃

〃Rash！〃　K'rrk　barked　over　the　…line。　〃Get　your　engines　on…line！〃

The　chief　engineer's　reply　was　panicked。　〃By　the　UrFlower；　we're　trying；　sir！〃

K'rrk　heard　Lorek's　sharp　intake　of　breath　under　the　blare　of　reactivated　warning　horns。　〃Auto…destruct　reinitiated；　mander。　Counting　down　from　thirty　units。〃

〃Haydon！〃　K'rrk　bellowed。　〃Mav：　Return　to　previous　course　heading；　all　ahead　full！〃

〃Twenty　units；　mander。〃

〃We've　got　full　reverse；　sir；〃　Rash　said　proudly　from　engineering。

K'rrk's　muzzle　fell　open　at　the　sight　of　Haydon　IV　dwindling　on…screen。　〃Full　ahead！　Full　ahead！〃

〃No　response；　sir！〃　Mav　said。　〃Ten　units；　mander。〃

〃Ship's　puter；〃　K'rrk　sputtered。　〃Abort　auto…destruct　sequence。　K'rrk…two…K'rrk…one。　〃

〃You　forget　to　say　‘priority　override'！〃　every　officer　on　the　bridge　cried　at　the　same　time。

〃Five　units；　mander。〃

〃Ship's　puter；〃　K'rrk　started　again。　〃Priority　override…No！　I　mean　Abort　K'rrk…two…　No；　I…〃

〃Four　units；　mander！〃

〃Ship's　K'rrk　puter　sequence…〃

M