Intrepid

''Maybe you would like State Security's best troops to take over the ship and do what is necessary.''

''Eddie, when I need your State Security hacks to gun down a few hundred unarmed peasants, I'll call for you. I need a ship sailed and a battle fought and won. Let's leave that to a crew that knows how to do it.''

''Yes, Citizen Victoria,'' the general said, almost bowing. ''May I send a security team to assure your safety?''

''If you wish, but make them few and see that they keep out of the way. Oh, and send us a different colonel. One that isn't the dullest in your collection.''

''Yes, Citizen Victoria. If you will excuse me, I will see that these things are done.''

''One more thing. This ship needs power. Have the station give it full access to electricity.'' She turned to her captain. ''What about plasma?''

''That would take too long. Electricity will do.''

''To hear is to obey,'' the general said, and rung off.

The silence on the bridge was broken only by the necessary sounds of a spaceship. Pumps pumped, fans spun. Here and there, a light blinked. No one spoke.

Captain Krätz was white as a sheet. Kris suspected that Vicky's next lesson would have to come from her. ''Ah, you may have been a little hard on that general, Ensign.''

Vicky pursed her full lips. ''You think so? Always when he came around the house, he was so friendly. Almost fawning. A new toy when I was young. A fancy dress later. After he was gone, Dad would say things like ‘two-faced.' That comment about shooting peasants, that was one of Dad's sayings.''

''But did he ever say it to his face?'' Kris asked.

Vicky thought for a moment, then looked embarrassed. ''You're right. I don't remember his actually saying it to him.''

''You might want to tell your dad when next you see him that that particular cat is out of the bag,'' Captain Krätz said.

''We're getting extra power from the station,'' Sulwan announced. ''I'm sending it straight to Engineering.''

''Well, he's carrying out his orders,'' Captain Drago said. ''Now let's see how huge Princess Vicky's ‘security team' is.

''I'm not a princess,'' Vicky snapped, ''except I guess you have a point. My dad is acting like an emperor or something, and I guess that makes me a princess or something.''

''Mostly, it makes you a target or something,'' Kris observed.

Five minutes later, a large squad of black security types double-timed up to the gangway. Gunny met them with an equal-size Marine team and invited them aboard.

''I know that colonel,'' Vicky said, as they watched the exchange. ''He's got a head on his shoulders, and he uses it.''

''Let's see how good he is,'' Kris said, and tapped her commlink. ''Gunny, advise the new colonel that this ship will be doing three gees plus when we sortie to contact. High-gee stations will be limited by space on the bridge. If he wants, he may join Citizen Victoria on the bridge. You'll need to find space and stations for his squad.''

In silence, they watched the exchange between Gunny and he colonel. The colonel turned to talk to his captain, who listened, saluted, shouted orders, and led the squad after Sergeant Bruce.

Gunny and the colonel watched them go, then boarded the Wasp together.

''That went smoothly enough,'' Vicky said.

''Captain Drago,'' Kris said, ''we're going to need some high-gee stations on this bridge real soon now.''

''I've got a chief working on that. What station will you take, Your Highness?''

''Weapons, Captain.'' Someone would be taking a couple of shots at that liner with its five thousand souls aboard. Fast shots as the Tourin and Wasp passed each other at millions of klicks an hour. That was not something Kris would delegate.

Kris turned toward the bridge hatch. ''Sulwan, could you send the information on the Tourin to my Tac Room?''

''Yes, ma'am.''

''Nelly, if you have any spare capacity, could you search for more data on the Tourin?''

''Yes, ma'am,'' came back in a raw computer voice. Nelly was very busy.

''Let me check with my political officer,'' Captain Krätz said. ''He may have information that has not been published.''

He did, but he most certainly would not send it to a Wardhaven ship. Krätz tried reasoning with him. That didn't work. He was on the verge of losing his temper when Ensign Peterwald stepped forward and raised his commlink to her lips.

''This is Citizen Victoria Peterwald, daughter to the First Citizen,'' was hard enough to cut marble. ''His life is in danger. Is it your intent to hinder the fight to save his life?''

''No, ma'am,'' came back in a stutter.

''Then get those plans and files over here, or I will personally come over there and see you shot.''

''Yes, ma'am. The files are on the way.''

Vicky released her captain's wrist. He retrieved his arm as if he wasn't sure it was still attached to him.