Intrepid

''I'm sorry, Captain,'' Vicky said. ''I know that is not how you taught me to lead. However, that is what I learned at my dad's knee. I am just starting to learn that there is a time to do things your way … and a time to do things Dad's way.''

''It's not an easy lesson,'' Kris said.

''No,'' Vicky said, seeming to look inside herself, note the particular set of her soul. ''You are right, Kris. It is not at all easy. Was it like this for you?''

''I think you'll find it harder. I get the feeling there's a bigger gap between the way your dad does things and the Navy way and the way my father goes about his business and the Navy way.''

''That's something I hope we can talk about.''

''First we save your dad.''

50

Kris's staff room, now changed by the situation into a Tac Room, was just the way they'd left it during the stampede to the bridge. A chair was overturned on the floor.

One wall showed a schematic of the Dedicated Workers of Tourin. The wall next to it was covered with opened files. The wall across from it showed … a spiderweb. Beside it was a series of files not found, and similar error messages.

At the table, Chief Beni was alternately cursing, pulling his hair out, and pounding on his own large unit, which he'd plugged into the table. He looked up as Kris came in. ''What kind of junk is this we're getting from that Peterwald ship? Are they trying to bring down our main ship's computer?''

''They better not be,'' Vicky said, and rattled off a long string of letters, numbers, words, and even a whistle at the end.

The wall of spiderwebbing blinked black for a moment, then came up steady with a schematic of the Tourin not at all different from that on the opposite wall.

''Sorry,'' Vicky said. ''It's all password encrypted. I didn't expect the files to get here so fast.''

''You did threaten to shoot the man,'' Kris pointed out.

''Yes, but I still thought it would take more time to get the information together and over the net.''

''I think State Security has a priority for ‘it gets there now, or I get shot,' '' Captain Krätz said.

Kris hoped he was joking, but wouldn't have taken the bet. The nod from Vicky looked far too of course for her to even consider that bet. For the first time in her life Kris could honestly think, Thank God I was born a Longknife.

How can the Peterwalds run an empire this way?

Are they running it, or is it running them? Killing them?

Point taken.

Kris focused on the Tourin. Where warships like the Typhoon were built small and slim and rounded to offer lasers less of a target, the Tourin was huge and built like a brick to contain more cabin space and, apparently, to give each premium cabin its own view out. Forward, the ship tapered deck by deck with the most expensive rooms having both views out and ahead. The bridge was at the very apex of the stepped pyramid.

''Do we target the bridge?'' Kris asked, half to herself, half to those around her. Captain Drago had stayed on his own bridge to oversee the powering-up process. Still, Kris had one cruiser captain. He was shaking his head.

''I don't think the bridge will get you anything. There's a backup control room well aft, just before Engineering,'' Krätz said. On the schematic behind Kris, a space glowed red just forward of where she'd expect the power plant to begin. ''These liners are intended to be easily converted to either troop transports, or, if big lasers are provided, ships able to stand against anything but a battleship.''

''Might explain your security man's reluctance to provide this to us,'' Abby said.

Captain Krätz gently cleared his throat. ''You do know, Your Highness, that your maid, now apparently Army officer, regularly publishes information about what you do?''

''Oh,'' Kris said, a puzzle piece falling into place. ''Is that why that Security colonel was about to swallow his cud? He was meeting Abby face-to-face and couldn't figure out how to react to a spy being in our midst.''

Abby, for her part, did a letter-perfect curtsy.

''You don't sound surprised,'' Krätz said.

''Abby, what's it worth to you not to have your cover blown?'' Kris called cheerfully over her shoulder.

''Hey, not fair. You're supposed to be paying me for early copies of my reports and slightly modified ones that you can use for your paperwork.'' The maid sounded very unhappy.

''It's not me you need to bribe. Looks to me like you better buy this captain's silence.''

''Me, too,'' Vicky called. ''I always need a new dress.''

''What bribe?'' was a low growl coming from the door as the State Security colonel followed Gunny in.

''A bit of levity,'' Kris growled right back, ''to lighten the burden of figuring out how to damage a starliner with five thousand souls aboard.''

''Why damage it?'' the colonel said. ''Just blow it up.''

That brought a strained silence.