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the private office.”
    Drakon walked with her to the office, waiting until the door closed behind the two of them before speaking again. “You gave in on that pretty easily.”
    â€œDid I? It made sense for me alone to speak to the enigmas because I’ve done that before, and you haven’t. But you have a right to demand to speak with Geary alongside me.”
And even though I would never say so, for all of my independence I don’t mind at all sharing my current burdens a little with someone who has yet to openly betray
me.
    â€œI almost demanded to speak with Boyens the same way. But Boyens is used to you as top CEO in this star system,” Drakon said, “so I didn’t object to your speaking to him alone, either.”
    Iceni faced Drakon, her eyes on his. “General Drakon, it has been clear to me from the first time we met that you think of yourself as military. You wore your mandatory CEO suit as if it were an instrument of humiliation and punishment.”
    â€œI didn’t think it was that obvious,” Drakon said.
    â€œNo more so than the average pulsar blanketing the surrounding light-years with radiation. I understand that when dealing with another military leader, you wish to present yourself as coequal with me. It matters to you that Black Jack understands you have as large a role as I do.” She smiled crookedly. “That is what you’re thinking, isn’t it? Because if you want to present yourself as being in charge, we’re going to have to debate that.”
    Drakon shrugged. “Coequal is fine. It has been from the first. You’re right. I want Black Jack to know more of who I am. If half of what we’ve heard about him is true, he’s someone I would like to meet in person.”
    â€œYou’ll have to settle for long-range communications,” Iceni said, gesturing to the desk. “We’ll sit side by side to emphasize—”
    Malin burst into the room. Iceni could see Togo just beyond him, ready to act if Malin threatened her. But the colonel just spoke with unusual rapidity. “General, there’s been another arrival in this star system.”
    Drakon frowned as Malin hesitated. “Who?” he demanded. “More Syndicate forces? More enigmas? More Alliance ships?”
    â€œNo,sir.”
    â€œNo, sir,
what
?”
    Malin shook his head, looking bewildered. “The new arrivals are not Alliance or enigma or Syndicate. They do not match anything we’ve ever seen.” He moved to the desk’s display controls and brought up the images. “There are six of them. Whatever theyare.”
    Iceni stared, aware of Drakon watching her for some sign of recognition. “What’s the scale?” she demanded of Malin, who made the adjustment while Togo stood nearby, glowering at the colonel who was usurping Togo’s rightful role as Iceni’s assistant.
    â€œYou don’t recognize them, either?” Drakon asked.
    â€œNo.” Iceni bit her lip, then drew in a deep breath. “Featureless ovoids. Almost perfectly smooth. Are they following Black Jack’s fleet or pursuingit?”
    â€œWhy would Black Jack run from six ships that size?” Drakon wondered. “They’re about the size of our light cruisers.”
    â€œWe have no idea what armament those ships carry,” Malin pointed out. “Or who or what is inside them.”
    Drakon didn’t reply. Iceni was aware out of the corner of her eyes that he was watching her. “You see something,” he finally said toher.
    â€œYes,” Iceni agreed. “The formation of the Alliance warships. It is oriented forward, facing the enigmas. Those new ships had to have come from Pele also, so the Alliance ships must have seen them before they jumped for here. But Black Jack’s fleet isn’t worried about what’s behind them. Are they allies?” Iceni wondered aloud. “Did Black Jack find