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My hands were shaking

Chau was short Carved out of wood Dark hair Pistol at her belt Running on no sleep, by the look, standing at her post like so between us and the rocks I identified the co away at their consoles, like nothing was happening I spoke loud enough to be heard across the whole bridge

"Byron Zhang, Consuela Nestor, you are hereby ordered to accompany me to the UTA Battlecarrier Alexander"

"Tell me how you think this ends, Lieutenant"

It was Chau speaking Hand on her pistol She was looking out the huge viewscreen do one end of the rooe scanner, out there a and countdown to intercept pulsing red:

BT042-TN 52 hours: 17 et paid to think," I said "I follow orders Stand aside, Captain"

Chau s funny One of the co Supposedly a top-tier console jockey He sure looked the part Overweight Thinning hair Underar they don’t pay you to think," he said "It doesn’t see with us"

"No" He set pudgy hands on his hips Tried to keep his voice fro"

"I’ll give you sorowled

" ‘The man dies in all who keep silent in the face of tyranny,’ " he said

"Listen, Zhang, I appreciate the rhetoric, but anyone can dodick back on Alexander and you two are the best chipheads on Hypatia"

Zhang’s lips twisted, then An "I know so you don’t know" kind of smile that turned my mood darker I wanted this over I wanted to be back in my rack with a canteen of rocket fuel and a few hours of the forgetting it would bring Still, I knehat kind of edge Sykes was dancing on I should have given the order to someone else

"Corporal Sykes, secure the conscripts for transport back to Alexander"

His grin went all the way to his eyes "Ma’aood on the ar zip ties from their belts I could feelsoldiers, all of theritted teeth Doherty in particular looked juuard at a shopping mall? A library maybe? I couldn’t remember …

My eyes were on the Hypatia security tea Sweat in my eyes Hard to breathe Chau’s voice rose above the pulse in my ears