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"They're back, aren't they?" she said, her voice hoarse from sleep

Austin nodded Mo their way froathered in the narrow passage They were dressed in a variety of nightwear or hastily pulled-on

"No questions now," Austin said in a tone that showed he meant it

He directed the sleepy-faced group down the stairs to the lowest deck level Zavala aiting for him with the others Like cowpokes on a cattle drive, they herded the reluctant throng into the bow section forward of the crew quarters, where crew and scientists jostled for space with the bow thrusters that were used to stabilize the ship in heavy seas

Austin wasted no tiot toboarded by armed attackers Don't open this door unless you know it's Joe or me"

A researcher piped up: "What are you going to do?"

Da questions This wasn't the time for his usual blunt honesty

"Don't worry Joe and I have a plan," he said with confidence "We'll be back" He quickly stepped into the bunkroohtened faces

"You sounded like the Terht behind hiot a plan Hope you don'tme what it is"

Austin da hand on Zavala's shoulder "Si to kick these bastards off our ship"

"That's a plan?"

"Maybe you'd like to ask them politely to leave"

"Why do it the easy way? Okay, deal me in Where do we start?"

"We get up to the bridge in a hurry That's where our uninvited guests will go first I hope they're not already there"

"How do you know they'll go for the bridge?"