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“what are you doing?”
    She gasped and spun around, but by then it was obvious: the great hold doors were parting to reveal the airless black of space and one shuttle, brilliant in the sun’s reflected light, poised to enter. The light on com began to blink a furious red, but Lia ignored it.
    “But who’s that?” Gregori asked. “Blue said we had an emergency. Have they come to help us?”
    Lia did not answer. Instead, she began madly tapping override commands into the console, and even manually locked the overlook door that led into the corridor. Then she extended the hatchway that would attach to the shuttle, which had angled precisely in and settled on the hangar pad.
    Intrigued, Gregori reached out and tapped the ship’s com.
    “—who the hell is down there?” came the captain’s voice, tight and angry.
    “We have all entrances covered, and have manually locked all cargo doors from the outside. But the overlook is sealed. I am concentrating my people there.”
    “But Lia,” said Gregori, “that’s Momma out there. Shouldn’t we let her in?”
    “ No .” It was all she would say, and delivered in such a cold voice, so uncharacteristic of Lia, that he did not care to argue. The set, frightened, and yet resolute look on her face scared him. He retreated to a corner to wait her out. She could not possibly remain so utterly changed forever.
    She shut off the com and linked up the hatchway. Within moments troops emerged, too many even to all stand in the overlook. One stripped off his face gear. He had tiny eyes in a round face, and his expression terrified Gregori.
    “Is this your way of betraying us?” he snapped at Aliasing.
    She shrank before him, looking even more unsure of herself and yet still determined.
    “No, Comrade Vanov,” she said, so quiet Gregori could barely make out her voice. “I would never betray Jehane.”
    The way she said the name had a flavor, a passion, that confused the boy, because he had never heard her speak so ardently about, or to, anyone, not even his mother.
    “Well, we’ve been monitoring ship’s com,” replied Comrade Vanov, mocking her, “and there’s a tidy selection of mercenaries outside that door, nicely set up, I’m sure, to rip us to pieces as we come through.”
    “Who’s this?” asked one of the other soldiers, a woman with a mild face.
    Both Vanov and Lia swung to stare at Gregori.
    “Who is it?” barked Vanov. His interest petrified Gregori.
    Lia began to speak, stopped, wrung her hands and turned away. “It’s Jenny’s boy,” she whispered.
    “Good work,” said Vanov, not making it much of a compliment. With abrupt speed, he reached out and grabbed Gregori and yanked him in tight against his uniform. Drawing his pistol, he pressed the muzzle against the boy’s temple.
    “Let’s go,” he said. “They won’t fire on us if we have hostages. Trey.” He nodded at the woman who had first noticed Gregori. “Take the woman.”
    “Vanov,” protested Trey. “You can’t put a child at risk like that. What if they shoot him?”
    “Are you disputing my command?” His tone was harsh and challenging.
    “No, comrade. Of course not.”
    “You said he wouldn’t be hurt!” exclaimed Lia.
    “I think it unlikely anyone will fire on him,” replied Vanov. “I’m only doing this to make sure there’s as little bloodshed as possible. Surely you understand?”
    Lia looked uncertain. Comrade Trey looked skeptical.
    “Very well,” snapped Vanov, impatient with this delay. “Form in order. We’re going out. Disarm and detain their mercenaries, sweep for crew, kill if you have to, and merge on the bridge. Is that clear?”
    Everyone nodded. Vanov waited an extra moment, eyes tight on Comrade Trey.
    “Yes, comrade,” she replied, expressionless.
    Gregori was too shocked, and too horrified by Lia’s betrayal and the hard circle of the pistol pressed against his hair, to fight or even to ask why.
    Hawk understood that things had gone quite