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on recapturing Presov than the ship’s systems. Mr. Blue’s, however, actually stripped data off their computers, which gave me an update on what was happening in the Empire while I was out here.”
    Vicky finished with a simple, “It was most informative.”
    Tired of standing, she offered the admiral his chair and took hers across from him. Mr. Smith and the commander settled into one couch between them. Mannie took the other. Kit and Kat found chairs against the wall and took up alert stations.
    “I want Lieutenant Blue to have a station on the bridge where he can keep me informed of what is happening as it develops. I suggested he do that, but, last I was on the bridge, nothing had been done.”
    “No doubt he would be quite useful. Assuming the captain does not keelhaul him,” the admiral said dryly.
    “Is there any chance I could have Captain Bolesław of the Attacker as my captain, Admiral?”
    “My immediate answer to that is no, but I doubt that was what you wanted to hear.”
    “In that, you are correct.”
    “Let me consider this. If we can lay our hands on enough ships, I might actually get a chance to take a squadron to space and command it from this ship. That might open a lot of opportunities to you and put a cushion between you and Captain Etterlin.”
    “It would be appreciated. You understand the value of a Grand Duchess. I fear that Captain Etterlin can only see a lieutenant commander.”
    “That will, no doubt, be his mistake,” the admiral said.
    At that moment, Lieutenant Blue presented himself. He was delighted to have a chance to explain to an admiral how he had managed to strip the IDs off three cruisers that were not squawking and how he knew what was and was not charged in the weapons they might be facing. When he’d finished, the admiral eyed Vicky with raised eyebrows.
    “If the Wardhaven princess has this kind of information at her fingertips, no wonder she is such a pain in our behinds.”
    “Yes.” Vicky agreed. “That is just the pain I wish to be if it comes to a fight.”
    “I believe the Retribution has a flag bridge,” the admiral said.
    “It does, sir,” the lieutenant reported.
    “Please arrange to have a sensor station with feeds from your instruments located on that bridge. If you need any paperwork signed, contact my chief of staff.”
    “I will contact him immediately, sir.”
    “By the way, Lieutenant,” Vicky said. “What is your name? Blue is a nice code word, but if we are going to work together, I would like to know whom I am addressing.”
    “Blue is my name, Your Grace. Lieutenant Odo Blue, at your service,” came with a bow from the waist and a full click of his heels.
    “I am glad to have you in my service,” Vicky answered, and the lieutenant went on his way.
    Vicky turned back to her admiral. “It seems we must find you a fleet to command so I can stand at your elbow and not someone less impressionable.”
    “We have the Rostock ,” the admiral provided.
    “What kind of a battle can one battleship and one light cruiser put up against three heavies and a trio of armed liners?”
    The admiral stared at the overhead. “It all depends. If the battleship can open fire at its maximum range, it could do a lot of damage before the others got close enough to lay a finger on it. If, however, politics or something else allowed the cruisers and jumped-up merchant ships to close to within their range before a shot is fired, it would be a bloody brawl. No matter who was left standing at the end, they’d be in a lot of hurt.”
    “I kind of figured you’d say that,” Vicky said. “So, we either fire first and start this war without any defiances given, or we let them get in close and start the war, and maybe make it a very short one, at that.”
    “None of that sounds good to me,” the admiral admitted.
    “I remember you telling me you had two armed merchant ships of your own fitting out.”
    “Yes, the Sovereign of the Stars and the Sovereign