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nonhuman hands, and I’ve only seen as much of that superbattleship as could be seen through the views of numerous Marines during the capture of it.
    Once we get
Invincible
home, odds are the ship will be completely isolated, only high-level researchers allowed aboard.
Invincible
will be taken far from any star system that I am likely to visit.
    He called Tanya. “I want to see
Invincible
.”
    In her command seat on the bridge of
Dauntless
, Desjani nodded absentmindedly. “They’ve got enough systems hooked up for you to do a virtual visit?”
    “No. I figured I’d go in person.”
    She jerked in surprise, her lips moved as she visibly counted to ten, then Desjani recited her next words in resigned and mechanical tones. “I must advise you of the dangers involved in physically visiting an alien warship containing unknown threats including but not limited to possible pathogens capable of infecting human hosts, equipment which works in unknown ways and which could reactivate at any time with unknown consequences, and aliens who could have survived the battle and remained hidden from our security sweeps and could still emerge to strike at a sufficiently high-value target.”
    “Your concerns are noted,” Geary replied.
    “And you’ll do it anyway.”
    “This will probably be my only chance to visit that ship, Tanya. Once we get back to Alliance space,
Invincible
is sure to be quarantined.”
    She put on a look of exaggerated wonder. “You don’t suppose there’s a
reason
they’ll put that ship in quarantine, do you?”
    Seeing that Desjani wasn’t about to abandon her line of attack, and knowing that she indeed had a point, Geary played his last card. “Tanya, there are sailors and Marines aboard that ship by my command. I sent them there. Are you saying that I should avoid doing something I am willing to order those under my command to do?”
    This time she gave him an aggravated look under a furrowed brow. “Using good leadership principles against me? That’s low.”
    “If you really want me to be a bad leader . . .”
    “Oh, knock it off!” She tapped some commands. “You’ll be using one of
Dauntless
’s shuttles.” That came out as a statement of fact rather than a question.
    “Of course.” He knew better than to point out that she had given in. “Do you want any souvenirs?”
    “From that thing?” Desjani’s shudder didn’t seem to be feigned. “No thanks.”
    —
    ADMIRAL Lagemann met him at the main air lock into the occupied area aboard
Invincible
. Lagemann saluted briskly, grinning at Geary. Next to him, a Marine major saluted as well, the Marine’s gesture far more polished and precise. “Welcome aboard
Invincible
, Admiral Geary,” Lagemann said. “This is the commander of my Marine detachment, Major Dietz. I have to confess the ship is not quite ready for inspection. There are a few discrepancies.”
    “Oh? Discrepancies?” Geary asked, picking up on Lagemann’s joking tone of voice and trying himself to sound like certain self-important inspectors he had dealt with in the past.
    “All ship systems are nonfunctional,” Lagemann explained cheerfully. “There is extensive unrepaired battle damage in most areas. The ship cannot move under her own power, and in fact has no power except for portable emergency systems. Most of the ship is uninhabitable and requires survival suits or combat armor for access. The crew is a tiny fraction of that necessary for safety, security, and operation. As you can tell, there’s no working gravity. And, um, the brightwork hasn’t been shined.”
    “I can understand the rest,” Geary said with mock severity, “but unshined brightwork? Where are your priorities?”
    “My priorities have always been misplaced,” Lagemann confessed. “I volunteered for duty on this ship when I could have stayed comfortable on
Mistral
. I did spend quite a few years in a Syndic prisoner-of-war camp, though, which wasn’t all that comfortable, and at