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offload them directly onto other ships.  Saves moving them twice.”
    “ That’s what I thought.  Can we make arrangements to do it straight away?”
    “ Sure, I can coordinate that.  Are you coming aboard?  We could catch up over some beers.”
    “ Definitely!  Once the prisoners are freed though.  Knowing how the empire treats its slaves I doubt we can save everyone, but I wouldn’t feel right relaxing until we’ve done everything we can.  Start working out where you want them offloaded to.  I’ll speak to the four captains and work out how we can get people off quickest.”
    “ Sure thing boss.  It’s good to see you.”
    “ You too my friend.  You too.”
    Dash killed the connection, trying to decide how much to tell the others.  They didn’t place much trust in him.  Would they believe what he had to say?  Or should he keep quiet and get himself transferred to one of the warships, even if that would mean jumping back into the role he’d played for far too many years.
    Compounding his worries was the thought of Knuckles.  Dash knew that whatever happened his friend would likely end up dead.  And it would be because of Dash.  That was a heavy weight to carry.
     

Chapter Six
     
    Greenseed Station
     
    “Incoming ship sir,” called out the watch officer.
    Marsh jumped slightly, pulled from a near doze.  He was pulling eighteen hour shifts in the command chair.  There was nothing for him to do most of the time, but he wanted to be there whenever a ship approached.
    The only reason he didn’t spend all his time there, sleeping upright, was that he’d noticed his officers starting to copy the example he set.  While he could get by, dozing in his chair at times if necessary, they needed to be sharp all the time.
    “ Who is it?” Marsh asked.  The call and response had almost become ritual now, the words seldom varying.
    “ I can’t tell yet sir.  It’s small though.  Too small to be a freighter.  I think it’s a cutter.”
    “ Damn.”
    It was a bad sign.  Everyone in the room was suddenly on edge, far more so than when the Silver Tramp had approached.  Marsh felt rocks settle into his stomach.  This was going to be a bad one.  He could feel it.
    “ Comms, get me a connection to them,” Marsh snapped out.  “Right now.”
    “ Aye sir.”
    Within seconds a face appeared on the screen in front of Marsh.  His heart sank.  Staring back at him was a woman with dark circles under her eyes and greasy hair dragged up on top of her head.  The camera was on a wide angle, letting Marsh see six children strapped into the seats behind her.  One looked to be only a year old.  The rest were a spread of ages up to five or six.  A couple shared similar features, but the others didn’t look related to each other.
    The woman spoke, tears threatening to fall from her eyes.
    “ Thank god!  We found you!  We found you!”
    “ I’m sorry,” Marsh said gently.  “I don’t know who you think you’ve found, but it isn’t us.  We can offer you food and limited supplies but nothing more.  Stop your ship immediately and we can discuss what supplies you need.”
    “ No.  No, no, no, no, no.  We’ve found you.  Everyone knows about you.  You’ve managed to stay safe.  To keep yourselves secure.  And you’re doing good too.  Giving away food to keep people alive.  You can do it.  You can keep the children safe.  You must!”
    “ I’m sorry.”  Marsh’s voice was firmer now, though still soft.  “We cannot allow you to approach.  Slow down now or we will be forced to destroy you.”
    “ No.  No you won’t.  You’ll protect them.  I’ll make sure you do.”
    She had a crazed look in her eye now.  The look of someone who had been spread too thinly for too long.
    “Madam, I will not hesitate.  Stop your ship immediately.”
    “ No.  I’ll make you look after them.  They can’t control the ship.  Only I can.  They won’t be able to stop and you’ll