Free The Prodigal Sun by Sean Williams, Shane Dix Page B

Morgan. Relatively speaking, that was the good news: they haven’t decided to destroy us outright. The bad news is that the local authority in orbit around Sciacca’s World has made no move to avenge the destruction of the Midnight. Furthermore, I have detected coded transmissions between the Dato Marauder and Kanaga Station.>
    Roche frowned, trying to comprehend what the Box was implying.
    
    Even as the Box posed the question, the answer had formed in her own mind.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
     Roche tugged herself forward to the lander’s array of instrumentation and the pilot’s couch. The feel of cushions against her back was somehow reassuring.
    
    
     The Box paused for a moment, then added, almost as an afterthought:
    
    Roche sat up and looked around. Cane was studying her closely.
    “From the look on your face,” he said quietly, “I take it we’re in trouble.”
    “We are. Get yourself strapped in. No, wait—we need to wake Veden.”
    Cane stepped from the room to get the Eckandi. At least with him nearby, Roche thought, the Surin would no longer need her senses, or those of Cane.
    A couple of minutes later, when Cane had returned with Veden, Roche turned and addressed everyone. “The Dato are on to us, but there’s a chance we can outrun them. We’ll be thrusting at max, so make sure your harnesses are firm. Let me know when you’re set.”
    Cane dropped into his couch and fastened the harness with all the speed and surety of a veteran. He