Marcus wished Karl would stop being quite so blunt. He had few enough options as it was.

«Come now, Captain,» Jorge said. «The Lady Macbeth is combat-capable; are you telling me you have never killed people in political disputes?»

«We've fought. But only against other ships.»

«Don't try and claim the moral high ground, Captain. War is war, no matter how it is fought.»

«Only when it's between soldiers; anything else is terrorism.»

«I assure you, we have put our old allegiance behind us. I ask you to do the same. This quarrel is foolish in the extreme. We both have so much to gain.»

And you're armed, Marcus filled in silently. Jorge and Antonio were supposed to be inspecting decks twelve and thirteen. It would be tough if not impossible getting back to the airlock before them. But I can't trust them on Lady Mac .

«Captain, they're moving,» Katherine datavised. «The communication block in stairwell three has acquired them, strength one. They must be coming up.»

«Victoria,» Jorge datavised. «Restrain the Captain and bring him to the airlock. I advise all of you on the ship to remain calm, we can still find a peaceful solution to this situation.»

Unarmed combat programs went primary in Marcus's neural nanonics. The black, featureless figure opposite him didn't move.

«Your call,» he datavised. According to his tactical analysis program she had few choices. Jorge's order implied she was armed, though a scan of her utility belt didn't reveal anything obvious other than a standard fission blade. If she went for a gun he would have an attack window. If she didn't, then he could probably stay ahead of her. She was a lot younger, but his geneered physique should be able to match her in this gravity field.

Victoria dropped the sensor block she was carrying, and moved her hand to her belt. She grabbed the multipurpose power tool and started to bring it up.

Marcus slammed into her, using his greater mass to throw her off balance. She was hampered by trying to keep her grip on the tool. His impact made her sway sideways, then the fierce xenoc gravity took over. She toppled helplessly, falling fast. The power tool was swinging round to point at him. Marcus kicked her hand, and the unit skittered away. It didn't slide far, the gravity saw to that.

Victoria landed with a terrible thud. Her neural nanonics medical monitor program flashed up an alert that the impact had broken her collarbone. Axon blocks came on-line, muting all but the briefest pulse of pain. It was her programs again which made her twist round to avoid any follow-on blow, her conscious mind was almost unaware of the fact she was still moving. A hand scrabbled for the power tool. She snatched it and sat up. Marcus was disappearing down a side corridor. She fired at him before the targeting program even gave her an overlay grid.

«Jorge,» she datavised. «I've lost him.»

«Then get after him.»