"I haven't believed they are our allies since the first month we got here," Chang explained, "that doesn't change the fact that we're military officers, and our chain of command takes orders from the Kristang. Or the fact that they control Earth. And that we don't have a way to get home, or do anything about the Kristang when we get there."

"We're working on it." I said truthfully. "I don't know how much I believe this Hacker," true again, "what I do know is whoever it is, we got this far," close enough to truth. "The next step is we load up on supplies and some volunteers. After that, we're going to board and capture a Kristang warship."

"You have got to be kidding me, sir." Adams gave me an unbelieving look. "How do we know this Hacker is-"

"Adams, if I told you yesterday morning that we would escape from prison twice, steal Ruhar weapons and fly off in a Dodo, would you have believed me then? Have some faith, it's all we've got out here."

All three of my companions were quietly grumbling as the Dodo flew its programmed course to wherever we were going. We had a scare as a pair of Vultures went by in the opposite direction, waggling their wings slightly in greeting. Skippy must have talked to them on the radio, because they slid right by. That impressed my skeptical friends, even Chang.

"You received orders from this Hacker?" Chang asked suspiciously. "Why would UNEF assign you, or us, to this mission? We were in prison at the time. We're not a special forces unit. This doesn't make any sense."

"They picked us because we were in the right place at the right time, no other reason. Look, Colonel Chang, UNEF is a unified command, but Hacker is US Army, and you're not cleared for access." Chang was a good officer, I didn't like lying to him, to any of them. "When we get to the supply base, you can get off there if you want. This is a volunteer mission."

"This mission is going to hit the Kristang?" Desai asked.

"Hit them hard, and they won't see it coming." If Skippy was telling the truth, all the Kristang would know is the wormhole to Earth suddenly stopped working.

Desai didn't hesitate. "I'm in, sir."

"Me too." Adams agreed angrily, subconsciously touching her right bicep, where I'd seen she had an ugly scar from the Kristang, the brief glimpse I'd had reminded me of an electrical burn.

Chang considered for a moment, then gave me a smile that I couldn't interpret. "When he was told that an officer was brilliant, and brave, Napoleon is supposed to have said 'yes, but is he lucky?' Bishop, I don't know why, but you somehow have a talent for being in the right place at the right time. I'm going to trust you on this. I'm in, also, whatever this mission is."