No, there was no point to fighting. But the gun could still be useful. It couldn’t get him out of this, nothing could. But it could keep him out of Level Zero. He knew he was going to die. There was nothing he could do to stop that now. But he could still decide how he died.

He heard voices now, the agents yelling at him to surrender. They weren’t shooting. That meant they wanted to take him alive. And he shuddered at the thought.

He took a deep, ragged breath, slowly raising the gun as he did.

How does one do this? How do you make yourself pull the trigger?

He heard movement, his pursuers getting closer. He wanted to delay, to buy even an extra minute of life, but he knew he was out of time. If they hit him with a stunner or a tranq, his death would be slow, agonizing. He had to do it now.

He put the barrel of the gun against his head, and he tightened his finger, slowly, struggling to finish it. His mind reeled as images filled his consciousness, old memories, strange thoughts he hadn’t had in years. He wasn’t ready to die. But ready had nothing to do with it.

He closed his eyes, focused on his finger. He could feel tears streaming down his face, and he was trembling. But then one last thought moved through his mind, and a small smile slipped onto his lips. The enemy had caught him, tracked him down…and now they would force him to take his own life. But they hadn’t stopped him. He had succeeded. He’d sent his messenger two days before. The Confederation would get its warning. He had accomplished his mission.

His finger tightened all the way, and he heard a loud crack. Then darkness.

Chapter Nine

Chapter Nine

From the Log of Commander-Princeps Katrine Rigellus

We’re about to enter Confederation space. I know little concrete information about the Confeds, but I find myself on edge, for reasons I can’t entirely quantify. The mission is dangerous, certainly, but that’s of no account. Still, its success is my duty. I must pay heed to my instincts, my experience. I must not ignore even intuition. I must be ready for whatever lies ahead.

Those who command have decided on war with the Confederation. My purpose is to obey. The invasion hinges on my mission. The fleet awaits our success. I’ve been granted an honor, the forward position in the next struggle. I was born to serve my homeland.

AS Invictus

Ishelar System

Alliance Year 58 (307 AC)

“Launch a spread of probes. Full stealth protocols.” Kat was taking every possible precaution. Invictus had come through seven systems, and the next jump would take the battleship into Confederation space.

And that will be an act of war…

“Yes, Commander. Passive scans are still negative.”