‘All right, but what about the hull repairs? There are only nine of us apart from the alien, and drive-spines deteriorate badly over long jumps. If I don’t join the repair rota with the rest of them, they’re going to ask why.’

Corso clearly did not enjoy having to concede this point. ‘Fine, I’ll make sure you’re on the rota so no one asks questions. But you stay put here the rest of the time, regardless. If anyone asks, it’s because you’re a selfless scientist who just can’t tear himself away from his work. Just remember, Mr Whitecloud, the only reason you’re still alive is because my people intervened on your behalf back at Ascension. That still doesn’t mean you didn’t deserve a bullet in the back of your head. So, while you’re on this ship with me, you do exactly as I say or I will make life seriously fucking unpleasant for you. Am I clear?’

Ty again looked around the laboratory. ‘But what if I can’t figure out how the Mos Hadroch works?’ he stammered. ‘What then?’

Corso came up close, grabbing a fistful of Ty’s shirt.

‘Think of it this way, Ty. This is a chance for you to exonerate yourself. The fact is, we’re all fugitives here, and chances are none of us is ever going to see home again. But if we do get out of this . . .’ Corso let go, putting one hand on Ty’s chest and pushing him away. ‘If we do, then you’ll still be Nathan Driscoll.’

‘So you’re saying you’ll let me go when the time comes.’

‘I’ll give you a chance to disappear. But God help you if Dakota or any of the others ever work out who you are before then.’

Corso pushed himself towards the airlock and grabbed a handhold next to it. ‘Let’s face it,’ he added, looking back over at Ty, ‘it’s not like you’d have anywhere to hide if they did.’

Ty laughed, and Corso stared back at him, speechless.

‘Did you know I was conscripted, Mr Corso? The Uchidans put me into military R&D and ordered me to work on one tiny part of a project that employed dozens of researchers. I’m not denying I had at least some responsibility for what happened back on Redstone – it was easy to guess the strategists were planning something big in advance of the Consortium forces arriving, but my rank was much too low for me to be told anything more than what was strictly necessary. The people who actually planned and implemented the counter-attack were never required to face a Legislate tribunal, only the technical staff. We were scapegoats, nothing more.’

Corso pushed himself back over towards him. Ty flinched, but the Senator came to a halt a few metres away by placing one hand against a bulkhead.