Somewhere out there, entire star systems were being destroyed all along the frontiers of the Long War, a vast region encompassing the outer rim of the Orion Arm. There were reports of fleets so vast they were almost beyond comprehension, and these made the idea that Dakota or anyone could possibly affect them seem hopelessly deluded. But they had to try.

‘If this doesn’t work,’ Corso said, so quietly that Stankovic had to strain to hear him, ‘then the only thing left to do is save what we can.’

‘Senator?’

Corso stared out beyond the fading fusion globes, picturing the light spreading out from distant novae like a fiery cancer. ‘If we don’t find a way out of this mess, we’re going to have to dispatch ships, as far away as we can, and found new colonies in some other part of the galaxy where the war can’t reach them. At least that way we might save some.’

He stood and moved towards the door. ‘Arrange for a priority message back to Dakota. Let Ted know about it, too. Tell her what we’ve found out and make sure she’s kept up to date whenever something new comes up.’

Lamoureaux hesitated. ‘What about Whitecloud? Do we mention him?’

‘Dakota was at Port Gabriel during the massacres. I think we’d better not mention him at all, don’t you?’

Chapter Four

Next time, the interrogators were different.

The first one to enter Ty’s cell was balding and middle-aged, with loose wisps of hair curling around his ears. A younger man closed the door behind him, his own head carefully shaved. The older one had the look of a civil servant, and wore a sombre-looking suit with a high collar. His younger companion was dressed more casually.

‘My name is Rex Kosac,’ the older man explained, as Ty lifted himself up from the narrow plastic shelf that served as his bed, ‘and my colleague here is Horace Bleys.’

Ty gazed at them warily, trying to adjust the thin paper uniform he’d been given to wear. ‘You’re not part of the staff here, are you?’

Bleys glanced around the tiny cell and wrinkled his nose, perhaps becoming aware of the perpetual scent of detergent and urine that clung to every surface. His flattened nose, thick, muscled hands and general air of barely suppressed violence suggested he was Kosac’s bodyguard.

‘On the contrary, Mr Whitecloud, I administrate this facility,’ Kosac replied.

Ty sat up straighter. ‘When they brought me here, they said I would be formally arraigned within a couple of days.’

Kosac shook his head sadly. ‘That’s not why I’m here, Mr White-cloud. I just wanted the chance to meet you before . . .’ he glanced at Bleys with a smile, as if he’d caught himself on the verge of saying something he shouldn’t. ‘Well, you’re our most famous resident, as a matter of fact.’