The Sleeper Service readied itself for the fray. Maybe, in a sense, two frays. There was every chance that its own engines would fail the same way the Fate Amenable To Change’s had when it had moved towards the Excession, but given the speed the Sleeper Service was travelling at it could coast in towards the thing; it wouldn’t have any directional control, it wouldn’t be able to maintain its present speed, or brake, but it could get there.

If it ought to.

Ought it? It checked its signal log, as if it might have missed an incoming message.

Still nothing from those who had sent it here. The Interesting Times Gang seemed to have been observing comm silence for days. Just the usual daily plea from the LSV Serious Callers Only; the equivalent of an unopened letter and just the latest in a series.

The Sleeper watched events on the Jaundiced Outlook, even as it prepared itself for the coming encounter near Esperi, like a military commander drawing up war plans and issuing hundreds of preparatory orders who cannot keep his or her attention from flicking to a microscopic drama being played out amongst a group of insects clinging to the wall above the table. The ship felt foolish, voyeuristic, and yet fascinated.

Its thoughts were interrupted by the Grey Area, sending from its Mainbay in the nose of the GSV.

~ I’ll be on my way then, if you don’t need me any more.

~ I’d rather you stuck around, the Sleeper Service replied.

~ Not when you’re heading for that thing, and the Affronters.

~ You might be surprised.

~ I’m sure. However, I want to leave.

~ Farewell, then, the GSV sent, opening the bay door.

~ I suppose this means another Displace.

~ If you don’t mind.

~ And if I do?

~ There is an alternative, but I’d rather not use it.

~ Well, if there is one, I want to use it!

~ The Jaundiced Outlook declined, and it had humans aboard.

~ Bugger the humans, and bugger the Jaundiced Outlook, too. What’s the alternative? Have you got superlifters capable of this sort of speed?

~ No.

~ What then . . . ?

~ Just get to the rear of my field envelope.

~ Whatever you say.

The GCU quit its berth, easing out into the confined space between the GSV’s hull and the craft’s innermost field layer. It took a few minutes for it to manoeuvre itself down the side of the giant ship and round the corner to the flat rear of the craft. When it got there it found three other ships waiting for it.

~ Who the hell are they? the GCU asked the larger ship. ~ In fact, what the hell are they?