Hubris opened for the lifter and accepted it back into its bright-lit guts. Before they stepped out into the bay, there was a delay as clamps took hold of the vehicle and pulled it into place against banks of shock absorbers. They exited across a long ramp that crossed the chasm in which the lifter nestled. As they stepped from this ramp, huge floors and walls began to turn and shift like the wheels in some giant clock as Hubris locked the huge vehicle away.

‘Hubris,’ said Cormac, as he stepped from the drop-shaft that had wafted him up to the living quarters, ‘I want you to secure for impact, and clear the area around Isolation once Mika has delivered the dracoman. All communication channels with Dragon are to be closed. The dracoman is to be sealed in; weld the unit shut if you have to.’

‘Proceeding as directed.’ Lights began to flash in the corridors as Cormac headed for Downlink Com.

Hubris announced, ‘Proton guns charging.’

Cormac came to an abrupt halt, his hands clenched into fists. He looked at Blegg and then Thorn. After a moment he said, ‘There will be no need for those. Charge them down.’

‘Ship’s safety is my first priority. Dragon is trying all channels. The indications are that there will be another attack. I cannot charge down proton guns without a direct order from agent Prime.’

Cormac looked at Blegg. ‘You have the authority now. I want you to order Hubris to charge down the proton guns. They were damaged in the previous attack so are unsafe to use,’ he said carefully.

‘Y’heard that. Close ‘em down,’ said Blegg.

‘Proton guns charging down.’

Cormac continued walking. ‘I also want all information systems closed off. All access is to be denied. If it looks like unauthorized access can get through at any time, I want those information banks dumped or destroyed.’

‘I cannot initiate this without a direct order from agent Prime,’ said Hubris stubbornly.

‘Y’got my order,’ said Blegg.

‘Initiated.’

‘You want Dragon to—’ began Thorn.

‘Yes, yes,’ said Cormac irritably. ‘But everything we say or do is recorded somewhere, and therefore possible to access. So keep it to yourself.’

This time there was no one in Downlink Com. Cormac dropped in a chair before the communications console, and called up a view of Dragon.

‘At least this time we won’t be shutting down Chaline’s operation. Samarkand II will be operating everything down there. I think she’s had about as much as she can take of my interference.’

‘Nothing is more important than runcibles to her,’ Thorn observed, as he pulled up a chair.

‘Very shortsighted of her,’ replied Cormac. Then he said, ‘Hubris, prepare for a major breach. Get everyone out of the areas on the route of Dragon’s previous attack, then close all blast and security doors. Stand by with seals and foam.’

‘Initiated.’

Cormac looked at Blegg and Thorn. ‘Patience,’ he said.