The corsairs’ hodge-podge of ships hung corralled within the surrounding barricade of EDF vessels. The spacecraft looked old and patched, strange designs assembled from mismatched components and mixed-up blueprints. Their hulls were scarred, their engines damaged in the recent fight.

“I want all prisoners shuttled over to my Juggernaut,” Lanyan said. “Bring them to the cargo bay. Make sure you put neural clamps on their wrists and strip them of all weapons.”

Next, EDF soldiers began the most dangerous part of the operation, boarding the nine remaining corsair vessels and taking prisoners. While they removed the pirate crews, leaving the ragtag vessels guarded by designated troops, one corsair captain initiated a critical overload, attempting to blow up his vessel and vaporize any EDF forces within range. But the botched self-destruct routine succeeded only in melting down the engine core, burning through the hull, and shooting out a narrow jet of fire. The unexpected venting made the corsair ship careen out of control like a whirligig, until it finally sputtered out and drifted in space, dark and ruined, not even worth the salvage.

Rlinda accompanied General Lanyan to the Juggernaut’s cargo bay, where thirty-one prisoners were brought forward. The men stood helpless with angry eyes and tattered shirts, hands bound, rich in dignity but poor in common sense.

“Which one is Rand Sorengaard?” Lanyan swept his ice-blue eyes across them, working his jaw to contain his indignation. “And don’t play any stupid tricks. You’ll all face the same punishment anyway.”

The men glanced at each other, trying to look haughty, jaws clenched, eyes blazing. Several of the pirates appeared ready to step forward in a foolish attempt at bravery, but a tall, lantern-jawed man volunteered first. He looked at the others with the sure, confident gaze of a leader. “You men stand down. I’ll face my own crimes.” He turned to Lanyan. “I’m Rand Sorengaard. I don’t recognize your authority to arrest me.”

“Aww, are you trying to hurt my feelings? Maybe you’d better make your excuses to this lady here.” The General put a hand on Rlinda’s shoulders. “You stole one of her ships and killed her crew. Did you ask those people if they recognized your authority?”

“We were acquiring needed resources,” Sorengaard said. “You call us pirates, and yet the Big Hansa Goose has imposed tariffs and trade restrictions on anything the Roamers import and export. You people simply wrap your thievery in political nicety.”

Lanyan’s lips formed a grim line. “Then let’s put an end to any further nicety.” Out here on the fringes of the Hansa, the General had the authority to use whatever methods he deemed necessary. “Some of your corsairs saw fit to take their own lives during capture. I can’t argue with that. Now I will pronounce my own sentence upon the rest of you. First, you have been caught red-handed in the act of piracy. Moreover, the evidence clearly shows you are guilty of murdering the captain and crew of the Great Expectations, and probably other ships as well.”