Comdr. Jason Roberts just had to wonder if it was a good thing or not.

“Yes…well…” The admiral seemed flustered, something that didn’t look quite right on him, Weston noted. “We still owe you greatly, Captain.”

“All you have to do for the moment, Admiral, is fight,” Weston told him. “We’re willing to lend a hand, but we can’t do this for you, sir. So fight.”

Tanner inclined his head, nodding in acceptance. “I believe that you may count on that, Captain.”

“Good,” Weston said.

Admiral Tanner looked up again. “If I may know, though, how do you intend to fight six cruisers at once?”

Weston grinned, almost ferally, the effect sadly lost on the admiral, who couldn’t see it. The members of the crew around him, however, noted the smile and shivered in response.

“There is an old expression where we come from for people in our position,” Captain Weston replied, his tone edged with a hint of dark humor. “A piece of advice from the past, you might say.”

“Really, Captain?” The Admiral had a hint of a smile as well. “Do your people make a habit of getting into situations like this?”

Weston’s chuckle washed across the bridge. “Not this precise situation, but close enough, perhaps.”

“I see,” Tanner replied, that same hint of a smile gracing his fine features. “And what is this advice from the past?”

“Run silent, Admiral,” Weston replied. “Run silent, and run deep.”

There was a moment of silence, the admiral looking genuinely puzzled. “I’m afraid that I don’t understand…”

“I didn’t expect you to, Admiral,” Weston replied. “So I just hope that the enemy doesn’t understand it, either.”

“I…see…”

“I’m afraid that I have duties to attend to, Admiral,” Weston said. “I’ll contact you before making any moves.”

“I…very well, Captain. Again, thank you for your help.”

“Not at all, Admiral,” Weston replied. “Until the next time we speak…”

Admiral Tanner nodded, and Weston cut the connection.

“Sir,” Roberts spoke up after a moment. “Are you sure…?”

“I am,” Weston said, not looking back.

“Yes, sir.”

“Ensign,” the captain said, glancing to one side.

“Sir!”

“Contact the bridge. Inform them that I’m on my way back, and have them recall the senior officers.”

“Aye, aye, Captain,” the ensign replied crisply.

Weston loosened his restraints, floating up into the air and kicking off the command chair toward the rear door. “Commander Roberts.”

“Yes, Captain.”

“You’re with me.”

“Aye, sir.” Roberts waved a hand to the lieutenant at the auxiliary conn.

As Roberts followed Captain Weston from the auxiliary bridge, the lieutenant shifted himself over to the command seat and snapped in his restraints, his eyes on the screens that displayed the bow wake of the decelerating ships, a hint of steely determination in them that had been missing an hour earlier.

CHAPTER 28