No, the Librarian agreed. We could, if necessary, transmit your current mind-state to the nearest Magi ship, if we appear to be facing certain destruction.

No, she replied. Thatd use up too much of your resources. Save it for the battle, if it comes. There were other versions of her out there, after all, preserved in the memories of those other Magi ships. They could have their turn to live if it came to the worst here.

She returned her attention to the Ingersoll, which was clearly preparing to decelerate for its final approach to the moon. The starship was so heavily shielded against any informational attack that she could not even pinpoint Gabrielles physical location aboard it.

<Megan! Are you there?>

<I am. Youre coming through loud and clear now. What were you trying to tell me about Bellhaven?>

<Tarrant says you have to stand down. If you make any kind of deal with the Wanderer, they say theyll destroy Bellhaven using a nova mine. They . . . they know who you are, Megan . . . or who you were.>

<How did they find out?>

<It was my fault,> sent Gabrielle. <Im sorry. Im so, so sorry.>

<Dont be. It wouldnt have made any difference anyway. You said Tarrant was listening in to our conversation?>

<Also Szymurski,> sent Gabrielle. <Hes the Ingersolls pilot.>

<Well, then, I hope theyre both listening very carefully indeed, because I havent been able to get the Wanderer to even so much as respond to me since I first got here. In fact, it just launched a failed attack on me, so theres no reason for them to be making any threats.>

<Are you sure you should be telling me this?>

<Because Im worried about Tarrant and the others finding out? No, Gaby. Im telling you and Tarrant this so you understand something very important. I only survived the attack because this ship Im on is extraordinarily powerful. It was built by a civilization that existed for literally millions of years. If the Wanderer tries to pull the same stunt on you and I cant see any reason why it wouldnt its going to feel like a tonne of concrete landing on an anthill. So make it as clear to them as you can that coming any closer than they already are will be suicide. I dont give a crap about any of the rest of them, Gaby its you and Bash Im concerned about.>

<But . . . why wont it deal?> asked Gabrielle. <When I communicated with it, it said it would.>

<Hold on,> sent Megan. <You talked to it? Through Bash?>

<I . . . yes. Please dont get angry.>

<Im not angry, Gabrielle. I just want to know that youre okay, both of you.>

<Were both fine. Or, at least, Bash is as fine as he can be.>