The panel on the Cube went dark and it fell silent. Jackson was used to these gaps in the conversations, some lasting as long as thirty minutes. He attributed it to either lingering effects of the accident that had formed the Cube’s intelligence or, more likely, pouting, as they always seemed to happen when he was pressing or implying that he didn’t believe it.

“The probability is strong that the Darshik will come,” it said finally. “It is their way, although that wasn’t always the case. Their interaction with the Phage at an early stage in their societal development may have caused this—”

“It couldn’t have been that early if they already had interstellar flight capability,” Jackson interrupted.

“The Darshik did not develop their interstellar travel technology,” Cube said.

“Now we’re getting somewhere,” Jackson muttered. “So where did they get it?”

“The species you call the Ushin provided the technology that the Darshik have then modified on their own.”

“That’s a pretty damn important thing to leave out, isn’t it?!” Jackson strained to keep his temper in check. Explosions usually resulted in the Cube going dark for a few days. “Please tell me exactly what you mean by that.”

“I am sorry, Director Wolfe,” it said. “My files only included summary information regarding the surrounding species in the area that you might have encountered in the final stages of the war. I often have trouble connecting individual and separate facts together into a coherent line of thought. I apologize.”

“No need to apologize,” Jackson said with a sigh. “We’re doing the best we can. Let’s take it from the top and try to piece something together that Fleet can use. If the information I have is accurate, the Darshik may already be heading to any Terran worlds they’re aware of.”

“I will do my best,” Cube said.

Chapter 22

“Commander Graham, may I have a word with you?”

“Lieutenant Commander … Washburn, isn’t it?” Graham said, wiping his hands on his utilities. “You work in CIC?”

“Yes, sir,” Washburn said.

“What can I do for you?” Graham seemed distracted and busy, but Washburn needed his expertise and advise before presenting her idea to the captain.

“Captain Wright has tasked me with finding a way to get more direct intel from the Darshik planet in this system without risking the Icarus,” she said. “I have one I think has promise, but it will require some modification to a Jacobson drone and one of our com drones.”

“Intriguing,” Graham said, pushing aside his tile and giving her his undivided attention. “The Jacobson makes sense, but why do you need a com drone?”