“That was not an invitation to discuss your love life, Ensign,” Celesta said sharply, rolling her eyes as the hatch opened with a sharp pop. “Now get in before someone sees us.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Accari said again, this time his cheeks flaming red. Celesta just shook her head as she stepped into the small chamber and resealed the airlock door after her.

Chapter 8

“Is this what I think it is?” Accari asked as he walked around the smallish main area of the ship.

“Yes,” Celesta said distractedly. “You’re standing in the main cabin of a Tsuyo Corporation Broadhead II, one of only three known to be in existence.” The original Broadheads were small, stealthy ships that the Tsuyo Corp had made available to certain governmental agencies as well as a few well-placed and extraordinarily wealthy civilian clients. It had packed a lot of speed, sensor capability and a modest arsenal in a miniscule package. Agent Pike had been assigned one of those original ships and Celesta had heard a rumor that his had logged more flight hours than any of the other Broadhead hulls combined by over a factor of ten.

Now, apparently, his connections with the new incoming President gave him access to Tsuyo’s latest and greatest, and Celesta had to admit, she was impressed. She slid into the luxurious pilot’s seat and gave the minimalist instrument panel the onceover. The ship had accepted the scan code Pike had provided and an animated icon floated across one of the displays, letting her know it was ready to accept commands.

“Activate interface,” Celesta commanded. Instantly the terminals winked on and began shuffling pertinent information around the enormous, one-piece curved glass display. She reached out and began shuffling the individual readouts to where she wanted them.

“Find the TCS Icarus,” she said. “She’ll be in orbit near DeLonges.”

“TFS Icarus located,” the ship responded in a pleasant baritone, correcting her on the fact the destroyer was now a Terran Federation Ship and the Confederacy no longer owned her. Celesta had half expected the voice to be young and female knowing Pike the way she did.

“Can you bypass the system-wide com lockdown and get me a direct channel to the bridge?”

“Affirmative. Shall I initiate ship-to-ship channel now?”

“If you please,” Celesta said politely.

“This is the Terran Federation Warship, Icarus. Please identify yourself and state your intentions.” Lieutenant Ellison’s voice came over the speakers after a bit of a lag.

“This is Captain Wright, please patch me through to Commander Barrett,” Celesta said, waiting for the fifteen-minute com lag again.

“Good thing the orbits put the two at their closest point,” Accari said as he sat in the other chair on the small bridge. “Otherwise the com lag would be nearly an hour.”

“Indeed,” Celesta agreed.