Now armed with what she hoped would be a way out of the detention area, she needed a way off the planet. Her date had told her it was an ultra-secret base named Arelius, but even he'd been smart enough to clam up after that.

"Miss? Are you okay?"

Trapp left her cell and walked two down to see a middle-aged man from the Asianic Union peering out at her.

"And you would be?" she asked.

"Admiral Xiao, Eastern Star Alliance Fleet. If you're planning on escaping, we might be able to help each other unless you know how to pilot a ship."

"As a matter of fact, I do, but I'll listen to your offer."

"Getting from here to the airfield will be a challenge," Xiao said. "But once there, you will have your pick from a few warp-capable courier craft. The security will not be so lax as this brig, however."

"Leave that to me," Trapp said, sliding the key card into the slot and waiting for the door to unlock. "I take it this isn't a high-security facility?"

"The base is, but this brig is just for local use. Rowdy drunks and whatnot. It's not designed or staffed as a maximum security detention area," Xiao said, stepping out into the hallway. "It's still a five mile hike back to the airfield, however."

"That'll give us time to get to know each other," Trapp said. "Come on."

* * *

"Name and rank?"

"Vincent Russo, Captain of the Implacable. Or at least I used to be."

"Who is that?"

"Admiral Vadim Kohl. He's badly injured."

"Let's get him out of there," the Alliance Marine said, reaching into the escape pod and helping Russo move Kohl's unresponsive bulk out of the cramped space.

Kohl had actually dragged Russo's unconscious body into one of the bridge escape pods, securing him into the seat. He was in the process of securing himself when the pod was launched by the computer just before the Implacable broke apart completely.

The launch was violent enough to send him tumbling around the inside of the metal can. When Russo had regained consciousness and activated the rescue beacon, he saw the admiral was badly hurt. He treated the compound fracture as best he could in his concussed state, but he suspected Kohl had broken his neck. By the time they were recovered, his color was gray and his breathing fast and shallow.

"How many crew have been rescued?" Russo asked.

"Twenty, thirty maybe," the Marine said, sounding indifferent. "You need medical attention?"

"Couldn't hurt," Russo said as a wave of vertigo hit him.

39

"We have what remains of Black Fleet, two squadrons from 4^th Fleet that are remaining loyal, and one from 1^st Fleet," Admiral Pitt said. "The rest have returned to their home enclaves, deciding to make their stands there."

"Where the Alliance will pick them apart one at a time," Marcum said. "We were down on numbers before, if we don't present a united front, we won't stand a chance."