“I request that you make Amina your second-in-command. Put me on engineering and Harwell on shiptech. From what I’ve seen, he’ll have a knack for it, and engines have always been mine.”

It wasn’t a terrible suggestion. In fact, it was one Caledonia had considered. She and Pisces had always operated as a completely united front. Knowing that a rift existed between them was painful, but it wasn’t a reason not to keep her at her side. Every single day, she’d have to confront the uncomfortable new reality between them; she’d be forced to remember all over again exactly what she’d done to change who they were together. It would be a constant, agonizing chorus in her head of your fault your fault your fault.

“Request denied,” Caledonia said, letting some of her tender feelings for her friend soften her voice. “You may have lost your trust in me, Pi, but I haven’t lost my trust in you.”

Pisces’s eyes shone, and for a flash of a second it was her old friend standing before her, full of complicated feelings and things she wanted to say to her sister and best friend. Then she blinked, and Caledonia saw the mask fall back into place.

Resisting the urge to sigh, Caledonia continued. “I know you’re good with engines, but our crew is nearly twice what it used to be, and I need you to know who they are, what they can do. Can you do that for me?”

This time, Pisces didn’t hesitate. “Yes, Captain,” she said.

If they’d been alone, Caledonia would have said more, but this was her command crew. They needed to know there was strain between their captain and their second, and they needed to know that it wasn’t going to keep either of them from doing their jobs. Anything beyond that was personal.

“Good.” Caledonia took a step back. “I know you’re all tired. I know our people are injured and hungry and anxious to know what’s next. And the only way we’re going to make it through this is if we work together.”

All five retreated into silence as they considered her words.

Finally, Sledge stood, looming as he said, “I’m with you, Caledonia, though I haven’t forgotten your promise.”

“What promise?” Pisces asked abruptly.

“To punch the Net,” Pine supplied. “That was the deal. After we got you out of Slipmark, she’d help us punch the Net, Tassos be damned.”

Pisces turned to Caledonia, eyes wide with a subtle surprise. “What about Donnally?”

Caledonia swallowed hard.

“I promised to get the Blades through the Net, and that’s what I’ll do,” she said, knowing that Pisces would see it for the evasion it was.

We can’t punch the Net now, Hime signed. The crew is too weak.

“I know,” Caledonia agreed.