Caledonia searched up and down the row, looking for any indication of movement. They were close enough now that they’d surely been spotted, but still, there was no sign from the Net. Caledonia had intended to rush in and stop her ships just out of range, but with every minute that passed she grew less and less certain of that plan.

“Why . . .” Pisces whispered, echoing Caledonia’s concerns.

Caledonia only shook her head. She had no answer. And that was never a good sign.

She was on the brink of calling her fleet to a stop when a second whistle sliced the air, this one a pattern of four sharp sounds.

“They’re on the move!” one of Amina’s Knots called. “Ten tails on course to intercept.”

Relief twined with a new kind of tension in Caledonia’s gut as ten ships peeled away from the Net and headed directly toward them.

“Send Silver ahead.” Caledonia kept her eyes on the ten approaching ships as the Luminous Wake slowed even more. Seconds later, Silver Fleet took the lead with Gloriana joining in at the fore. Much as Caledonia wanted to be the one out in front, she’d come to accept that part of commanding a fleet was staying where she could see the field. “Harwell, tell the others to follow our lead. Nettle, keep a half mile between our noses and Silver Fleet’s tails.”

“Aye, Captain,” Nettle called from her post at the wheel.

Silver Fleet glided forward at half speed like an arrowhead. Caledonia led the rest of the fleet a short distance behind while ahead the ten Bullet ships moved faster, their thrusters frothing at their sides.

All Caledonia needed was to get close enough to be in contact. To show that they hadn’t come for a fight, but to talk. Of course, that was easier said than done. No one ever encountered a Bullet ship without intending to do one of two things: run or fight. Caledonia only hoped that her refusal to do either would keep them from an all-out battle.

“Harwell, remind everyone to hold their fire.”

The distance between Silver Fleet and the Bullet ships constricted until they were within firing range. Caledonia held her breath, waiting for that first missile to streak through the air, but none came.

“So far, so good.” Oran was braced against the hatch, eyes narrowed and cast out to sea.

Then the Bullet ships cut their engines. They glided forward on inertia and nothing more. Not even their thrusters churned. It was a cautious way of sailing and one Caledonia wasn’t used to seeing from Bullets.

“That’s encouraging.” Pisces had a scope pressed to her eye. “Never seen a Bullet ship take a hint before.”

All at once, Caledonia knew it wasn’t a hint at all. It was a trap.

“All stop!” Caledonia cried. “Radio Silver Fleet to cut their engines!”