Derek grumbled something. “Those idiots will never know,” he said, “how much trouble they’ve caused.” He didn’t explain which idiots he was referring to, but it wasn’t hard to guess. “Priscilla, we need to get clear as quickly as we can. When can we make the jump?”

“It’s still thirty minutes, Derek.”

“All right. Just go.”

“Ops is tracking us. But they released control to us. Janet seems pretty good, by the way.”

“She’s only a staff assistant. I don’t think we pay her enough.”

“I suspect you’re right. Oh, one other thing.”

“Yes?”

“We need to talk about the cabin arrangements.”

•  •  •

They sat watching the moon approach on their port side. “I hate this,” Derek said. “The real problem here is that some of the politicians got involved. Nobody really listens to physicists, but when the politicians started talking about alien invasions, everybody got nervous. Hard to believe they could do this. Where are we now?”

“Fifteen minutes.”

Barry began blinking. “Incoming transmission, Captain. From the Collier Center.” That was the administrative offices of the WSA.

“Don’t pick up,” said Derek.

Their eyes locked. “I can’t do that,” Hutch said.

“Are we going to go through that again? We don’t have a choice.”

“If I ignore it, we’re talking about my career.”

“You worry too much, Priscilla.” She said nothing and kept her eyes on the moon. “Come on. It’s me they’ll come after.”

“They’ll come after you too. But that would be your problem.”

“We’re only talking about a transmission. We could claim we didn’t receive it. Communication breakdown.”

“All transmissions are logged.”

“You can change the log, right? Delete the damned thing?”

She shook her head. No. “Put them through, Barry,” she said. “But block any visuals.”

Derek folded his arms and glared at her.

“Eiferman, this is WSA. Be advised your mission is cancelled. Return to Union.” It was a female voice. Not Janet’s.

Derek held up a hand, signaling that he’d take it. “This is Blanchard,” he said. “Who am I speaking to?”

“You know damn well who you’re talking to, Derek. Now shut that thing down and turn it around.”

“It’s too late. We’re about to make our jump.”

“Derek, I’m not going to say it again. Come back. Or you’ll face prosecution when you do get back here.”

“I’m sorry, Anna. I can’t do that.”

“Where’s Hutchins?”

Hutch shut down the mike. “Who is she?”

“Anna Capleton. My boss.”

She reopened the channel. “This is Captain Hutchins, Ms. Capleton.”

“Just for the record, Captain, I’m Doctor Capleton. Now turn around and return to the space station. Immediately.”

“I can’t do that, Doctor.”

“You don’t have any choice, Captain.”