Moore used the two minutes to scan the transcript of the interview, since that would be both faster and less distracting to the bridge crew. When he was done, he looked up at Mandelbaum. “And you didn’t even once consider this option?”

Mandelbaum turned and stared coldly at him. “It was discussed, Admiral. And dismissed. Even Dr. Narang admitted that it was an outside chance.”

“As opposed to what you’re doing? Never mistake motion for action, Commodore. You’ve just confirmed to Pritchard’s computer that we are not capable of making the intelligent choice, instead defaulting to violence.”

Mandelbaum raised an eyebrow. “You seem to have changed, Admiral.”

Moore sighed. “I’ve never before been on the wrong side of a battle where I was so completely overmatched that I might as well not have shown up. The problem with military solutions is that they favor the strongest side, not the one with the moral right. Or the one with the best plan. And in this case, I don’t believe we are the strongest side. Not by a wide margin.”

“We’ll know soon enough, Admiral. The second wave of surveillance drones all made it through the active theater in one piece. Lieutenant, pull the three cam vids with the best details, and forward them to me.”

“Aye.”

“Ma’am, we have another incoming message from the Getting Ahead.”

“Put it up.”

From:Andrew Jennings, Captain, IMM Getting Ahead.

CC:Dr. Charles Kemp, Ship’s Doctor

Dr. Madhur Narang, ICDC

To:Commodore Rani Mandelbaum, UENN Fleet Command

Commodore, we are close enough to have gotten a good view of the “theater”, as I believe you military types like to call it. One of the numerous upgrades I had done to the Getting Ahead was a much larger set of optics, so I probably have as good a view as you, and possibly even a better one.

We took some images last time we were up here, after the military gave up those two cruisers. I note two things missing at this time—one, the former Mad Astra and, two, a group of chrome-colored balls. The latter are somewhat hard to see unless you know what you’re looking for. And given our experience with Pritchard, we do.

The point I’m trying to make is that you won’t get Pritchard, you won’t get his nanites, and it’s entirely possible that you won’t get his comms station. At least not the real one.

You are dealing with a computer system that may have literally millions of years of experience to draw on in terms of tactical decisions. And you are very probably about to have your asses handed to you.

A. Jennings, Captain

“Dammit!” muttered Mandelbaum. “Tactical! Where are those vids?”

“Coming up, ma’am. Transferring now.”