Milla seethed, but controlled her emotions, finally nodding as well. “Yes. I can see that too. They . . . your people, and mine, are the same genetically . . . but these people, they have too much in common with mine technologically, to say nothing of the language. Someone has hidden history from us. Someone must have.”

“You’ll get a chance to find out who soon enough,” Eric said. “We’ll be returning to Ranquil for repair and minor refit.”

“Thank you, Capitaine,” she said, calming down steadily.

“No need for thanks. The hull repairs need attention we’ll not be able to get in Sol space for at least a month, probably more, given the push for new ships taking up the slips. Ranquil is the best option, particularly given our prisoners.”

“Yes . . . them,” Milla hissed. “I do not know what to think of them.”

“Don’t,” Eric said. “Not yet. When we have more facts, then you can worry . . .”

“Captain,” Miram cut in, “they’ve gone to warp.”

Eric turned back to the displays, eyes on the space-warp signature that Miram was pointing to. Technically, their attackers had gone to warp several hours earlier, of course, but with full scanners out and recording, the Odysseus was picking up the details just then.

“Damn. Higher velocity change than we can manage short of transition,” he said. “More power in their reactors, no question.”

“More control as well,” Miram said. “They’re playing with space-time better than we can.”

“Lovely. So they’ve got some kind of connection to the Priminae, but they apparently haven’t been stuck in the mud since the split.” Eric sighed. “And they’re either hostile, or just plain violent.”

“There is a difference?” Milla asked, confused.

“‘Hostile’ generally means they have something against us,” Miram filled in. “‘Violent’ means they might just attack at random for no particular reason.”

Milla scrunched up her face even more. “That is insane, no?”

“Yes, but it also happens,” Miram said. “Rarely, and not usually on a cultural level, but it does happen.”

“Sometimes I find your people truly terrifying,” Milla admitted.

“Join the club,” Eric said, turning. “Helm, take us out of the system and put us on an arc to warp space for Ranquil.”

Kinder half turned. “Warp space, sir?”

“You heard me, Lieutenant. We’ll warp space for a few light-years before we transition. I don’t want to leave any traces here if we can help it.”

“Aye sir, course is already entered. Engaging.”

►►►

► Colonel Conner glowered through the security glass to where the enemy troops were being held. “Have they been saying anything?”

“Mostly small talk, ma’am,” Lieutenant Mitchel, one of her security staff members, said. “Nothing earth shaking, but we’re recording everything anyway.”

She nodded absently. “I believe the Earth has been shaken enough lately, Mitchel. I’ll settle for anything at all, useless or otherwise.”

“Yes ma’am. Quickie DNA tests are back,” he said, handing her a slate.