"I must admit, "Newton said to Coeur, as the others walked away, "I've always found funerals rather confusing. Would it not be more availing to place him out in a cultivated field so he might contribute to the nitrogen cycle?"

  'Er... some people think so, yeah, "Coeur said, hoping Zorn didn't hear that, "but maybe you'd better move along, Newton."

  "Very good, sir. I will return to working on the sensor drones with Crowbar."

  Coeur remained behind, however, after Newton padded away.

  "Would you like me to leave? "Coeur asked Zorn, softly.

  "No, "Zorn said, drawing a deep breath and rising back to her feet"Stay. You've lost a friend like this yourself, I know."

  Coeur supposed Zorn meant Darien.

  "Yes, "Coeur said, walking closer, "although I don't think Darien and I were as close as you and V."

  "I don't know about that, "Zorn observed. "He did give his life for you."

  "That's true, he did, "Coeur snapped, surprising herself with the bitterness of her reply. She momentarily thought to apologize for the vehemence of her response, but decided to let it go.

  "I noticed, "Zorn said, switching to another thought, "that your doctor wasn't here."

  "No, Physic had other duties."

  "Maybe she was just being polite, "Zorn offered. "It probably would've been hard for her to keep from spitting on his grave."

  "Well, "Coeur said, after a thoughtful pause, "you did hurt her pretty bad. You hurt all of us, in fact, when you killed all those Hivers—and Scissor. He was a member of my crew, just like Badger and Gaffer, or Katzel and V-Max. "Or Darien. But Coeur cut off the thought there. Too much unfinished business.

  "So what do you want I should do? "Zorn asked. "Kill myself in front of her? V and I did what we thought we had to—and now I'll pay for it But I'll pay that debt to the Coalition, not to Dr. Takagawa."

  Coeur merely blinked, saying nothing.

  "Oh, forget it, "Zorn said. "Forget I said that. She's got a right to be angry, you’ve got a right to be angry—we've all got a right to be angry. At least V's dead now, and he doesn't have any of this crap to worry about."

  "Zorn, look, for what it's worth. I'm not happy that V's dead. What you did at Ra was wrong, but I don't think you or V-Max was evil. You two had a belief, and you went a little too far standing up for it"

  A little too lor, yeah, Coeur thought, listening to the understatement in her own words, as in mass murder and attempted genocide. But I'll leave the court on Ra to thrash that out. " You're right. Maybe I should just enjoy a little freedom while I still have it."

  "Well, to be fair, "Coeur said, "I wasn't planning to lock you in your stateroom for the whole trip. It'll be enough, I think, to have Drop Kick guard you, and Physic implant a homing tracer in you in case you try to run away."

  "How about that, "Zorn said. "I'll be a regular Napoleon at Elba."

  "Well, sort of, "Coeur said, "except you're not going to escape from this Elba."

  "Perish the thought, "Zorn said.

  "And, "Coeur went on, "the accommodations are probably a little nicer than Elba. Aside from you and me and Drop Kick, all there'll be are the gunners and Physic, Sixer and Crowbar, which means there'll be a tot more room and supplies per person."

  "Sounds swell. Fatten me up for the firing squad."

  Coeur gave Zorn a sharp look.

  "Zorn, you don't know what's gonna happen. The court could be lenient, given the way you helped us here and at Sauler, and your surrendering peacefully."

  But Zorn only shook her head.

  "No, I don't think so. Maybe on your world. Red, but not on Ra. The law there's pretty strict."

  To this, Coeur couldn't really give much of a rebuttal. She'd seen the way Ra had manhandled Physic's ex-husband, August Delpero—holding him without a writ of habeas corpus and grilling him without an attorney present—and he was only an accessory to Zorn's crimes, and not a pirate, to boot.

  "Yeah, "Zorn went on, "V-Max caught a break, all right At least he died here, fighting for something worthwhile, instead of in front of a firing squad."

  Well, perhaps, Coeur thought, though the discussion was taking a turn toward the morbid, and she elected not to respond. Instead, she turned her head slightly to look off to the east, opposite the sunset Up there, she was gratified to see, was Orion, the great old constellation she remembered from her youth, not so different in appearance than it had been in the summer sky above the Arizona desert so long ago. Even 90 years later, and 60 parsecs away from home, the constellation was still very much the same, with its arms only slightly bent by Coeur's change in perspective.

  "The Hunter, "Zorn said after a moment, turning in the direction of Coeur's gaze.

  "Yeah, I was just thinking about how far away it is. They say the belt stars are 400 parsecs from the Coalition."

  "That's a ways, all right."

  "A ways, yeah. It's so far away. I'll bet I'll never see it from another angle."

  "I suppose it's kind of like a guardian angel, then, "Zorn mused. "It was there when you were born, and it'll still be there when you die."

  "Hopefully, "Coeur said, picking up the idea, "It is a guardian angel—a guardian angel for all of us. There's still a lot of Wilds out there to explore."

  "For some of us, you mean. For some of us, the journey stops a bit short."

  The Hunter, Coeur thought. If you're our guardian angel, what does that tell us about our mission? The hunt always ends in death, yet we're supposed to find the right and wrong in all of that. The Solomani stranded me in space with 39 friends and 17 chances to live. They were my enemies, and I thought I was better than them. Then I did the same thing to Royal Vengeance that the Solomani did to Alnitak. I am their enemy, and still I think I’m better than they are. If we're all hunters, what makes us different? How do I think I stand for something better? If you are our guardian, guide us to that answer.

  "Yeah, "Coeur said, remembering not only V-Max, but her own lost comrades from this mission, "I suppose it does."

  ***

  Precisely 28 days later, the great meson gun below the Aguja Prieta Mountains thrummed back to life—and scarcely a day too soon. Manned by Red Eye. his Marines, Zorn's pirates and 500 volunteers from Soledad, the giant weapon delivered an accurate full-power volley into open space just 40 hours before a fleet of Solee warships suddenly appeared at the planet, cruising inward from the outer system.

  On the face of it, the Solee clearly seemed to outclass any defense Mexit might muster—two Midu Agashaam-class destroyers and a Kinunir-class colonial cruiser, any one of which could extinguish Hornet with a single salvo. But they had clearly discounted the possibility of deep defenses, since they were maneuvering in a leisurely manner with all active sensors engaged. Mexit's new sensor net picked them up easily at the limit of its extreme range, and the Solee would pay accordingly.

  "That looks like Royal Vengeance. " Red Eye said to Coeur, who was standing beside him down in the meson gun's fire control center. "The drive emissions are the same as the ones Snapshot recorded earlier."

  Coeur's heart leapt reflexively—They made it! —then sank just as quickly. And now we get to kill them again. You poor bastards. Why'd you have to come back?

  "Back with some friends, "Coeur said with disappointment, "to finish us off and take the planet. Or die trying."

  Red Eye heard the sadness in her voice and looked at her. "Shall we open fire?"

  This is my job. If I don't do mine, they'll do them and kill me.

  "No, let them get into your effective range first."

  "Yes, sir. All personnel, stand by."

  "Solee targets are closing to optimum range. Captain, "Whiz Bang reported a few minutes later, "300, 000 kilometers."

  "Think your weapon can handle intensive fire? "Coeur asked Red Eye.

  "It should. It's as ready as it's gonna get"

  "All right, then. Target the big destroyers first, ” Coeur ordered. "Let'em have it—maximum rate of fire."

  If the Solee had any inkling of their fate, they didn't show it. Moving at high speed, but without evasive maneuvers, they were already close enough to detect Hornet parked in the outskirts of Soledad, but she was a target they would never engage.

  Cel out of here, you idiots! Coeur called in her mind.

  "Taking first target under fire, "Red Eye announced calmly.

  The destroyer was no match for the battleship-sized meson gun. It blew apart in a blossom of plasma and glowing debris.

  Get out of here!

  In the holographic sensor tank, the two remaining blips began tracing erratic courses—evasive maneuvers—but kept coming.

  "Taking second target under fire."

  Get out of here!

  The blip representing the second destroyer grew larger, became diffuse and faded away.

  "Shifting to the last target, sir."

  Coeur nodded, but suddenly alarms and klaxons blared in the control center.

  "The homopolar generator bearings are heating up! "Whiz Bang called out.

  "How much longer can you keep them going?"

  "I can't sir—they're just too old. They're going to seize if I don't shut down!"

  "All right, "Red Eye answered, "pull the plug."

  At that moment, the blip representing Royal Vengeance flickered and winked out. Coeur smiled.

  Still have an itchy jump-button finger? Well good for you. And don't come back.

  Mexit was safe.

  ***

  "It's hard to imagine, "Cardinal Vazquez said two days later, glancing up through a stained glass window to the nighttime sky, "how a battle of such violence could be fought in the sky, and not be felt below. But I shall I take your word for it, Captain."

  Coeur smiled.

  "You might have had more proof than you wanted if that last destroyer hadn't withdrawn. But we gave the Solee a pretty good sting—I don't think they'll be back any time soon."

  "So then, it's time for you to leave?"

  "I'm afraid so, Your Holiness. I wanted to stick around until the meson gun's live fire test—and, of course, we saw that it worked. Now that the binding bearings have been replaced. I'm sure the gun'll do a fine job of protecting you here."

  "Is it really so necessary for you to leave now? If you stayed, you could help us unify the nations of Mexit once and for all."

  "Somehow, Your Holiness, "Coeur said, "I think you underestimate yourself. You're a far better diplomat than I'll ever be. And besides, we're leaving the G-carrier and the ship's boat here, so it shouldn't be a problem for you to get your shuttle diplomacy moving along quickly."

  Plus, Coeur thought, we're leaving the tank here, too. lust knowing that's around should make some of the petty dictators treat Vazquez with respect.

  Coeur went on, "There's also the crew of spacers we're leaving here with you. Considering the skills and experience they possess, I doubt there's much the crew of Hornet could add"

  "Perhaps I should be a gracious host, then, and stop begging you to stay."

  "Well, It's not like I want to leave, "Coeur said. "This is a beautiful planet, with fine people. But I do have to get Zorn back to Ra, and more important, I need to get my reports back to Aubaine so the fleet can send more people out here."

  Vazquez nodded.

  "Yes, I suppose you must. It's just difficult for me to imagine how a person could want to hurl herself across the stars the way you do, when I've always lived under this one sky, and I've never known any other."

  Coeur smiled. "Actually, that's a pretty healthy attitude. The more I travel, the more I see the advantages of staying in one place."

  "Indeed?"

  "You aren't as likely to be hurt if you stay in one spot."

  Given the cardinal's capacity to sense another person's emotions directly—through psionic empathy—Coeur suspected Vazquez would know what she meant. There were a great many deep scars Coeur had collected in her travels.

  And then there were the deaths—not just Badger and Gaffer, who were at least nearby when they died—but also her parents, and Darien and Scissor, who were far away in space and time, and she'd never had a chance to say good-bye.

  So why travel, Coeur thought, it it hurts so much?

  "Indeed, "Vazquez said. "Why do you travel. If it hurts you so much?"

  "Because, "Coeur answered, looking up at the giant sign of the Defender above the cathedral's altar. "You'll never see how far you could have gone, if you stay in one place."

  "Perhaps I should let you go, then, "Vazquez said, offering her hand to Coeur.

  "Yes, "Coeur said, turning back to the cardinal and accepting the handshake. "Good luck. Cardinal Vazquez."

  "And God's speed to you. Captain D'Esprit."

  God's speed.

  Coeur then turned to go, walking out of the front doors of the church and into the company of Gyro, waiting in the pilot's seat of Hornet's hovering air-raft. " So, "Coeur said to Gyro, sliding into the forward passenger seat; "you clear up that problem with the junior technarchs?"

  "Yes, sir. I told them you'd shoot them if they tried to stay here."

  "Gyro.... "'

  "Sorry, sir, just kidding. They're safely secured aboard—them and Zorn."

  "Good, "Coeur said, buckling her seat belt. "I wouldn't mind leaving the technarchs here, but I think Mexit's suffered enough disasters already."

  "I'd have to agree with you. Captain. So, we ready to go home?"

  "Lord, I hope so, "Coeur said, leaning back in her seat and looking up at the stars. "Let's move out."

  "Yes, sir, "Gyro replied, firing up the air-raft's thrusters and steering them back toward Hornet.

  ***

  Not an hour later, Hornet's flaring plasma thrusters would be seen for the last time in the sky above Soledad, lifting the little freighter skyward in a streaking blue arc across the stars. The ship's work at Mexit was done, and her captain could not foresee any circumstance under which she would return.

  Yet other ships would come to Mexit—scout ships at first, then larger warships with men and supplies, and finally commercial transports taking cover beneath the umbrella of her meson gun. Though it would be months before that traffic would begin, eventually it would fill the skies of Mexit day and night, and eyes now astonished by the upward falling meteor of Hornet would no longer spare any starship—even the most magnificent of them— so much as a second glance.

  One particular mind knew that very well—the mind behind a pair of eyes that never closed and never slept Gazing up into the star-speckled night from the lonely seaside road he walked, he watched the pinpoint speck that was Hornet even after lesser human eyes had lost all resolution of the image—and he knew the change it heralded.

  God bless you, brave spacers, St. Graylord thought, and may the Defender speed you on your way.

  Glossary of Terms

  Air Raft: (noun) A small contragrav (cf) vehicle, usually open-topped in design, often carried by larger vessels and distinguished from the speeder (cf) by a lower maximum speed.

  Anagathic: (noun) A rare and extremely expensive drug which, taken in regular doses over time, can dramatically slow the aging process. When used improperly, anagathics have severe side effects.

  Anglic: (noun) Short for Galanglic, the most common language in the Last imperium (cf), and still the most common language among its former memberworlds.

  AO: (noun) Abbreviation for Area of Operations, designating a zone seven parsecs deep to coreward (cf) and spinward (cf) of the Reformation Coalition, defining that government’s present area of official operations in the Wilds (cf).

  Assembly of Worlds: (noun) The ruling body of the RC, with proportional representation by population of all memberworlds. Given the loose nature of the Coalition, the Assembly has little authority over the actions of individual worlds and concentrates on the management of assets jointly held by the Coalition at large. The Assembly resides in the Hall of Worlds, on Aubaine.

  Battle Dress: (noun) The ultimate form of personal protection, battle dress consists of a powered exoskeleton with strength-enhancing features to increase the load-carrying ability of an individual soldier. Although battle dress is quite formidable - even the most lightly armored versions offer excellent protection against shrapnel and projectiles from smaller firearms - it is not indestructible. It suffers from the disadvantage that it tends to impair its wearer’s physical agility. This disadvantage notwithstanding, however, battle dress is routinely issued in heavy and light versions to front-line troops and raiding forces of the Reformation Coalition (cf).

  Body Sleeve: (noun) A standard garment worn by RCES members. It is actually a standard coverall undergarment intended for wear beneath vacc suits (cf). However, because of its durability and bullet-resistant qualities, it is typically worn as a standard casual uniform by RC personnel.

  Boneyard: (noun, adj.) A world which lost all of its population in the Collapse (cf). Also known as a cemetery world.

  Bootstrap: (noun, adj.) Designation for an RC technical support program in the Wilds (cf).

  Bogie: (noun) A target detected on sensors, currently unidentified as to whether it is a friend or foe.

  Broomstick: (noun) A very light contragrav (cf) transport consisting essentially of two grav belt contragrav modules linked by a single rail with tandem seats and landing skids. Like a grav belt, it is powered by ducted propellers and is almost completely silent, and therefore preferred for short-range covert operations.

  Centrist: (adj.) Term describing one of two major voting blocs in the Assembly of Worlds (cf), led by Oriflamme and dedicated to the pursuit of a strong central government, ideally along the lines of a feudal technocracy.

  Collapse, The: (noun) The period of time following the release of Virus (cf), during which interstellar civilization was essentially destroyed in the area of the Last imperium (cf).

  Contragrav: (noun, adj.) Lifter technology used in high-technology. " grav” vehicles, also referred to as. " CG.” Contragrav lifters negate the gravitational force acting on an object, allowing it to be buoyant in most atmospheres. Contragravs cannot provide thrust, however. This must be provided by jets or HEPlaR (cf) thrusters.

 

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