Chapter 1

At the rating’s permission, I entered Commodore Roff’s office to see my superior standing, back to me, watching the giant display of the ever-changing view of Poseidon. A passing ship, a Tawara-class I thought, eclipsing the camera that broadcast the planetary view.

“Lieutenant Stewart,” He said without turning, “we have another assignment for you. One you REALLY won’t like.”

Internally, I cringed. Aloud I said, “What is it this time, Commodore? Run buck nekkid through a swarm of Sa’arm?”

The clearness of my words went ignored. “We want you to go back to Earth,” said Roff, turning to watch my reaction. “We want you to help extract a high-value individual.”

Curious, I asked, “Don’t you have Marine extraction teams trained, armed, and eager to do this kind of thing?”

“They have been deployed and have been ... unsuccessful.” The Commodore growled, “This may be due to the confluence of the individual’s unconventional world view and his very high potential CAP score.”

“How high?”

“Possible 9.7+”

“Potential? Possible?” I smelt something very fishy. “Can’t the AIs settle on a score? What’s the problem?”

“He hasn’t taken the CAP test.”

“How can you determine his CAP score without his taking the test?” I asked, “If you can, why bother to administer the test?”

“While you have been racing around this Spiral Arm, gathering unto yourself the Laurels of Victory,” Roff growled, “Things on Earth have gotten worse for us. The more xenophobic have gotten militant. It wasn’t very coordinated at first, but the Central Command, especially Miles Chandler, the Director of Evacuation and Colonial Operations at Earth’at station, doesn’t like the way things are headed.” Roff turned and stood at his large desk.

“First, there were the testing center bombings.” Roff glared, as if I were somehow at fault. “Some frustrated loser’s suicide sparked a wave of violence against Confederation offices. Then the nutcases tried to shoot up pick-ups after the shields dropped. DECO revised their Marine’s Rules of Engagement during extraction and allowed them to shoot first and not wait for someone with a gun to drop a couple of sponsors before reacting.”