Two was a twisted, gray mass in a slow tumble when Three drew close. Myra reduced power in her ship's magnetic beams and directed them at the wreck until it stabilized. She maneuvered until the ships touched. The beams held. Myra pushed the canopy clear, climbed out, and crawled forward. She grasped a jagged projection on the wreck, swung aboard, and stared into what had been the control pit. She turned away and returned to her ship without looking at Drummer. Laser quads left little organic residue. ## Brad switched to standard communications channels and keyed in his identity. In a moment they were switched to a channel closed to outsiders. "Sentinel One to UIPS Fleet Comm Center. Acknowledge." The reply was swift. "UIPS Comm to Sentinel One. We read." "Sentinel One. Flash Immediate. Must talk to Fleet Commander. Fleet in extreme and immediate danger. Now, partner, now." "Selvin here." "Sentinel One. Enemy Battle Cruiser Windstorm has launched a K12 fusion warhead. I do not question the warhead's vector; expect that its mass attractors and proximity fuses are set to your fleet's coordinates. "I am overtaking the warhead and will try to neutralize. Forcing a change in warhead direction with my ship is not possible; the warhead's mass and guidance system exceeds by far any pressure my fighter can exert. Suggest you consider evasive action; will advise further if neutralization accomplished." The warning had been given. There was no time for talk. The warhead was less than a hundred meters ahead, and closing. Drummer tapped Brad on the shoulder and pointed. Two was coming up. Cold sweat drenched Brad's forehead and drained into his eyes. He blinked, shook his head to clear his vision, and increased airflow in his suit. "Brad," Myra's voice, fast. "Can we detonate it with our guns from here? At this extremely close range the concentrations of laser-quads and explosive decompress energy by both of us at a single point might disable some part of the warhead or set it off." "It would take too much time to cut through. I've got another idea. If it doesn't work, we won't have enough time to try anything else. Hodak, take the controls and get the ship as close to the bomb as you can, go for less than a meter from the warhead's surface. Hold and orbit slowly, nose close to the warhead so that I can scope the surface. I'll tell you when to stop. Myra, keep close above in my line-of-sight. Hodak, strap on your tool kit." Hodak maneuvered the ship close and set a pattern that covered the sphere methodically. Brad opened the canopy, and directed the ship's beacon at the bland, gray surface. Seconds passed; the bomb's gray coating was unbroken. Or was it? "Stop," Brad ordered. He pointed to a barely visible circular crack half a meter across. "Myra. Get closer. Use your attractors to stabilize and hold position. Give me a hand, Hodak."