Munaci and Cratus had stopped to refuel the Lady Devora before they warped the rest of the way back to Erizza.

"Everyone get to work. Clean and detail this vessel," Munaci barked orders to his aranga crew and garwolvens on board.

"We have a message coming in, Colonel," Cratus said. "Admiral Bethon and Etaine are still on the planetoid."

"You must be mistaken. There's no reason for them to stay."

"No. The message was clear. Widhbo notified me. There's been a change of plan. Something about teleporting the entire planetoid."

"That's effectively impossible," Munaci said going over to check the transmission himself. "If this is some prank of Widhbo's, I'll personally see that he's sent to the retribution center, rank or no rank."

"Shall we go back?" Cratus asked. "The ship's ready to leave."

"No sense in it. They'll be gone before we can reach them. If Admiral Bethon is there, it's by his own choice. Continue to Erizza and dock with the Moz Lidule," Munaci ordered.

* * *

"Cratus, I'll be on the bridge," Munaci said as he prepared to disembark. You're in charge here until Lord Anakron reclaims his ship."

"What about his conference table?" Cratus asked. "It's made of real wood and interfaced with the reality grid."

"Strip, sand and refinish it to the original condition. Pristine. Understood?"

"Of course, Sir."

Munaci took the transport to the Moz Lidule and found Anakron on the bridge.

”I'll want your report as soon as it's ready," Anakron said. He was busy at the flight console and didn't bother to turn around when Munaci walked in.

"What do you mean, my report?" Munaci asked with a scowl.

"I'm the commander of Moz Lidule. You report to me now."

"Says who?" Munaci balked and bared his incisors in a brief how of contempt behind Anakron's back.

"By order of your superior officer, Admiral Bethon," Anakron said, turning around in time to catch a glimpse of Munaci's expression. He pointed to the console. "You can check the log if you dare to doubt my word, Munaci."

Munaci paused. "Incredible as it seems, I would never doubt the word of an elder god, Lord Anakron. Might I ask what training you have to run a battleship such as this?"

"Are you doubting the judgment of the admiral in turning over command to me?"

"His mind is clouded with that harpy, Etaine." Munaci replied.

"I was hoping I could count on you to orient me to the particulars of this battleship, but for your information I do have a military background. I fought in the Hellsaxe Wars long before your kind had sprouted from the aranga forests."

"There were no humans before us."

"Not in this part of the galaxy. My ancestors came from another sector."

Munaci grunted without replying.

"I've been looking over your performance record. It's taken a nosedive recently. Do you have an explanation?" Anakron asked.

"What do you mean? My performance is flawless." Munaci looked confused and rushed over the the console to view the records.

"Not according to the record. You've accumulated so many behavioral demerits I may have to turn you over the ancients for retribution. If I were to add one or two more for your poor attitude today, that would push you over the limit," Anakron cautioned.

"This is preposterous!"

"I don't suppose you've upset any adversaries lately?"

"I don't keep track of such things."

"Perhaps you should be more concerned. I think someone's tampered with your record. A little joke on you perhaps," Anakron queried, a smile played at the corners of his mouth.

"Widhbo! It had to be him."

Anakron laughed. "No doubt."

"I fail to see the humor in this Lord Anakron."

"What could you have done? Let me guess. You insulted him?"

"I called him a vile bird and threatened to flog him among other things. Nothing that wasn't deserved."

Anakron laughed again. "I like you, Munaci. I never have to wonder what you're thinking. Try to be a little more pleasant and I'll remove the demerits."

"Arangas aren't pleasant, and you know it. It's like telling Widhbo to shut up. He can't do it. There are no polite arangas."

* * *

Cratus had boarded the Moz Lidule and was meeting the others in the conference room. Greyla had requested to meet with Lord Anakron and his officers as well, saying she had important information to share.

"What’s the status of the mission?" Anakron asked when Cratus arrived. "Any further news from our team?"

"Hal, Yoeke and Widhbo are on the planetoid. So are Admiral Bethon and Etaine," Cratus said. "According to our alien friend, Widhbo, there's been a change of plan. They decided to teleport the planetoid to the demon in a surprise move."

"Colonel Munaci informed me earlier. It sounds risky to try at the last moment," Anakron said with a concerned look.

"Why did Hal have to stay?" Greyla asked.

"Hal’s job is to see that Widhbo does his. We had already warped out on the Lady Devora," Munaci said. "By the time we learned Bethon was still on the planetoid with Etaine, we were over halfway back to Erizza. It was too late to go back."

"I may have some insight as to what she's up to," Greyla mused.

"She's insane. There's no telling what she's dreamed up and now Admiral Bethon's involved with her again." Munaci snarled and headed toward the front of the conference table.

Anakron beat him there and eased into the seat at the head of the table before speaking. "Share your thoughts with us, Greyla."

"Widhbo overheard Bethon and Etaine talking and thought he should inform us. I am puzzled as to why he sent it to me, but here is what we know. Etaine doubts the alliance's plan will work. I'm not sure how, but she has her own plans to deal with the demon," Greyla said. "She is very sure of herself."

"The demon can destroy her as easily as anyone," Anakron said. "If the planetoid can reach the demon before he knows it's there, it should work, assuming it has enough mass. If instead he absorbs and assimilates it, we're in trouble."

"There's more. Etaine has had a vision," Greyla said. "She sees herself in a role that she either can't describe or won't fully reveal,"

"A vision of her own grandeur no doubt," Munaci said.

"It's frustrating, but all we can do is wait at this point," Anakron said. "We need to start finding alternatives in case this fails. See what you can come up with, Munaci."

"I'll start with the scenario in which Etaine is destroyed and out of the way."