Fanner Rigs hugged the visioner at his station, fascinated and horrified at once at the sight Or the enemy fleet that faced them. The enormity of the task was over whelming: How could they hope to challenge the Doxtap Fleet, in all the pride of the Jurisdiction's might? The Bench had left no choice for them.

They had to try.

Eild was their homeworld, and the orbiting artillery plat forms that defended it had to be protected from destruction by those mighty warships if Eild was to have any hope of remaining free.

"Our target." It was his brother's voice on intership, Marder's voice. On this little courier they almost didn't need the intership to hear each other--the ship was tiny, built for speed and maneuverability, both of which were crucial to its intended task. They had to get past their target's own defenses, its Wolnadis, after all.

And the Wolnadi fighters were visible even now, clearing the maintenance atmosphere and coming toward them at frightening speed.

"Jurisdiction Fleet Ship Scylla," Sonnu's clear calm voice confirmed. It was useful to remember that Sonnu was there. Fanner had often fantasized about marrying with Sonnu, if he could catch her eye for long enough to make his ease with her. This was his chance to show her his true mettle.

And still it was a desperate enterprise.

They all knew that. TOP

His party had the most desperate part of it, for while the others in the attack on Scylla were to draw the Wolnadis off toward the carapace hull — the topmost shell of the warship — his party was to feint for the carapace, and slip at the last minute through the atmosphere barrier into Scylla's maintenance atmosphere, beneath the ship.

They had the schematic firmly fixed in mind.

If they could only be quick and nimble enough about it, agile and canny enough about it, slip through the startled defenses of the maintenance atmosphere--Scylla could not fire upon itself, for fear of damage to the ship-- To fail meant death.

To succeed meant death as well, because if they won through to the main battle guns they could destroy Scylla, and everybody on it. Including them.

He would never marry with Sonnu now, but if he could be part of the freedom of port Eild it would not even matter.

"Initiate tactical plan," Marder said; and Fanner engaged the overthrust boosters on the courier, and sent it leaping forward.

Toward Scylla, and their death.

If they could only take Scylla with them it was worth it.

***

PRISONER OF CONSCIENCE   ISBN 0-380-78914-20
Avon Eos Science Fiction