Dragon and Liberator

The minute they get close enough to get a good whiff, Jack confirmed. That's why we'll have to hit first and fast and then go to ground. I hope you know somewhere aboard where we can do that.

There are several such hiding places, Draycos assured him, gazing out at the Gatekeeper and forcing his brain to work. So far Jack had been carrying the burden of planning here. It was about time Draycos picked up his share of the load. If we haven't got a leak, can we make one?

Sure, but what's the point? Jack asked. The minute the mercenaries in there see me, the game will be up.

Unless those who meet us are Brummgas, Draycos said. I doubt they'll be nearly so good at distinguishing one of Frost's mercenaries from another.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Jack frown down at him. Probably not, the boy agreed cautiously. But we don't even know if there are any Brummgas aboard. Let alone that Frost will let them play reception committee.

Actually, aside from the Valahgua manning the Death weapons, I expect nearly all aboard will be Brummgas, Draycos told him. Very likely all those we watched being brought from the Chookoock estate, in fact.

Okay, buddy, you've now officially lost me, Jack said. I thought we'd just decided the Gatekeeper was their primary attack ship. Neverlin's certainly not going to leave that part of the scheme in Brummgan hands.

They aren't here to handle the attack, Draycos said. They're here to create the proper illusion. As I said earlier, the Valahgua can imitate Shontine voices well enough to fool the fleet's warriors. What they can't imitate is the heat signature of five hundred K'da and Shontine crew members aboard ship.

He caught Jack's flicker of understanding. So Frost has loaded the ship with warm Brummgan bodies?

Exactly, Draycos said. The refugee fleet's sensors can't read individual heat emissions through the hull but only the sum total. Three hundred Brummgas should be just about right.

And the spectrum from a living being probably looks different from ordinary heaters or anything else Neverlin might have used, Jack said.

Exactly, Draycos said. I'm sure Neverlin would have preferred to use humans, but I'm guessing neither he nor Frost had access to the necessary numbers.

Hence the whole deal with the Patri Chookoock, Jack said slowly. So if we can avoid the handful of Malison Ring mercenaries Frost has watching over the Valahgua and Brummgas, we may be able to push our own game a little longer.

As long as we can, Draycos said. The more quiet time we have to seek out and sabotage the Death weapons, the better.

Ahead, the marker lights came on beside one of the Gatekeeper's hatches. There—that's our target hatch, he told Jack, flicking out his tongue toward the lights.

I see it, Jack said. Hop off, will you? I've got a job for you.

What job? Draycos asked as he leaped out of Jack's collar to land on the deck behind him.