“Situra! Come to the holoscreen! NOW!”

“Daddy? I’ll be right there!”

Situra skidded to a stop in front of her holoscreen unit. “Daddy? What’s . . .?”

“Governor. The colony is in danger. I am declaring military law and ordering the city evacuated.”

“What . . . evacuated where? How? Why?”

“You know what Code Zed is?”

“Sure. Not an eight-day passes without someone writing or producing some story about a Code Zed situation.”

“I just declared Code Zed. There is an artificial asteroid heading towards the Colony. If the Fleet can’t destroy it, it will impact, will kill everyone on the planet. Even if we can destroy it, fragments will still hit, will cause massive damage.”

“But . . . but how can we evacuate? And where can we evacuate to?”

“Complete this phrase: ‘As paranoid as . . .’”

“‘As paranoid as the Master’, of course.”

“Yes! The Master takes paranoia to a new level. And zie has planned for this. Do you know about the Blue Mountain Iron Mines?”

“Yes, I think so. Didn’t they play out right after we started building the city?”

“No. They didn’t. The Master told the City AI to tell everyone that before it installed the Refuge AI to take over the mine, to continue mining, to rework the manufacturing complex and to construct a fortified Refuge which could house thirty thousand colonists, all of this in total secrecy. Only the Master, the City AI, the Refuge AI, the Flagship’s AI and I knew about Refuge’s existence. Refuge would have stayed hidden for a century or longer if necessary, building and waiting for a disaster that might never come.”

Baryton took a deep breath.

“Now that I have declared Code Zed, the City AI will only permit the colony to communicate with me or with Monotone, my ship’s AI. This will prevent any knowledge of Refuge from spreading among the Fleet. What we don’t know, we can’t tell.”

Baryton leaned forward, piercing his daughter with his gaze.

“The Master expects that any invaders will destroy an empty city while the colonists hide in safety until a relief force arrives. I have spread chaff so that the enemy will not be able to see what we are doing, will not know Refuge exists. Once everyone is inside Refuge, Refuge will seal all entrances and shut down all communications until it receives a code phrase known only to it and the Master. It will hide itself and the colonists until then. It can remain hidden indefinitely, using food synthesizers, water, and air purifiers to keep the population alive, healthy.

Baryton paused for a second, swallowed, then continued. “The Refuge AI also built twenty-seven transport drones. It was building more, but, well, time ran out. We don’t have enough transports to bring everyone to the Refuge in one trip, even using your city transports, your cargo drones. It will take four trips to get everyone there. I don’t think we have enough time to make four trips. So I am ordering you and your family to be on board the first transport.”

Situra opened her mouth and closed it several times before speaking in a quiet, calm voice. “Admiral, I must respectfully decline. I was not selected as Governor because I am your daughter. I was not selected to run and hide at the first hint of danger. I was selected to take care of the Colony to the best of my ability. I will do so. I cannot do it from Refuge, cannot command from a safe distance. I must remain here as long as possible; I will get as many people to safety as I can. If I die, the Lieutenant-Governor can hide as well as I can.”

“But . . . but what about your children?”

Situra’s expression twisted into a wry grin. “Don’t worry Daddy, I am not that noble. They will be on my personal flyer on their way to Refuge in fifteen minutes, along with their nanny and other non-essential members of my staff. Anyone who doesn’t like it can discuss it with me. Afterwards. I will wait until the last minute to take my flyer to Refuge. With luck, with the help of the Gods in Hell, all the colonists, including me, will be safe.”

“But . . . but . . .”

Mezza rested her hand on Baryton’s shoulder. “She’s . . . she’s right, my love. She has to stay. Someone has to coordinate the evacuation. She is the Governor, it is her job. If she should run, her subordinates would probably run as well. Everyone would scramble for their personal safety, their own interests. Most of the colonists would die. This . . .” Mezza’s voice broke for a second. “This is the best way to save as many colonists as possible.”

Baryton raised both hands in surrender. “All right! All right! We will give you as much warning as we can! Don’t sacrifice yourself trying to save people who are already doomed!”

Situra bowed her head meekly. “Of course, Daddy.”

Mezza snorted. “I’m not worried. When your mate decides it’s time to leave, he’ll have you in the flyer if he has to bend a wrench over your thick head!”

Situra’s eyes widened. “Gods in Hell, Mother! You’re right!”