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rom that which it had called its home star for a time； and still accelerating。
K'rrk cupped a paw around his muzzle in a contemplative gesture。 Off to one side of the helm chair stood an enormous wooden wheel； a vestigial adornment overruled by Tiresian made astrogational puters buried deep in the ship's heart but left in place out of respect for the Sentinels' 〃steam ship；〃 Farrago。
K'rrk turned to regard his science officer。 〃Could they be preparing to fold； Lorek？〃
〃A distinct possibility； mander。〃 〃What do scanners show？〃
〃Areas of extensive surface damage；〃 Lorek responded after a moment。 By Karbarran standards； he was tall and lean； with mottled fur and a curious cant to the diminutive； mushroom…shaped horns set between his ears。 〃Glike appears to be pletely deserted； sir； although bio…indicators are registering life signs in several subsurface chambers。〃
〃Do we have a fix on whatever's powering the thing？〃 Kirk asked。
〃Affirmative。 All drive systems are controlled from a central AI nexus concealed under what used to be a system of reservoirs and interlinked canals。 It has apparently been given the name Awareness； mander。〃
〃Defenses； Lorek。 Shields？ Antiparticle fields？〃
〃None that scanners can discern； mander。〃
K'rrk growled with pleasure as he turned to the ship's munications officer。 〃Reeza； inform all battle group manders to hold their positions。〃
〃Done； mander；〃 she responded almost immediately。
K'rrk made an approving sound。 〃Open up a hailing frequency； Lieutenant。 〃
〃Frequency opened to all traffic；〃 Reeza told him。
K'rrk cleared his throat and slapped a paw down on the chair's translator stud。 〃This is the Karbarran starship N'trpriz。 We wish to make contact with whomever is presently in control of Haydon IV。〃 He repeated the request twice more。
〃Ining； sir；〃 Reeza said as a synthesized voice speaking formal Karbarran began to issue from the bridge's munication ports。
〃Attention； N'trpriz；〃 the voice began。 〃Your vessel is being scanned。 Do not； repeat； do not attempt to arm or deploy any weapons。 〃
K'rrk flashed his weapons officer a paw signal for restraint and patience。 〃Understood； Haydon IV；〃 he directed toward overhead audio pickups。 〃With whom are we speaking？〃
〃You are in munication with Haydon IV's Awareness。 State your purpose； N'trpriz。〃
K'rrk glanced at his crew； then said； 〃We must be permitted to establish a docking orbit around Haydon IV for the purpose of extracting our citizens；〃
Ursine eyes fixed on the forward screen and speakers。 〃That cannot be permitted；〃 the Awareness replied at last。 〃Your citizens are in no danger。 Do not； repeat； do not attempt an approach or your vessel will have to be destroyed。〃 K'rrk bared his fangs in a twisted smile。 If the normally dour Karbarrans had learned anything from the Sentinels' victorious campaigns； it was that fate； destiny； could be grasped as one would a prize piece of fruit。 And just now Haydon IV was that prize； a conquest that would consolidate Karbarra's power among the worlds of the Local Group and reward a certain mander with the dreadnought of his choosing for all subsequent sorties。
〃Nonsense；〃 K'rrk told the Awareness with a gurgling snarl。 〃Release your prisoners at once or suffer the consequences。〃 He hit the …interrupt stud and swung to Lorek。 〃Do we still have a fix on the nerve center？〃
〃Affirmative； mander。〃
K'rrk struck the arm of the mand chair with a huge fist； nonretractable claws finding their usual grooves。 〃Activate all electronic countermeasures and prepare for evasive action。 Mav； prepare to secure us a counterrotational orbit at my mand。 Cano： target primary torpedoes ground zero on nerve center coordinates。〃
〃We're being warned away； sir；〃 Reeza said。
〃Engineering；〃 K'rrk growled across the …line as the N'trpriz began to close on the accelerating sphere that was Haydon IV。
〃Engineering here； mander；〃 a thickly accented Highlander's voice returned。
〃We're going to try a hit…and…run； Rash。 Will your engines back us up？〃
〃By Firrbisst； you know they will； mander。〃 K'rrk grinned。 〃All right； Cano； on my…〃
A blare of two…note warning horns overpowered his words。 〃mander；〃 Lorek reported in an astonished voice。 〃Ship's auto…destruct has been armed and is counting down！〃
K'rrk rose halfway out of the helm chair。 〃What？〃
〃Auto…destruct set for thirty units； sir。〃
K'rrk spit a curse at Haydon IV's on…screen image。 〃Toy with us； you will not！ Mav； plot a course directly for the surface。 I want us in this ship sitting right over the Awareness！〃
〃Twenty units； sir。 〃
K'rrk slammed a paw down on the chair's control panel。 〃Ship's puter；〃 he said； catching a whiff of his own muskiness。 〃Abort auto…destruct sequence。 Priority override； K'rrk…two…K'rrk…one； cancel。〃
Lorek entered a similar verbal code； and the warning horns were silenced。 〃Auto…destruct sequence aborted；〃 Lorek up dated。
K'rrk grinned knowingly。 〃All engines full reverse； Mav。〃 The navigator tapped a flurry of mands into his console； then threw a wide…eyed look over his shoulder。 〃Sir； the ship isn't responding！〃
〃Rash！〃 K'rrk barked over the …line。 〃Get your engines on…line！〃
The chief engineer's reply was panicked。 〃By the UrFlower； we're trying； sir！〃
K'rrk heard Lorek's sharp intake of breath under the blare of reactivated warning horns。 〃Auto…destruct reinitiated； mander。 Counting down from thirty units。〃
〃Haydon！〃 K'rrk bellowed。 〃Mav： Return to previous course heading； all ahead full！〃
〃Twenty units； mander。〃
〃We've got full reverse； sir；〃 Rash said proudly from engineering。
K'rrk's muzzle fell open at the sight of Haydon IV dwindling on…screen。 〃Full ahead！ Full ahead！〃
〃No response； sir！〃 Mav said。 〃Ten units； mander。〃
〃Ship's puter；〃 K'rrk sputtered。 〃Abort auto…destruct sequence。 K'rrk…two…K'rrk…one。 〃
〃You forget to say ‘priority override'！〃 every officer on the bridge cried at the same time。
〃Five units； mander。〃
〃Ship's puter；〃 K'rrk started again。 〃Priority override…No！ I mean Abort K'rrk…two… No； I…〃
〃Four units； mander！〃
〃Ship's K'rrk puter sequence…〃
Mav and Cano had abandoned their duty stations and were app