"You're a natural," Chris said as we waited for the next meeting. The rest of the fleet had spent the remains of the night shift organizing their command structure. We'd had a head start, but I still got calls, mostly from the ship sub-commanders who had been promoted, who needed direction on how to deal with problems.

"I don't know," I shook my head. "They didn't teach this stuff at the academy."

"Which only goes to prove my point," Chris laughed. "You're a natural. If you had been a command officer, they would have ruined you."

I couldn't help but chuckle with him.

A lot of battlefield promotions were made, but the missing ranks were soon filled. Once the chains of command were re-established, the ships were gathered into a defensive formation. By the time of the big meeting, word had spread throughout the crews that Kennth Phon and the other commanders had come up with a plan to get everyone home. There was a noticeable air of excitement as every man and woman throughout the combined fleets connected with the virtual meeting place.

The new commanders were introduced to the crews, some routine matters of fleet operations were addressed, and then the senior commanders addressed the fleet.

"I don't have to tell you how difficult our position is," Commander Smith began. "We are now in an all-or-nothing situation. We face either a glorious victory or a glorious defeat. Whatever we do, we do not want to be taken alive. You don't want to know the kind of revenge the Cacks intend to take out on us, but you can be certain it's the sort of thing you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy. If we are going to die, we are going to go down fighting like warriors and not butchered like animals."

Commander Smith was obviously of the old do-or-die school. I hoped Commander Abrams would be a little more inspiring. When Smith had finished, Abrams addressed the crews.

"Whatever happens next, our fates are in the hands of the Maker. Considering the circumstances, I can think of no better place to be. Righteous Ruler, who many of the Cacks regard as like a god, has proved himself a faithless liar. Bright Fortune is even worse. After swearing to do his utmost to save us whom he called his neighbor, after taking an oath and calling on God himself as a witness, he used our faith against us and seized our generals, even at a diplomatic meeting. Most Noble too, Shines Like the Sun's best friend, betrayed Shines Like the Sun's memory and his own oath to us and joined Shines Like the Sun's and our enemy. What reward do you think they have earned?

"As for us, we must put our faith in our Maker and not in the Cacks, fight as best we can and trust God to reward and punish as He sees fit."

When they had finished, I rose and my avatar rose with me. I had recorded a new image of myself in my best uniform and subtly edited it until my avatar looked as close as I could come to the ideal military leader.

"We've all heard, as if we didn't already know, what liars the Cacks have proven to be. It seems to me, considering what happened to our commanders, we'd have to be pretty desperate to even consider making peace with them."

Hopefully this would shut up any other James Ferrells out there I thought.

"If then, it is be war, let us do everything in our power to make them pay for their crimes!"

At this point the crowd, which had remained completely dispirited during Sherman's and Abrams' talks were sitting up and looked a little more eager to do battle.

"We have already heard why we have every reason to hope that the Great Maker will deliver us from our mutual enemy, but let me give you another reason to hope.

"Remember your own fathers and mothers who, when the Cacks first attacked Sol, fought off a more numerous and technologically superior force with little more than their own courage and determination. And later, when the colonies declared their independence and the Cacks saw it as an opportunity to expand their Moiarchy, again your parents fought off their vast armada so that half of our ships and buildings carry their names to this day. Their statues still clutter our courtyards and—most significantly—you still enjoy the freedom they won.

"This valor is your inheritance. And lest you think I am talking about the fathers of some other Solarians consider this—" I smiled. "Only a few days ago you were kicking the collective butt of those Cacks' descendents all the way back to their home world. Though they outnumbered you ten to one, though you were fighting to help an alien win his empire, you did not hesitate and you did not flinch to face them. At that time, you knew little about their abilities and tactics. Now you've taken their measure and found them lacking. How much more appropriate is this current battle for your own freedom? So what is there left to be afraid of?"

The audience exploded in cheers and I had to wait for them to die down.

I continued, paraphrasing some of what I had said to my own commanders about the end of the truce being a good thing in disguise and started making some practical observations on how the fleet should proceed.

"First, we should destroy all the supply ships."

This brought a gasp from the assembly.

"Not one can go beyond 2C and most are too damaged to do us any good anyway. Our success here lies in our speed. When we enter a new system, we should be able to reach their main supply stations before they can call up an effective defense. We are a large enough force they will give us anything we ask to be rid of us.

"In fact," I chuckled, thinking of the incident at Fertile Fields, "we should probably act as if we have no intention of leaving. Think of The Unbounded Ones, That Which Overturns, or The Swords. They are each no more technologically advanced than we are, most are more primitive, yet I have no doubt but that Righteous Ruler would build a fleet of jump ships or even a transport gate to the other end of the galaxy if they would agree to leave his Moiarchy and stop raiding merchant convoys. How much more willing will he be to get rid of us? He may even fear that, now we have seen all the Cack Moiarchy has to offer those with the strength and courage to take it, that we might lose any desire to leave and found a colony world right in the midst of his Moiarchy."

This brought some chuckles from the crowd.

"Finally, and most importantly, we must restore proper military discipline and learn to act as a single fleet. Until now Innman's Pilgrims—sorry—the SI-Transit Security force, has fought alongside of the Pentaminc Security force and the Patriotic Force of the Free Government of the Thousand—"

A cheer rose up among some of the crew at their mention. I smiled.

"—has fought alongside of the Sentinels, each relying on Commander Sherman and the other commanders to hold the fleets together. The Cacks knew this. That's why they didn't attack until they had captured our commanders. They assumed we would fall apart without them and be defenseless. But if you see something that needs to be done, don't wait for an officer to tell you to do it, take care of it. If an officer tells you to do something, even if it isn't your job, do it. Support each other, remember you are a team, and the Cacks will find not just one Commander Sherman but ten-thousand Commander Shermans."

This caused quite a lot of cheering and excited talk as everyone seemed to be for it.

"To help in this, I suggest we integrate our command structures so we can function as a single fleet."

This also caused a commotion, but I definitely heard boos mixed in with the cheers.

"I know that some of you work for different governments, some of your ship commanders are owner operators and most of the rest of you work for different corporations—some bitter rivals. This suggestion may violate some of your contracts. But those governments, corporations and clients aren't here paying the bills right now and, until we get back to Solarian space, I suggest we suspend the old charters and agreements and draft a new charter, incorporating us into a single fleet with a single command structure: The United Solarian Fleet."

The buzz in the virtual conference space increased, but most of it seemed positive. One fellow shouted out an approving "Yes!" which brought some laughter.

"Since this matter concerns everyone," I concluded, "If anyone has a better plan, bring it forward, regardless of their rank."

Some of the crew insisted we adopt my proposal immediately. Others suggested we table it for further discussion until Commander Smith reminded them that the Cacks could attack us at any moment. Some crew members wanted to set up a committee to draft a formal charter, others wanted to change the name or had suggestions for new ranks for the command structure. As the meeting threatened to spin out of control, Commander Smith stepped up and took charge.

"We will have time, I hope, to discuss some of these other issues later. Right now let's vote on the plan Kenneth Phon has proposed."

Everyone voted and, to my surprise, the measure was passed by such a large majority that I was sure it was as close to unanimous as this group would ever get.

Now if only we could continue to hold them all together.

* * *

We cannibalized the supply ships, stripping out their TCR generators and anything else that might be useful. A distribution network was established to ensure every ship had a chance to get any materials they needed for repairs. Though the crews of a thousand ships descended like locusts on the soon to be sacrificed supply ships, it still took a couple of days to take them apart. While this was going on, a trio of Cack fast attack craft lead by God's Gift arrived signaling a desire to talk. It was not completely unheard of to have Cack ships visit us. There were still independent merchants looking to make money, and there were SCs who had served in Cack space for years and who still had left behind some unfinished business when they joined Shines Like the Sun.

God's Gift came within com laser com range and sent a broad channel message to the fleet. "He Who Looks Up, witness you that I an intimate friend of Shines Like the Sun and positively not yours enemy. I am having some fear of falling from Righteous Ruler shown favor and so I searching my absence. I greatly much lacked traveling beside you if possibility, contingent on your plans' nature. What do you speak?"

Dexter set up a quick conference of the fleet commanders since the connection to the Cack ship came through his network. "Well, commanders, what do you say?"

"Can we trust him?" Smith asked.

"Not entirely, but he was a friend of Shines Like the Sun and what he says about having fallen out of favor may be true." Maxwell said.

"He's only got three FACs. If we keep an eye on him, he wouldn't be able to do too much damage and his knowledge of the Cack transit system could be invaluable. It could save weeks or even months of wandering around if he is in such a hurry to get out of reach of the ruler."

Smith looked at Abrams who merely nodded. "Very well, we'll let him join us." He signaled to God's Gift and said, "Our plan is to return to Solarian space as soon as possible, assuming no one tries to stop us. If they do, we will do everything in our power to destroy them."

"Much goodness, excepting...," God's Gift said.

"Except what?"

"You should knowing Most Noble has increased strength to Bright Fortune."

"Yes we know they've joined forces."

"Bright Fortune's strengthening daily. If fighting appears, I thoughtless you're stopping them."

"We've heard all this before." Smith sounded as if he were growing irritated.

"Possibility your best knowing," God's Gift conceded. "Yet, grasped your thoughts the supplies obtaining?"

Dexter cut in, "We're going to take them from whatever systems we pass through."

"Your good plan. Few systems will having opposing strength if Righteous Ruler doesn't will later deliver his ships after you. Remember yet of our entering the inner sphere. All sought space assets the systems removed or destroyed. Their advantageous linked transit stations provide the Indweller's EPR network. Proceeding word Righteous Ruler can deliver of your coming. Fearing I empty space and quickly tired supplies before your half-way homecoming."

"You seem to have certainly thought this out," I said. I was growing increasingly suspicious of his offer to join us. "Perhaps you have a better plan and would share it."

"No plan. My difficulty of light-years in seeing no path without Righteous Ruler's help."

I flash messaged Smith, text only: kill his feed. Smith cut him off then turned to me. "Are you thinking what I am thinking?"

"That Righteous Ruler or Bright Fortune sent him to talk us into surrendering."

"I'm not sure," Abrams added, "but I spent a lot of time working for Bright Fortune before changing sides and I think I saw one of the Cacks standing behind God's Gift in the video feed, wearing his idiogram. He could well be extorting God's Gift's cooperation.

"Either way, I think we should forbid any further contact with any of the Cacks," Smith said.

"Especially after Commander Powell snuck off in that courier ship with a bunch of his subs," Maxwell added.

Smith nodded. "As of right now, we have to consider every Cack we see as the enemy."