Some time after the Lordun delegation had left the hangar, the crates they had left behind began to move—slowly and cautiously. The ends of two of them slid silently open, disgorging a number of small robots that looked like metallic spiders. They scuttled across the hangar bay toward ventilation ducts, and proceeded to cut their way in. Moments later, they were gone, scurrying down the ship’s airways toward the source of the power readings coming from the center of the ship.

—

“This is our bridge,” Maius told Neely and his men, as they stood in the large, round room girt with viewplates and touch-sensitive control boards. It was really one of many possible bridges, but there was no need to mention that. Or to mention that, as a precaution, the robed “crew” were actually Auditor guards. If all was innocent, the Lorduns would never know. However, if they were malfeasant, only Auditors and she were at risk.

Maius tried to show no reaction when the first emergency message came over her earpiece.