"I don't hate you," she said, and turned away, staring toward the moon that had just touched the top of the Larr Range. "I think you made a mistake. That mistake cost my father's life. Since then, you've done a loyal job. I can't tell you what we're going to do, but I know that with your help we can do it."
He waited, saying nothing.
"The ships of Vestena attack tonight," she said in a shaking voice. "We—you and I are going to stop them."
"Attack the whole army? Why didn't you notify the Warrior Fleet at the tunnel head? They could have been ready."
He wheeled away from her, but she caught up and put her hand on his arm.
"They can do nothing," she said. "The Vestena fleet sent a decoy army. The Warrior Fleet of Parma is thousands of miles out in space, pursuing a dummy army—an army of empty, robot-controlled ships that left Vestena hours ago.
"Now the true fleet is somewhere near the tunnel head, poised for a quick dash through."
"How do I know you're telling the truth?"
Her eyes were steady on his.
"You've never doubted a word I've spoken."