"Not good," Aihara suddenly announced. He muttered to himself a moment. "Definitely bad, very bad!"

Kodai turned around. "What is it?"

"Some lazy communications officer forgot to encode his dispatch." Aihara faced the bridge with a hand pressed to his headset. "I just found out there's a price on our heads."

"What?" Kodai checked himself. "Shouldn't be surprised, I guess."

Hand to chin, Sanada looked thoughtful. "We've only been out a week. I'd say someone reached a very quick decision about our fate."

Yamato was sailing through the Kuiper Belt as he spoke, hugging the grimy corners of the solar system as she fled its confines.

"How much of a price?" Kodai asked. He was beginning to doubt the strategy of radio silence he had ordered.

"Here, I'll play it back for you," Aihara said, and started the recording. Some of the crew gathered around his station. After the routine openers, they heard a message being relayed from one captain to another. Kodai and the others listened as instructions were given to hunt Yamato down and arrest the entire crew. Permission had been granted to use force, if necessary. When it finished, the crew lapsed into silence as they contemplated the nature of the threat.

"Our own fellow officers against us!" the junior Tokugawa exclaimed. "What's gotten into their heads?"

Kodai and the others slowly shook theirs.

Ota had remained seated, monitoring the debris field of icy objects strewn about that area of space. He peered more closely at the screen. Hey, check it out! he thought, feeling a dash of awe at his discovery. That hunk of ice looks just like a ship! Then, there was a telltale beep as data suddenly began to stream into his console, signaling that the "hunk of ice" was something of a different nature altogether. Ota's heart began to pound as his fingers raced to double-check the readings. "We've got company!" he shouted out a moment later.

"On screen," Kodai ordered. "Shima, prepare for evasive action. Keep us out of firing range if you can."

"Aye."

The crew watched with baited breath as an EDF destroyer slipped into view. It charged a brazen path directly in front of Yamato.

"Do we have an ID, Ota?" Kodai asked.

"Coming." Ota's eyes tightened, then grew wide. "It's the Amagiri!"

"We're being hailed!" Aihara added. "Switching to video panel." He stared eagerly up at the screen. "Hey, Nambu!" he shouted as the Amagiri's Captain appeared. "Why'd you sneak up on us like that, you old fart?" When his eyes dropped, he met Kodai's withering gaze. "Shutting up, now," he muttered, but his expression stayed fixed on the panel.

Kodai was saluting, and received a smart salute from Nambu in return. "Captain," Kodai murmured, and nodded. He stared curiously at Nambu's twitching lips as the newly-minted captain suppressed a smile. Kodai guessed he was enjoying his new command, and regretted the shock he must have experienced upon learning of Yamato's predicament. It's very strange to meet you like this, Kodai thought. He had been looking forward to a simple drink with Nambu at their favorite watering hole, not some old-fashioned western showdown.

But Nambu's tone was jovial. "Fancy meeting you here, Kodai! I guess you're starting to forget how long some of us have served with you!" At Kodai's confused expression, he continued. "I'm probably the only officer who guessed how you might try to hightail it out of here unnoticed. So, can I come aboard?"

Kodai's guarded expression melted as a wide smile splashed across Nambu's face. Twenty minutes later, he was on Yamato's bridge shouting out greetings and embracing his fellow officers.

"Did you come alone?" Kodai asked. He glanced around nervously, as if expecting Nambu to suddenly morph into a small army.

Nambu nodded. "Let's go someplace we can talk."

Kodai escorted him to the Captain's quarters. After calling for some tea, the pair began an uneasy discussion about the current circumstances that had brought them together. Their conversation circled around the issue like wary birds of prey as Kodai described recent events. He told Nambu about being approached by the Flying Dutchman's crew, and showed him some of the images of the dead bodies. He had no intention of withholding any of the information. He trusted that the man before him would make a fair decision about Yamato's fate.

Nambu listened hard and long, and then in a somber voice laid out the dilemma facing him. He rubbed at the bridge of his nose underneath his glasses. "I can't even describe how blatantly in violation I am of those orders right now. And just by talking to you! From what I can gather, St. Cyr and his camp think you're overreacting to the situation on Good Hope. He doesn't want you barging in and escalating the conflict. On the other hand, if what the Dutchman's crew said is true, then the Commander's response to what he thinks you're doing sounds like overreacting. Like you said, he could be hiding something." Nambu sighed. "Hundreds of ships are out looking for you." Then his eyes twinkled as he continued. "I talked to some of the other captains. A lot are having…ah…engine problems and such, so it's been slow going."

Kodai grunted in understanding of the implication. He dreaded the possibility of having to fight not only colleagues, but also soldiers who had become his friends. Folding his hands on the table, he spoke in a low voice. "What are you going to do, Nambu?"

Nambu stood slowly up, and leaned on his hands. "You don't leave me any choice, Kodai," said the Amagiri's captain in a stern voice. "Are you going to cooperate, or do I have to fight you for my old job back?"

Kodai gasped and looked up. The moment he had hoped would never come to pass was now unfolding before his eyes. But wait a minute!

When Nambu's words finally sank in, Kodai threw his head back with a relieved laugh. He stood up, and the pair clasped arms over the table. For a moment, neither man could not speak through their relieved, breathless chuckles.

Nambu winked. "I made my decision the second I heard the news. I was positive you wouldn't take Yamato like that without a good reason, Kodai. You're like a brother to me, you know! I'll always trust you."

Speechless, Kodai simply nodded in thanks.

Nambu broke from Kodai's grasp, and rubbed the back of his head. "Eh, guess I better break the news to my crew."

Kodai led the way to the door. "Use Aihara's station. I'm sure he'll be glad to have you back!"

Good Hope Colony.

Established in 2139, it sprawled out across the rocky surface of a planet that orbited the star 51 Pegasi, one hundred and fifty light years from Earth. 51 Pegasi was a solar-type star, older than Earth's sun, and harbored a dragon in its belly (or so some of the old-timers were fond of saying in a feeble attempt to scare away newcomers). Good Hope sprouted as a mining colony, but due to its convenient location and ample natural resources, it quickly attracted major industries of various sorts. Wave after wave of merchant companies arrived within the first few years, digging themselves into the stony soil, and gouging the roots of their competition when opportunity arose.

In the early years, long months passed between patrols of the burgeoning Earth Defense Force. It was during these months that border disputes and racial mistrust among the merchant enclaves would erupt and escalate into bloody conflicts. Many civilians died, and even women and children were taken prisoner during corporate power plays. But the colonists were an independent, resolute lot; above all they did not want interference from the military, even in the interest of safety. So when the Military Police or MIS agents would arrive to investigate trouble, the colonists, no matter what their allegiance, practiced tricks of subterfuge or invoked the power of political ties in order to be left alone.

Good Hope may have been afflicted with conflict and strife, but all who did business there prospered. Bootleggers and underground industries infiltrated the colony by the dozens. The Dutch East India Company in particular saw its profits triple each year. Like others of its kind, it operated openly, shipping and receiving wares alongside companies who counted military contracts among their acquisitions. It was a public secret that one could get away with things there, as long as it didn't interfere with the plans of St. Cyr, the EDF general whose job it had been to tame the cutthroat ways of the colonists, who were like wild beasts prowling under the harsh glare of 51 Pegasi.

The news of Todo Heikuro's death re-ignited many of the border disputes and political infighting. Illegal activities soared to new heights. Aspiring members of the local government saw an opportunity to amass even more power when they thought the eye of the EDF was elsewhere. Those at the sudden mercy of unscrupulous politicians cried foul, and a contingent of Space Marines was sent in an attempt to stabilize the unrest that arose, particularly in Nagorno. Nagorno was an industrial region dominated by a cluster of Armenian run factories at the base of Mount Nemrud. The peak lay nestled in a mountain range lining the northwest coast of one of the three major continents.

Yamato was now rushing headlong toward this turbulent state of affairs.

Kodai stood with arms folded behind Ota's chair as he and Sanada studied the data from the long range scanners. Moments earlier, Yamato had arrived at Good Hope, and established an orbit. Kodai hoped Yamato's presence was only interpreted as that of a patrol ship. Nevertheless, he had asked Shima to steer clear of the real patrol ships. Tokugawa had been dispatched to the Engine Room a short while earlier. Aihara was monitoring radio activity, generated primarily from the merchant ships, and Nambu was preparing for a weapons deployment if any hostile forces approached. The air filled with a chorus of voices and console chatter.

"Wait, stay on that area," Sanada said, his sharp eyes spotting movement far east of Mount Nemrud.

"What is it?" Kodai asked.

Ota zoomed in and sharpened the image. "Looks like a ship," he murmured. "Let me get some stats on it."

"That's an EDF supply ship!" Sanada exclaimed. "Quickly, Ota!"

"Hurrying as fast as I can." His hands flew over the instruments. "The Kinugawa…pulling up course data now…it left base about four weeks ago, and arrived a few hours before we did. It was on schedule." He reeled off some more information about it's flight path and size.

"Look!" Kodai pointed. "They're unloading something." His fingers traced part of the screen. It showed a steady stream of giant, military-issue storage containers emerging from the open hangar. They were being broken down, and loaded onto trucks, some of which were already heading west in a steady caravan.

"Ota, can you find any information about the shipment?" Sanada asked.

"Hang on…" He scrolled down the data list, and his eyes grew wide. "Arms! A whole bunch of different things! Grenades, automatics, missile launchers, you name it."

Sanada whistled, and exchanged a worried look with the Captain.

"Since when does the EDF supply weapons to the colonists?" Kodai asked, even though he knew the answer.

"Since never, as far as I know," Sanada responded. "I wonder if that's on the level."

"I want to go down and check it out," Kodai said. He was about to turn away when Ota clamored for his attention.

He gestured to the new image on the screen. "Well, you better be careful! There's an awful lot of combat to the south."

"What?"

Kodai and Sanada leaned back in to take a closer look. They discovered the presence of a Space Marine base camp, and to the north of it, a group of Marines was engaging unknown forces. Abruptly, the picture disappeared.

"Sorry," Shima called out. "I had to take us out of range. One of the patrol ships is making another pass through this area."

Kodai jumped into action, barking out orders for a reconnaissance party. "Sanada, you're with me. Nambu, assemble a small team, and tell them to meet us in the hangar."

"Aye, sir!"

"Shima, bring us close enough for a drop-off, then continue present course. We'll radio you when we're done, but don't risk an encounter. We'll wait to board if we have to."

Shima nodded. "Roger that." He contacted Tokugawa to relay the status.

Kodai and Sanada raced off the bridge.

Yamato's shuttle was one of many that wove their way to a destination among the colony's numerous landing strips and docks. Black Tiger pilot Yamaguchi matched their speed to those of others that were falling planet side like a sprinkling of fireworks. The shuttle flew far north of the equator, following the coordinates towards the Kinugawa. The supply ship nestled on part of the sprawling plain at the foot of the mountain range that bordered Nagorno. Beyond the mountains there was a rocky, desert region, but as it did not concern them, they made no note of it.

In his best commercial airline pilot impression, Yamaguchi cupped a hand to his mouth, and started a running commentary on the landing. "Yamato Airlines welcomes you to Good Hope Colony, home of scoundrels, thieves, and degenerates." He paused dramatically for laughs, which his nearby companions were only too happy to provide. "The ground temperature is a balmy fifty degrees, with overcast skies--"

"Knock it off!" Kodai shouted from the back as he, Sanada, Analyzer, and two other men prepared to disembark. Yamaguchi promptly shut his mouth, and turned his attention to the landing.

As soon as Kodai and the others emerged from the shuttle, they spotted a small group of men approaching their position. It was the Captain of the Kinugawa, and the look of annoyance on his face was enough to sour milk.

When he was several yards away, he called out. "What the hell are you doing, Kodai? Think you can just waltz in here anytime you want? This is a restricted area."

Kodai was unfamiliar with the lanky, gray-haired man. "Captain…?"

"Ogami Ito, and I'm very busy." His blue eyes narrowed. "Haven't you been ordered back to Earth?"

Kodai brushed off the question, and posed some of his own. "What's going on? Why are weapons being brought here?"

Ogami scowled. "That's classified."

Undaunted, Kodai persisted. "The Marines are engaged in battle to the south. Why is EDF issue being unloaded here? And by whose orders?"

"That's classified."

Kodai continued, altering his questions slightly as he went. But Ogami would only respond with "Classified!" or "Are you daft? I said it's classified!" After a short while, he grew tired of the inquiry, and signaled for his entourage to follow him back.

But Kodai was determined. He leaped forward, and pushed Ogami around to face him. The Kinugawa crew instantly drew their weapons, and a shout from one of Yamato's men to do the same completed the stand-off.

But it was as if Kodai and the supply ship captain were oblivious. "If you don't tell me what's going on here, you leave me no choice but to report you!" Kodai said.

Initially, Ogami's eyes had glittered with cold fire when Kodai touched him. But then his expression changed, and he uttered a laugh, low and derisive. It hung in the air like a taunt. "Go right ahead, Kodai," he said, "and report it to St. Cyr."

So, St. Cyr is behind this, Kodai thought. Maybe even ordered it himself. But why? He wondered how long it had gone on behind Todo's back.

Ogami waved at his men to stand down, and started to walk away again.

"What do you know about the bodies?" Kodai shouted after him.

Sanada grabbed his shoulder. "Think that's wise?" he asked quietly.

Kodai would only acknowledge him with a tense, noncommittal look. In the meantime, Ogami had made a quarter turn, and his face was in profile. "I'm really beginning to wonder about your priorities, Captain," he murmured, ending the comment with a chuckle.

"I’ll get to the bottom of this one way or another," Kodai said with rising ire.

"You do that," Ogami replied, his voice empty of concern. He returned to the Kinugawa, leaving his crew to warn off Kodai's men with menacing looks.

"Damn it!" Kodai muttered. He ordered everyone to return to the shuttle, as all of the crew except Yamaguchi had come out to surround him in a protective circle.

Back inside, the team gathered to compare notes. Analyzer had been busy taking pictures, and uploaded the images to the shuttle's main screen. Kodai remained tight-lipped, as he still felt burned from the corrosive meeting with Ogami. He had become used to cordial, almost deferential responses from everyone he met as a result of Yamato's frequent missions (not that he demanded or expected it). He found Ogami's hostile attitude very puzzling.

"Looks like a training camp's been set up," Sanada noted, referring to a picture of distant targets and simulated combat structures.

"We'll have to study the rest later," Kodai announced. "Let's head south."

A strong tail wind enabled the shuttle to maintain a swift course to the Space Marine base camp. The crew was silent as they watched the radar screens and monitored activity on the ground. The closer they approached, the more the hilly, weed infused plain turned up soldiers and colonists locked in combat.

Suddenly, the crew was tossed port side as the shuttle banked sharply. A surface to air missile shrieked by, narrowly missing the hull by inches.

"Fuck you!" Yamaguchi hollered. "Everyone okay?"

The crew grumbled a bit, and nursed some bruises, but everyone reported they were still intact.

"Radio in so we can land near the base camp," Kodai ordered, gripping a handhold. "And watch the language."

"Roger that, sir. Making final approach now."

The communications technician patched quickly through to the Marine headquarters, and relayed the coordinates cleared by the master sergeant.

Kodai left the shuttle only with Sanada this time. The acrid, bitter smell of weapon discharges and burned hunks of metal assaulted them as soon as they stepped out into the open air. Marines swarmed over the camp, shouting and running as they hurried to carry out orders. Great, thick plumes of black smoke could be seen rising from many different spots upon the plain around the camp. Explosions both near and far caused frequent rumbles beneath their feet. Amid the frenetic, seemingly haphazard operation, they were met by two armed guards who escorted them to the command center, a cluster of green, low-ceilinged structures. The bearded, stocky base commander stood in a room cramped with personnel and weapons, triaging field reports. When Kodai and Sanada were introduced, he identified himself as First Sergeant Genji.

Kodai went straight to the point. "What's the status?"

Genji crossed his arms. "A gang of Armenian merchant guerillas tried to invade the camp this morning. Then that damn Tahil company sent out some shit civilian private army to fight them, apparently, but they're messing with my boys. Lost six of 'em about an hour ago to some land mines."

"What is this Tahil company?"

"Supposed to be just that--one of the local industries." Genji gestured to his left. "Based out there to the east." He cocked an eyebrow. "Just why are you here, anyway? Run out of fancy space wars to fight?"

Kodai fought back a retort. "We're investigating some civilian disappearances. What do you know about any dead bodies being shipped here?"

A brief flicker of surprise, tinged with curiosity, lit his eyes. But it was swept away by his gruff response. "I don't know anything about that, and I don't need to, either. I've got enough craziness on my hands. Unless you're here to back us up, I can't help you right now." Genji turned around to face the command station consoles.

When the guard came forward to escort them out, Kodai held to his spot. "Did you know that the supply ship Kinugawa just arrived northeast of here?"

Genji whipped back around. "What's that?"

"They're unloading a shipment of weapons."

At that news, Genji displayed unabashed shock. "Son of a bitch!" he exclaimed, and shouted for some of his men.

Kodai figured it was all the information he would obtain from the sergeant. Rather than obstruct Genji's efforts, he decided to return to Yamato. His team numbered too few to attempt any other forays into colonial territory. It was difficult to determine whether Genji or Ogami were hiding something, or if they just didn't know about the activities of the merchant ships. He felt angry, too, at being brushed off for a second time that day. Lucia, he thought, we came a long way and risked our jobs based on your word. I risked… He pushed away the last part, and then saw an image of Lucia in his mind's eye. Inflamed thoughts snapped at it with the strength of a dragon's jaw. You'd better have a good explanation for this.

"They did what?"

St. Cyr looked up, his dark eyes brimming with vexation. The communications officer from the Command Center control room had come to deliver the news in person; the young woman tightly clasped her trembling hands behind her. Yuki sat at her desk, pausing as she fielded text messages that routinely arrived at the Commander's office. She was unable to hide her keen interest in the conversation.

The communications officer stared straight ahead as she confirmed the report. "Yamato's captain, Kodai Susumu, landed by shuttle at two separate areas in the Nagorno region of Good Hope Colony. Captain Ogami Ito of the supply ship Kinugawa reported that Kodai was asking questions about his purpose there. He felt Kodai was obstructing him while he was attempting to carry out his duties, and would like to register a complaint."

"Is there not one EDF patrol ship that has made contact with Yamato?"

"Not that I'm aware of, sir. They've been looking all this time. Yamato apparently evaded the colony patrol ships as well."

St. Cyr sighed so heavily and low, it was almost a growl. "Where are they now?"

"The shuttle departed the colony about three hours prior to the communication being sent, so about five hours ago Earth time. Yamato's location is still unknown."

He asked the communications officer for a full written report before dismissing her. "Yuki!" he said, "Take this memo and distribute it to all active EDF personnel."

moment, she looked over at him, for he had yet to begin. Stay calm. "Sir?"

of "your husband." Maybe I can just pull the strings and control him from here, she thought sarcastically. He's out of your reach, and it makes you angry, doesn't it? But Yuki was careful not to let her gleeful thoughts betray her. Clearing her throat, she spoke in the most deferential tone she could muster. "I agree. You should do whatever it takes before he turns other soldiers against you."

St. Cyr nodded, but underneath his seemingly composed exterior, Yuki thought she detected a hint of worry. St. Cyr, she assumed, had thought Yamato and her crew would be the only dissenters. Perhaps he hadn't taken into account Kodai's extensive influence. "But Commander," she continued, "what about the Council, and the President?"

"Due time, Yuki. They'll be informed when the time is appropriate." He stood up, and walked over to her desk. His right hand landed on her shoulder. "Don't worry, Yuki. I'll take care of everything. Now let's begin."

Kodai was the last to board the shuttle. Just as he stepped inside, he heard a shout. "Hold the door!" he cried, and stuck his head outside.

A lone marine was running towards him. He was young, about Kodai's age, with rakish good looks. He slowed as he neared, and spread his arms to show he had not armed any of his weapons. "Kodai?" he asked.

Kodai nodded. "What is it?"

The marine looked behind him before speaking, as if fearing discovery. "My name's Takeda. You probably don't remember me, but I served with Saito."

"Saito?" Kodai emerged fully from the shuttle bay. Some of the other team members huddled closely by the door to listen.

Takeda nodded vigorously. "I know you two had your differences, but he always said you were a good man. He was proud to serve with you."

Kodai's face softened, as the mention of the Space Marine sergeant's name conjured up bittersweet memories. "What can I do for you?"

Takeda looked back a second time towards the base camp. Sweat beaded upon his forehead from the recent run. "I've come to warn you! Word just came through from Command…St. Cyr declared martial law. They're after Yamato. You better get out of here as fast as you can."

Kodai drew in a sharp breath, then shouted at the crew to prepare for immediate take-off. He turned back around to Takeda. "Thanks for the warning. But you should hurry back before you're missed."

Takeda didn't move, and his eyes shifted nervously. "I, uh, well, sir…I volunteer to go with you, sir!"

Kodai stared at him in amazement. "Come with us? But you don't even know our mission."

Takeda shook his head. "Doesn't matter, sir. Saito would've wanted me to."

A mixture of amazement and gratefulness washed across Kodai's features. He swallowed hard. "Permission granted. I'll explain on the way." He clapped Takeda on the shoulder, and guided him inside.

"Oh, thank god you're back!" Aihara locked a desperate gaze onto Kodai as soon as the Captain stepped onto Yamato's bridge. Shima was already guiding Yamato away from the planet.

Kodai ran up to him. "Why? What happened?"

"I can't run interference any longer. St. Cyr is waiting to talk to you. Something tells me he's a little upset."

Kodai nodded, and went to stand near the center of the bridge. He briefly wondered why General Stone wasn't contacting them. He was supposed to be back by now. But there wasn't time for further speculation. "Listen up, everyone! St. Cyr has just declared martial law. It's going to get harder from now on, not easier. As far as he's concerned, we're not connecting him with any dead bodies just yet. Aihara, get ready to patch him through. But when I say cut the link, do it immediately!"

Aihara nodded somberly, and after a short countdown, switched on the video panel. Kodai squared himself as St. Cyr's image solidified above him. He was sitting, hands folded, at his station in the control room. Various personnel occasionally passed by in the background.

"Captain Kodai Susumu," St. Cyr began.

"General."

"I can see by your appropriation of Yamato that you feel very strongly about something. Perhaps, young man, if you share your concerns with me, I can be of some help." A benevolent smile graced his lips. It faltered somewhat when Kodai refrained from answering. St. Cyr raised his eyebrows. "Well?"

"Why is the Kinugawa smuggling arms to the colonists?"

A sharp laugh issued from St. Cyr's throat. "We shouldn't be doing anything of the sort! If that's all you're worried about, why go to so much trouble? I'm responsible for these colonies, you know."

"But I saw the ship myself! Do you really expect me to believe you had no idea?

St. Cyr turned an impervious eye on him, and his tone was uncompromising. "Return Yamato to Earth, Kodai. The Kinugawa is my problem."

Kodai stared determinedly back. "A certain matter has been brought to my attention that demands swift resolution. Until that happens, Yamato will remain under my command."

A sigh as though from an aggrieved parent departed from St. Cyr's lips. "I'm a broker of peace, Captain, as my record will thoroughly show. It pains me to resort to force under any circumstances. If you return to Earth now, I'll set up an investigative committee, and appoint you the chair. All of my resources will be at your disposal. But only--" and here he raised his index finger for emphasis--"only if I have your complete loyalty and cooperation."

Kodai's brow furrowed in anger. "Why should we come back? So you can lock us up? Sorry, but we've already played that game. Yamato will return to Earth only after our work here is done." He motioned for Aihara to cut the link. St. Cyr's image faded from view.

"Well, we're in it pretty deeply, now," Kodai said to no one in particular. "Shima, set a course for--"

"Wait a minute, Kodai!" Sanada had spoken, and was now heading to Aihara's station. "Can you replay that transmission?"

"Sure, what do you need?" Aihara punched up the recording, and cued it on the main video panel.

"What is it, Sanada?" Kodai asked.

"Not sure just yet. Aihara, jump ahead about three quarters of the way through."

"Aye."

The rest of the crew listened or looked on curiously.

Sanada was staring intently upwards. "A little further…now slow it down…more…even more…"

"Sanada!" Kodai pressed.

Sanada's face was locked in concentration, then…"Stop it there!" he ordered. His mouth dropped slightly open. "I was hoping I was mistaken, but…" he looked at Kodai, then pointed up at the screen. "There, do you see? In the corner."

Kodai followed his hand. Passing just behind St. Cyr during that portion of the transmission was the unmistakable figure of Yuki. Sanada called for another replay, then looked at Kodai. His expression was sympathetic. "Looks like she's working there."

Kodai felt as if his insides had been turned suddenly to stone. He numbly shook his head. "No…she can't be, that's…she wouldn't!"

Shima turned to look at them. "Kodai, what did you tell her before we left?"

A bead of sweat coursed its way down the Captain's face. "I told her everything, of course. About the bodies, the fighting on Good Hope, everything!" His heart was beating rapidly, and he feared the others could hear it. Kodai swore, folding his arms against him like a shield.

"Maybe she's being forced to work," Aihara offered.

"I think she's a little smarter than that," Nambu interjected. "Yuki wouldn't work for that snake. There has to be some other explanation."

Kodai closed his eyes tightly. He had only shared the contents of her letter with Shima, Sanada, and Sado. The rest were unaware that Yuki was upset with him. Or was she so angry that she was enlisting the help of St. Cyr to draw him back? A seed of resentment began to grow in him. Yuki, I trusted you. How can you use our marriage to manipulate me? You're not playing fair.

"Did she know we were going to Good Hope, Kodai?" Shima was saying.

"Of course!" Kodai glared at him, angry that the navigator was voicing a fear that he had been trying to suppress. "What's your goddamn point?" He lurched forward menacingly toward Shima, but was detained by Sanada.

"Steady, Kodai!" the science officer growled.

Kodai pushed Sanada away, and went to lean against the lower portion of Okita's station, the station he barely used in deference to his memory. No one dared speak.

"My point is," Shima finally said, "St. Cyr may have found out from her where we were headed."

Kodai's free hand balled into a fist.

"Nambu," Kodai heard Sanada say, "when did you receive the orders to go after Yamato?"

"Barely three days into our patrol."

"Were you told how Command came by the information that we had taken off?"

Kodai reluctantly turned around at this point, feeling irrevocably drawn back to the discussion about his wife.

Nambu was stroking his chin. "Come to think of it, no one ever said. I assumed Yamato had been picked up by radar."

"Well, we can't rule out that she talked," Sanada said. "But what's done is done." He looked at Kodai.

Sanada's words echoed in the Captain's mind. Whether she was forced or not, the evidence pointed to Yuki having confided in St. Cyr, and informing him of some or all of Kodai's intentions. But it goaded him to think that Yuki would place their personal relationship above the deaths of innocent civilians. He thought he had known her. He thought she would always feel as he did, but apparently their relationship had reached a fork in the road. Kodai was not sure that he could ever give up his own path. But Sanada was right; what's done is done, and they had to assume the worst.

Yuki was a traitor.

Kodai spoke through clenched teeth, so great was the feeling of betrayal that threatened to engulf him. "From now on, we have to assume that Yuki is not to be trusted. I expect she'll anticipate our every move, and may share that intelligence with St. Cyr. Whatever she thinks we'll do, we do the opposite." Kodai's eyes softened. "I'm sorry, everyone. My personal relationship with her may have jeopardized the entire mission."

"Kodai--" Shima began, but stopped when Kodai held up his hand.

"Furthermore," he continued, "I don't want to hear that name mentioned in my presence. We move forward, and try our best to solve this problem. Aihara, contact the Flying Dutchman, and work with Shima to arrange a safe rendezvous point. That Lucia owes us a few answers."

The crew uttered barely audible acknowledgements of his orders as they struggled to understand Kodai's sudden hostility toward Yuki. It was like witnessing a heated argument between one's parents, with all the torn loyalties and mixed feelings it entailed. They watched solemnly as he took his seat, burying his face in his hands. If he were trying to keep from crying, it wouldn't have mattered. His pain was as bare and as naked to them as the terror of a lost, screaming child.

Moments after Yamato warped away from Good Hope Colony, the 137^th EDF fleet, led by Admiral James Fuller of the USS Dunkirk, surrounded the planet. It swept in like a heaving, brimming tidal wave, and left commercial vessels floundering in the aftermath of its wake. When all of the perimeters were secured, and non-essential merchant ships ejected from the planet's orbit, Admiral Fuller contacted St. Cyr to make his report. When Yamato returned, they would be ready. There would be no escape.

"Sir," Ota announced, as Yamato skulked along the edge of a lonely asteroid field, "we're being shadowed." He paused as more data filtered in. He twisted around to face Kodai. "It's the Flying Dutchman."

"Aihara, patch me through," said Kodai.

"Aye. Come in, Flying Dutchman. This is Yamato of the Earth Defense Force. Come in, Dutchman."

Everyone's head swiveled upwards as Lucia's face shimmered into a solid image on the video panel. Kodai, Shima, and Sanada made a note of her uniformed figure. A commercial insignia denoting her captain's status adorned a small patch of space below her left shoulder.

She spoke the truth about that, at least, Kodai thought. But his frustration level was peaking, and he had more than a few words for her. His eyes smoldered as he faced her, and he dispensed the formalities. "We hardly came all the way out here for some wild goose chase, Lucia! Good Hope is swarming with EDF troops. Explain again to me exactly what it is we're supposed to be doing."

"Kodai!" Shima muttered, in a half-hearted attempt to restrain him.

Lucia's expression was neutral, her voice even. "I have a few things to tell you, but not on this channel. Can I come aboard?"

Kodai's brow furrowed as he worked over the request in his mind for a moment. "All right," he finally said. "But you come alone."

Lucia nodded her understanding. "I'll arrive by shuttle in ten minutes. Dutchman out."

Kodai instructed one of the Black Tiger pilots to receive Lucia and escort her to the bridge. Their merry chatter trickled out as the lift doors opened, but it stopped as soon as Lucia caught sight of Yamato's main bridge. "Wow," she drawled, and her eyes darted about trying to take in everything at once. Her uniform rustled with a crisp, sharp sound as she strolled forward.

Kodai watched as Lucia smiled brightly, and patted Aihara on the shoulder as she neared his station. "Nice job; keep up the good work!" She pulled out a lollipop and waited patiently for him to accept it. Aihara stared at her with a dumbfounded look as his fingers closed around the green colored candy.

She shook Tokugawa's hand, and waved pleasantly at the rest of the crew. Her eyes strayed to the radar station, and she went over and sat in the empty seat. She spread out a hand on each of the dark globes. "Where's Yuki?" she asked Kodai. "Aren't you two joined at the hip or something?"

Lucia's remark was met with averted gazes, and an uncomfortable silence bloomed in the wake of her question.

Kodai approached the station, glowering. "You're very nosy," he said.

Lucia looked up in surprise, then lowered her gaze. "Sorry, just wanted to meet her," she mumbled. "You guys are pretty famous, y'know. Oh, by the way, General Stone's out of commission. He's laid up on Neptune Base with some kind of bug. There's a quarantine."

"What?" Kodai reached down and escorted her firmly out of the chair. He ignored the exclamations of the other officers as he stared at her. His hand still grasped her upper arm, and his eyes were a mixture of worry and menace. "How did you find that out? Who's your source?"

Lucia's response carried a stern, almost authoritative edge to it. "Your job is to use the information, Captain, not question it."

Kodai gripped her harder, and his voice was coarse with anger. "Just who do you think you are? This isn't a game!"

"Who said it was?" she shot back. A storm brewed in her eyes as she stared up at him. "That hurts," she added in a warning voice.

Chagrined, Kodai hastily withdrew his hand. "I'm sorry," he told her, a roughness still lining the edge of his words. "When did it happen?"

Lucia briefly rubbed the sore spot. "About two weeks ago."

Sanada had come up to join them. "Do you think there's a connection to Good Hope?"

"All I know is that the timing is weird. "Todo dies, Stone is incapacitated, and St. Cyr's free to run the show. And like I told you, martial law went into effect." She looked at Kodai and Sanada in turn.

Kodai folded his arms. "There's still too many unknowns." Almost reluctantly, he updated Lucia on their encounters at Nagorno. "So I don't know what to believe."

"So you found out about the arms shipment to the Armenians."

Kodai modulated his feeling of surprise, then nodded. "That answers our question about where the weapons were going. But apparently, they have legitimate orders."

"That still doesn't give us enough information to formulate specific action," Sanada added.

"Well, I never said our shipment stays on Good Hope." When Lucia's statement was met with non-committal stares, she continued. "There are other freighters that leave there for different routes. Maybe the bodies are being transferred and shipped somewhere else."

The men regarded her with a dour silence. Kodai stared at her evenly. I don't have any reason to mistrust her, but…His mind drifted briefly as Yuki's words echoed unwanted in his mind: In all honesty, I don't believe that Yamato is suitable for this mission…I think you have made a rash choice…I began to wonder about what Yamato's role really was…rash choice…Kodai forced the thoughts out, and returned his attention to Lucia, because she had spoken again.

"…so why don't you come on over and take a look?"

"Take a look at what?" Kodai asked, oblivious to Sanada's concerned glance.

Lucia calmly repeated herself. "We probably have another shipment of bodies. We're ahead of schedule, so if your crew can open the crate without breaking anything, you should study them. There might be some clues."

Sanada placed a hand on Kodai's shoulder. "I think it's an excellent idea. I can take Sado and Analyzer with me."

Kodai nodded, relieved that their efforts would finally be heading in a productive direction. "Take whatever time you need. Oh, and Sanada San…" his voice lowered as he huddled with the science officer, speaking out of Lucia's earshot.

Lucia, standing by impatiently, tugged on Kodai's arm after he finished issuing orders. "Say! A gal like me doesn't get an opportunity like this every day. Can I see the rest of the ship?" She cocked her head, and flashed Kodai a winsome smile.

Ota and Aihara jumped up simultaneously to offer their services. "With the Captain's permission, of course!" Ota added.

"I think you both have better things to do," Kodai told them dryly.

Disappointed, the two officers slunk back into their seats.

Kodai began walking toward the lift. "Well, hurry up then, if you're coming," he said over his shoulder. Lucia squealed in delight and bounded after him.

While Sanada went to sickbay to prepare for his task, Kodai led her on a limited tour, avoiding sensitive areas such as the computer room and the third bridge. He let her take in the view on the port observation deck, and admire the blooming plants in Hydroponics. They watched briefly as some of the crew passed the time in the training chamber, and he courteously bit his tongue as she toyed with the amenities in one of the standard cabins that he showed her. He steered clear of sickbay and the Holography room, but not for security reasons.

On the way to the Engine Room, Lucia's mouth dropped open as she spotted Analyzer rumbling towards them. He was on his way to meet Sanada. With unabashed curiosity, she stared at the robot, and his name escaped her lips under her breath as he neared. "The Analyzer?"

Like mirror images, their gazes locked, and their heads swiveled back as they passed one another. Without warning, Lucia turned around and backtracked until Analyzer slowed to a stop. Barely as tall as he, she pressed her forehead against his dome, and the rapidly blinking lights of his instrument panels showed up as a kaleidoscope image in her eyes. "So many dials!" she murmured in admiration. Lucia pulled back, and scratched lightly with a forefinger, as if caressing a child's chin. "Are you ticklish?" she asked.

The beeps, coos, and whistles flooding from Analyzer's soundboard at that point threatened an information overload. The robot started to shake and rattle, and his dome was awash in a deep, flashing red glow. Lucia kept her distance, but she needn't have worried, because Analyzer shot away down the corridor.

Kodai found himself laughing despite himself. As Analyzer disappeared out of sight, he said, "First time in years that tin wit's been at a loss for words!"

When the brief tour ended, Lucia announced that she was hungry, and was there anything around there to eat? Kodai escorted her to the mess hall, and let her fill up a tray with food. The crew on duty showed them to a clean table, and served them tea.

Before long, Lucia tucked away the last morsel. "That was pretty good for military food," she commented, and began fishing around in her pockets.

"We get by," Kodai said. "What are you doing?"

Lucia paused, her thin cigar dangling from her lips, and a lighter poised in the air. "Doing?" Then she grunted after a swift interpretation of Kodai's disapproving look. The offending items disappeared back into her pockets. "Sorry!" she said, and giggled. "Forgot where I was." Resting her chin on her hands, she gazed openly at the man across from her. "That must be why your crew loves you so much. You're firm, but fair."

Kodai ignored her praise. "Why are you doing all of this, Lucia? You seem to be going out of your way to help us."

"Look, Captain, it's really very simple. I have a good business, and a crew to die for. I don't want to be mixed up in any crazy underground shit. I want things back to normal."

"Who is your source?" Kodai pressed.

Lucia wagged a finger at him. "Nice try, but I don't intend to compromise my position. Let's just say it's someone who cares about Earth a great deal." Lucia's eyes shifted to the side. "As much as you, if not more."

Kodai studied her, wondering at the sudden tenderness that saturated her voice. He searched his mind for memories of anyone he knew who could be working with her, but the list came up short. He surmised that she had been recruited at the behest of someone in the government, someone who knew Yamato and her crew well. Despite his reservations, he appreciated her initiative and strength of character. In the assertive, petite woman before him, with her pleasant features and brassy personality, he saw a little of himself. If nothing else, Kodai felt comfortable with her, and he wanted to know if there were more to the subtext of their conversation, for he found her charm attractive. I've never met anyone like her, he thought, except… "Lucia," he said, his voice unexpectedly soft, "I think you'd make a good soldier. Ever think of enlisting?"

Lucia snorted. "What in the world gave you that idea?"

"You sound very dedicated. I admire that."

Lucia shot him a questioning look. "There's a lot of dedicated people out there, Kodai."

"Some more than others," he muttered under his breath.

"What was that?"

Kodai shook his head. "Nothing."

A brief silence followed, but it was interrupted by a breathless crew member who approached the table. "Sanada reported that his team is ready, sir."

Kodai looked at the merchant captain. "I'll show you back to the hangar," he said.

They strode briskly there, each lost in a swirl of thoughts. Theirs was a tenuous partnership based only on thin threads of trust; like a dry, abandoned cobweb it could disintegrate into tattered strands with the merest gust of wind. Kodai brushed aside fears that his crew was being led into a trap.

When they reached her shuttle, Lucia was the first to speak. "We'll be heading to the colony after your crew finishes their investigation. I know someone there…I'll try and get some more information." Her eyes held his for a moment. "I realize you have a lot of doubts about me, Kodai, but please remember that we're really counting on you. A lot of people are counting on Yamato." A brief sigh escaped her lips. "Even though they don't know it."

Kodai's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"

"I mean that wars are sometimes fought to protect the innocent from danger they can't even see."

Kodai nodded solemnly. "I understand," he said, though it seemed to him that her words left a lingering scent of mystery in the air. "Be careful."

Lucia acknowledged him with a wave, and boarded her ship. Kodai checked in with Sanada and the doctor as they prepared for take-off, then returned to the bridge where he anxiously awaited their findings.

Taking a medical shuttle, the small team followed Lucia to the Flying Dutchman. The freighter was a mid-sized commercial vessel that Sanada thought appeared as glossy and unblemished as the day she must have left the construction dock. Like most ships of its kind, the Dutchman had a huge, bloated belly, as pregnant with cargo space as a great whale. The hull's surface was smooth and dark, pockmarked by a few portholes, and even a gun turret or two. Pirates still roamed the sea of stars, and many of the commercial ships were equipped with standard armory to fend off the occasional hijack attempt.

Sanada piloted the shuttle in for a smooth, uneventful landing after receiving clearance. Kinsky met Yamato's team as they emerged from the shuttle. After the docking procedure was complete, Lucia caught up with them. She explained that the Dutchman had two main cargo areas. The first compartment held standard commercial wares. The second was accessible only by code, and housed the "special cargo", as she put it. The point of entry lay down a long access tunnel on the starboard side. Sanada and the others had only a brief glimpse of the plain, functional hangar bay before being led through the corridor.

When they reached the hold, Sanada and the others were shown to the container in which Lucia suspected more bodies had been smuggled. She stood off to one side, flanked by Kinsky. They watched silently as Analyzer searched the container for the easiest way to open it without detection. Sanada scanned it for identifying information while Sado Sensei readied his examination instruments. After a few moments, the robot announced he was ready to begin.

As the outer cover was gently removed, both parties saw the same translucent, industrial strength plastic as before. Sanada remembered it from the photos Lucia had given them. So expected was their find that no one exchanged a single glance when a tangle of limbs and bodies were revealed through the plastic. A quick calculation of the stacked cadavers told Sanada that there were probably about twenty-five inside. The bin stretched about eight feet high. Kinsky helped them set up a mini-scaffolding structure generally used for repair work. Suctioning cups helped it remain upright without scratching the surface; it clung to the wall of the container like a hungry starfish. After Analyzer removed the top cover, Sanada climbed up, followed by Sado Sensei. Immediately they clamped hands over their mouths to ward off the overpowering stench. The putrid smell was like a boiled concoction of rotten eggs and meat. Clearly, no effort had been made to embalm or preserve the victims in any way.

"God-damn!" Kinsky exclaimed when it circulated in the air toward him. He backed away several yards.

Lucia held her sleeve to her face like a demure geisha, and her eyes watered. There were more than a few hard swallows among them. Analyzer began to wax poetic about the advantages of being a robot who lacked the nuisance of an olfactory sense until Sanada cut him off with a sharp word. The science officer took extensive photos, and the doctor slipped on gloves in order to perform a hands-on examination from his position on the scaffolding.

"A very impressive case of rigor mortis," he announced, deliberately keeping his tone light in the context of the somber task before them. He instructed Analyzer to carefully remove one of the bodies, and place it on a prepared stretcher. From the deck, the robot extended its arms up, and grasped the torso of the young man who had been laid on top. These people, too, had been stripped of their clothing. Sado Sensei enlisted Sanada's help to untangle limbs, and the body was gently lowered down. After placing it on the stretcher, Analyzer rolled it to the makeshift exam station where the doctor would begin a non-intrusive autopsy.

Lucia told Sanada that she and Kinsky would attend to the atmospheric controls in an attempt to improve the air quality. Sanada acknowledged her with a brief nod from atop the scaffolding as he gathered more data.

A few hours later, and after examining two more corpses, Sado Sensei announced that he was finished. Sanada and Analyzer busied themselves with the task of restoring the container to its former state. Lucia and Kinsky gathered near the doctor to ask what he had found.

Sado Sensei eased himself into a sitting position on the deck, a bottle of sake ensconced firmly in his hand. He offered a sip to Lucia, who refused, and Kinsky, who accepted it gratefully. The doctor appeared more haggard than before, and stale sweat cooled on his brow as fresh air circulated throughout the hangar.

"They weren't dead for very long before being loaded into that thing," he began. "Torture was probably a factor, because some of the bodies show signs of beatings. Others were whipped. The lash marks are very deep. Naturally, if you're shipping bodies illegally off the planet, any kind of embalming is out of the question." He snorted distastefully.

"Any idea where they came from?" Lucia asked.

Sado Sensei wiped his mouth after a lengthy swallow, and shook his head. "That's impossible to tell. But the three I examined are of Turkish descent for the most part. My guess is that the other tissue samples I took should reveal a similar ethnicity."

"I wonder if someone's targeting them," said Kinsky. "There might be a connection to the genocide on Good Hope. Some of the Turkish companies were completely wiped out."

Sado Sensei nodded. "Could be. I guess that's what we're here to find out." With a groan, he eased his bulky frame to his feet. "Well, my friends, I thank you for your kind hospitality. I'd better be going so I can give my report to the captain. Sanada, are you and Analyzer ready?"

"Yes, Doctor," Sanada responded. He walked over to Lucia as Analyzer packed up the last of their equipment. They shook hands. "I'm sure there'll be a break in this mystery soon."

Lucia nodded slowly, then she and Kinsky escorted them back to the shuttle. They retreated to a safe distance as it blasted away from the Dutchman's hangar. The bay door closed, and once again she and her crew were left alone with their unsavory cargo.

Kodai stood with arms tightly crossed as he listened to Sado Sensei's report. He could almost taste the heavy dose of concentration in the air as Shima and the other crew members listened. Sanada arrived on the bridge just as the doctor finished. He informed Kodai that the container holding the bodies originated from a factory on Earth, but it was a standard type used by hundreds of companies. Even if they were to trace it to its birthplace, he said, it still wouldn't provide a definitive link to the person or persons responsible for the civilian deaths.

"So people of Turkish descent are being targeted, both on Earth and Good Hope," Kodai said. After a moment of silence, he posed a question. "What could've triggered this? I wasn't aware of any civil or political unrest, were any of you?"

Heads shook slowly in response as Kodai gazed around at his fellow officers.

"Lucia did mention an incident of mass genocide in the colony," Sanada told him. "But I have a hard time believing that corporate rivalry is the root here."

Kodai shrugged. "Whatever the cause, we still need to find out what's being done with those bodies. Shima, Ota! Pull up all available shipping routes."

"What are we going to do?" asked the doctor.

"A random search of the merchant vessels. Let's target any departing from the colony that are heading anywhere but Earth."

"Sounds like a good idea, as long as we don't get caught," Sanada said. "Don't forget we're an active target ourselves."

"I'm not," Kodai responded. "I'm sure Good Hope is swarming with EDF ships right about now. But they won't expect us to go after the freighters."

Sanada conceded his agreement with a raise of an eyebrow.

"All right, then," Kodai said. "Let's get started."

To Be Continued....