Malcolm "The Death Ray" Twin Suns took one look at Tethys and realized he'd just sailed into a nightmare.

Clouds of ships, thousands of them, surrounded the planet. Who were they? An invasion force? A raiding party? Not likely. As Malcolm watched, he realized the ships were scattering, not closing in.

Malcolm told his wheel man, Leif Varangr, "Take us in slow and steady. Be ready to rabbit if things get hot."

"Aye aye, Cap."

A panicky voice ...