The Dream of the Lady slid through the void. Silent. Stealthy. Vulnerable. Yvian sat in her comfy Captain's chair, shoulders clenched. Launching a stealth attack on the FodderBots had seemed simple when she'd proposed it. Easy. The primitive machines should be helpless against Yvian's superior technology. They would be, if there weren't so fucking many of them.

"The FodderBot patrol has changed trajectory," Kilroy reported. "We can resume our original course."

"Make it so," Yvian ordered. Dodging patrols had been more difficult than expected. The machine fleets didn't follow a set pattern. They changed course at random. It was inefficient, and left gaps in coverage, but the unpredictability made them much more dangerous.

"This has got be the longest day I've ever had," Lissa complained. "How much longer until we can fire?"

"Fourteen hours, thirty seven minutes, nine seconds," said the Peacekeeper unit. "The second Cascade Annihilator will be fired nineteen minutes and four seconds after that."

"Crunch." Lissa rested an elbow on her console, propping her head in her hand.

"I wonder if this is what prey feels like," said Scarrend. "Scurrying about, desperate to stay hidden, always aware of a death that could come any moment." He steepled his upper set of hands, tapping two fingers together thoughtfully. "It's an enlightening experience, but I would not care to repeat it."

"I don't like it either," Yvian agreed. She'd spent the last twenty five hours just sitting and watching the sensors. It was exhausting. Millions of ships were moving around the sector. Yvian was also checking for monitoring stations, minefields, anything unexpected that could expose the Dream. If Stealth was compromised, they were dead. Forty million lasers would slag her ship before the Jumpdrive could get them out of there. "Too tense."

"Stealth missions are always like that," said Mims. The human was the only one who seemed relaxed. The motherless son. "You have to be alert and aware at all times, and you have to keep that vigilance up for a lot longer than other missions. There's a lot more pressure to be perfect than there is in a straight up fight."

"I'm less worried about perfection," said Lissa, "and more worried about the millions of killer robots with lasers."

"It'll be fine," the human assured her. "If the FodderBots could see through our stealth we'd be dead by now."

"That's not as comforting as you think it is," Lissa told him.

"It should be," said Mims. "As stealth missions go this is as easy at it gets." He yawned. "Speaking of which, maybe it's time people started getting some sleep."

"You think anyone's going to sleep at a time like this?" asked Captain Yvian.

"We will if we know what's good for us," said the human. "It'll be fifteen hours before we can turn around, and another thirty after that before we can leave FodderBot space. Trying to keep all of us awake that long will lead to mistakes."

"This unit does not require sleep," Kilroy reminded them. "This unit will be sufficient to continue the mission."

"Kilroy's doing all the work anyway," Mims pointed out, "but we can sleep in shifts if it makes you feel better, Captain."

Yvian considered it. She didn't like the idea of going to sleep. Not surrounded by enemies as she was. Her voidarmor could keep her awake and alert for days if need be. It was a dangerous function, not to be used unnecessarily, but this kind of work was exactly what it was for.

On the other hand, no amount of technology could completely replace a good night's sleep. The longer the crew went without rest, the less functional they would become. They were already under stress, and that stress would hit harder the longer they stayed awake. Mental exhaustion would lead to mistakes, no matter how thoroughly stimulated the armors kept them. The human was right. They should sleep.

"Fine," said Captain Yvian. "Scarrend and I will take the first watch. You and Lissa get some sleep. We'll wake you in eight hours."

Eight hours felt like a very long time. Boredom, fear, and frustration mingled with the stimulants Yvian's armor was using to keep her awake. It was miserable. By the time Mims and Lissa wandered back onto the bridge, Yvian almost wanted to get caught. Getting burned to death by third rate Synthetics would be embarrassing, but at least she wouldn't have to sit around and worry anymore.

"How'd you sleep?" Yvian tried to sound friendly, but it came out almost as grumpy as she felt.

"Like a baby," said the human.

"He woke up crying several times," Lissa clarified. Yvian was pretty sure she was grinning under her helmet. "He might also have wet himself."

Mims turned to look at his girlfriend. "What?"

"That's how babies sleep," Lissa told him.

"I can't believe I'm sleeping with you." Mims shook his head in disapproval.

"Yeah you can." Lissa slid an arm around his waste. "Face it, Mark. I'm too cute to resist."

The human snorted, but did not disagree. He draped an arm over Lissa and asked. "Did we miss anything?"

"Several course changes and an increasingly irritable Captain," Scarrend informed him. "I think it would be wise if you relieved us."

"Definitely," Yvian agreed. "Take your stations. I'm going to go pass out."

"Aye, Captain Sis." Lissa saluted her.

"Why are you so cheerful?" Yvian grumbled. "Did you replace your water reserves with beer again?"

"Of course not," Lissa protested. "That was one time." The other pixen shrugged. "I'm a morning person, and I got good sleep cuddled with my boy toy."

"Man toy," Mims corrected.

"Man toy," Lissa agreed. "It's not as nice when we're both in armor, but it's still good."

"I hate you both," said Yvian. Why didn't she have someone to cuddle with? "I'm going to sleep now."

"We love you too, Captain." Mims gave her a wave. "Sleep well." Lissa gave Yvian a hug on the way out.

Yvian choked down some protein paste as she stumbled down to her quarters. Nasty stuff, but it was the only food to be had as long as the Dream was depressurized. She promised herself she'd make the human cook something good once the mission was over. And maybe a cake. Yvian deserved cake. She flopped down on her bunk and deactivated the armor's ALERTNESS function. To her surprise and delight, she was asleep seconds later.

Yvian was not cheerful when she woke. She was not a morning person. She was even less cheerful when she noticed the time on her HUD. She'd been asleep for ten hours. She should have set an alarm. Yvian choked down cool water and warm protein paste as she made her way to the bridge. Everyone else was already there.

"Good morning, sleepyhead." Lissa waved.

"No it's not," Yvian grumbled. "Sorry I'm late."

"You needed it," said Mims. "You were up later."

"Your species needs more sleep than mine," Scarrend added.

Yvian plopped down in her comfy Captain's chair, wishing for coffee. "Report?"

"Two Cascade Annihilators have been launched," Kilroy informed her. "They will reach their targets in seven days, six hours, and forty three minutes."

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"We're on our way back to the Gate," Mims added. "Once we get behind it we can jump out of the system."

The way back was less stressful, but not by much. Mims and Kilroy were the only ones who seemed unbothered. Everyone else did their best to monitor sensors with clenched shoulders and gritted teeth. It was a long nerve-wracking day, but uneventful. Captain Yvian had everyone sleep in shifts again. This time she remembered to have her armor wake her up. She returned to the bridge when they were just an hour away from the Gate.

The Dream of the Lady circled the Gate at a distance of two hundred thousand kilometers. Yvian didn't think the FodderBots were smart enough to have anything hiding behind it, but she wasn't taking any chances. When the area behind the Gate came into view, she was relieved to find no surprises.

"Thank the Bright Lady," said Yvian. "Take us behind it and lets get out of here."

"Affirmative, Captain Mother Yvian," Kilroy acknowledged the order.

So close, now. All they had to do was jump to the next system, launch an Annihilator at the closest FodderBot fleet, and get out. Yvian debated giving them the rest of the day off once it was done. Well, giving most of them the day off. Mims would still have to cook. Her musings were interrupted by a blip on the sensors.

"Alert," said Kilroy. "A Saucer has entered the sector."

Yvian swore. The Saucer was much bigger than the ones she'd previously seen. It was over a kilometer across, almost as big as the Dream. The cloud of electromagnetic radiation surrounding it was much more powerful as well. The FodderBots reacted to its presence with extreme prejudice. Every ship in the sector turned to unleash lasers on the interloper.

"MAC Cannons," Yvian ordered. "Fire the moment it gets close."

The Saucer ignored the lasers. It hovered over the FodderBot homeworld for several seconds. Then it disappeared. It reappeared four kilometers from the Dream. Yvian's console went blank. The bridge lights went out.

"What the Crunch?" Yvian turned to look around the bridge. The motion drifted her out of her chair. The artificial gravity was out. So was Yvian's HUD. Whatever the Saucer had hit them with had shut down everything. Yvian's whole body clenched. The Saucer had shut down everything.

She couldn't see. Dim starlight filtered in through the viewports, but it wasn't enough to illuminate the bridge. A flash of green drew her eyes. Mims. He was holding a glowstick. Yvian fumbled in one of her armor's pouches for a glowstick of her own.

Mims had a hand on Lissa's arm. He kicked off, aiming for Yvian. Yvian grabbed her console to hold herself in place. When the human reached her he pressed his helmet against hers. "We're going to restart the reactors. It's our only chance."

"Go!" Yvian ordered. Mims maneuvered himself to the door to the bridge. The door was closed. Yvian felt a brief moment of panic before she remembered the Dream was a human built ship. It had a number of safety features, including a pneumatic override that could open doors in case of power failure. Mims opened a panel next to the door and had it open in seconds. He glided swiftly into the corridor with Lissa clumsily fumbling her way behind.

Yvian was still braced for the beams of light the Saucers used, but none came. She hoped Kilroy had managed to fire. She hoped the MAC Cannons had killed the motherless sons. She tried looking out the viewports, but the angle was wrong. The Saucer wasn't in sight.

The Dream was still moving. Momentum would take them behind the Gate soon if it hadn't already. That wouldn't buy them much time. Without power, the Dream wouldn't stop. She'd drift out from behind the Gate in minutes. Then they'd be exposed to millions of hostile Synthetics without Stealth or shields. They wouldn't last a second.

Scarrend was checking on Kilroy. Yvian joined him. The Peacekeeper unit was still upright, but he wasn't moving. Yvian pulled her blaster. She aimed for a bulkhead and pulled the trigger. Nothing. Crunch. She'd hoped it would have power. If she could connect the Peacekeeper unit to a power source he might come back online.

She waved her glowstick to get the Vrrl's attention. Once Scarrend was looking, she pressed her helmet to his. "Mims and Lissa are heading for the reactors. Get to your station and activate Stealth the moment they get one online." If they could get one online. Whatever had taken out the Dream, it was scarily similar to a Lucendian Anti-Tech Pulse. If it was exactly like a Pulse, the reactors were fried and they were all dead. Yvian prayed to the Bright Lady it was just some sort of high powered energy drain.

Yvian took her own advice, heading back to her Captain's Chair. It was hard to get to. Yvian was experienced with zero gravity, but she'd always had magnetic boots and a jetpack to rely on. Now she had neither. It took an embarrassingly long time to get back to her station. By the time she got there, Scarrend was already at his. Two of his arms held him in place over his chair. The other two hovered over his console, ready.

Yvian waited, fretting. How long had it been? Had the Dream made it behind the Gate before the Saucer killed their power? Had they been seen? Were the FodderBots coming? Even if they weren't, how much longer would it be before the Dream drifted out from behind the Gate? Would Mims and Lissa get the power back on in time? Could they get the power back on at all? If they couldn't, Yvian was dead whether the FodderBots saw them or not. The ship had no air, and her voidarmor only held enough for twenty minutes without power. Maybe she should send Scarrend to retrieve some oxygen tanks? No. There was no point. If power wasn't restored in twenty minutes then they were all dead anyway.

What about the Saucer? Was it dead, or just playing with Yvian before it came in for the kill? How did the thing find them, anyway? Was it just bad luck, or were they actively searching for the Dream? Thoughts and fears swirled through Yvian's head. She would very much have liked a distraction, but there was nothing to do but wait. She hovered worriedly over her chair, one hand poised over her console. It was all she could do.

The lights came on. Gravity dropped Yvian back into her chair. Yvian didn't waste time with the sensors. She pulled up flight control a brought the Dream of the Lady to a halt. The engines were sluggish. The Dream decelerated slowly. The edge of the Gate was only twenty kilometers away. They weren't going to make it.

"Stealth is active," Scarrend reported. His voice on internal comms hit Yvian with a shockwave of relief.

Mims commed in. "I've got the reserve reactor running. We're heading for the mains right now."

Yvian frowned. The backup reactor was further away than the mains. Why did he...? Oh. If they'd been hit with a Pulse, the main reactors would be dead, but the reserve hadn't been turned on. It would still work. Smart human. "Understood," she answered. "Good work."

Yvian pulled up the sensors. The Dream had drifted past the Gate. Dozens of fleets of FodderBots were accelerating towards them. No, not towards Yvian's ship. They were heading for the Gate. The fleet that had been guarding it wasn't moving. Whatever the Saucer had done must have affected them, too. The next closest fleet would arrive in three hours. Yvian hoped to be gone by then.

The Saucer itself was behind the Gate now. It was dead. Nine strategically placed holes punctured the vessel. Kilroy's work. The Saucer was glowing with heat. Half of it had been melted by laser fire. Yvian thanked the Bright Lady the same hadn't happened to her ship. Yvian went back to flight control. Reserve power wasn't enough to engage full acceleration, but it would be enough to get the Dream back behind the Gate and out of the melted Saucer's flight path. With any luck Mims would get full power restored, and they could jump out of the sector.

Once the course was set, she asked Scarrend to monitor the sensors while she took care of Kilroy. The Peacekeeper unit fell over while she was trying to untuck his shirt. Yvian cursed, and asked Scarrend to switch with her. She was nowhere near strong enough to move a Peacekeeper unit by herself.

Scarrend rolled Kilroy over and finished pulling up his shirt. He pulled a power connector cord out of the side of the machine. He plugged it into Kilroy's console. He went back to his station. Nothing happened for several seconds. Then Kilroy's eyes flashed red.

"Unit online," said the Peacekeeper unit. "Running diagnostics. Diagnostics complete. This unit is fully functional." Kilroy climbed back to his feet. He turned to Yvian. "What has this unit missed?"

"The Saucer knocked out our power somehow before you killed it," Yvian told him. "We've got the reserve reactor running, and Stealth is active. We've got two million FodderBots heading right for the Gate, but they haven't seen us yet. Mims and Lissa are trying to get the main reactors online."

"Acknowledged," said the unit. He started typing rapidly into his console. "Thank you, Captain Mother Yvian."

A few minutes later the main reactors kicked in. With power restored, Yvian activated the shields and started the jumpdrive. The Gate Effect had taken hold by the time Mims and Lissa returned to the bridge. "Well that was gribshit," the human remarked. "Were we seen?"

"Unknown," said Kilroy. "The alien Pulse removed our Stealth, but it also removed our power signature and disabled all nearby FodderBots. The Saucer was seen and attacked, but we were not. It is possible the Saucer's electromagnetic field obscured us. It is also possible the FodderBots chose not to prioritize us as a target."

"There's nothing we can do about it now," said Yvian. The Dream exited the Gate. Sensors showed a fleet of FodderBots. Yvian had jumped her ship to the same Gate they'd originally came from. The FodderBots were no longer accelerating. They were cruising for the far Gate at a speed of nine kilometers per second. "Kilroy, set us a course. I want to hit that fleet with an Annihilator at the same time the other two hit."

"Affirmative," said Kilroy. "Course set. The Cascade Annihilator will be fired in three hours, nineteen minutes."

Three hours to fire. Six hours before they could leave. Hmm. "On second thought, Kilroy, can you take us behind the Gate instead? We need to repressurize the ship and recharge our voidarmor." Yvian slumped deeper into her comfy Captain's Chair. "And I'd really like a beer. It's been a long day."

"You've only been awake for a few hours," Scarrend reminded her.

"And it's been a long day," Yvian repeated. "I want beer and a bath and food that's not protein paste."

"Me too," Lissa seconded.

"Affirmative," said Kilroy. "Course set. We will be hidden behind the Gate in two minutes, twenty seven seconds."

"Thank you Kilroy." Yvian stood. "That should be just enough time to grab some beer and get back to my quarters. I'm going to have a nice soak. Comm me when lunch is ready."

"It'll be a while Captain Sis," Lissa warned. "I want a bath too, and I'm taking my boy toy with me."

"Man toy," Mims corrected.

"You can have an hour," Yvian decided. "After that I expect Mims to make lunch."

"I'm relegated to cook now?" Yvian could hear the human's raised eyebrow. "I used to be your Captain, you know."

"And now I'm your Captain." Yvian grinned. "And your Captain wants cheeseburgers."

"You're lucky your sister's cute."