It had been a week since I'd watched the Omnis Arcanum open fire on the Terra fleet, holding them off long enough for us to escape. The flashes of kinetic weaponry and beams of red that ignored the void as the two adversaries exchanged fire burned brightly in my mind. Almost every system we jumped to along the way, we'd been doggedly pursued. I made my way to the bridge of the Judicial Pyre, the deck crew taking immediate note of my presence, but I didn't say a word. I dared not interrupt them any further than my presence already did. Yet I could feel their morale bolstering, their resolve hardening.

  "We're running low on ammo."

  My ears perked up at the conversation as two logistics officers ran the numbers. I quietly approached.

  "We won't make it to Ophelia VII at this rate. Least not if we've got to keep shooting warning shots to keep them back..."

  I placed my hands on their shoulders, causing both to jump and snap their gaze to me.

  "My lady!"

  I smiled gently. "So we're low on the larger munitions?"

  The one on the left nodded. "Yes, my lady."

  I scanned the screen, listening to the machine spirits within. "What about our smaller munitions? Such as the flack for strike craft?"

  "We'd be sending up a flag saying we can't fight back if we used that..." The officer on the right murmured. The one on the left's eyes lit up.

  "We don't need to do damage to them, just make them think we can. If we dismantled the smaller munitions and fabricated them into larger, we can save our real ones and fire the fakes as warning shots."

  The one on the right slowly nodded. "That could work... So long as we don't accidentally hit any of their ships, cause then they'd find out pretty quick."

  I straightened. "Good thinking Enner, Iori."

  Both swelled with warmth at hearing their names on my lips, and I pat their backs and continued my way to the next set of officers, listening to their problems and offering what little I could. In most cases I acted as little more than a soundboard for them to work off of, a fresh set of eyes and ears. I felt a great sense of pride at the exceptional people who ran this warship, in spite of the primary Machine Spirit of the vessel's woes.

  I finally reached the captain himself. "You seem exhausted, Juren."

  The young, though clearly experienced, man glanced up at me with brown eyes dragged down by bags and bowed his head before returning his gaze to the screens before him, his hands on the controls.

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  "I've been in my fair share of pursuits, my lady. But..." He saw one screen flicker, making him tense, then relax as it stabilized. "Usually I'm the one doing the chasing."

  "Then this is a perfect opportunity."

  Juren raised an eyebrow. "How do you mean, my lady?"

  "The greatest hunters understand their prey." I let my gaze drift to the screens as well. "Don't let this chance slip by."

  He thought for a moment, then nodded. "Thank you for your wisdom, my lady."

  I could sense a hint of reticence within him, but I merely bowed my head. "Thank you for your exemplary service, Captain Juren."

  With those words I left the bridge crew to their tasks. As the door opened I heard Simeon and Elisaria speaking in hushed voices.

  "The side braid was a good idea. Far more tactical. But why not just cut it short?"

  Elisaria chuckled. "While many would cut it short for the sake of combat, her image is just as important to her role as her powers, skills, and command. Longer hair suits her better."

  I approached and they both looked up.

  "Mother." They both replied in unison.

  "Don't let that word be a mere title." I continued walking, and both fell into step with me. "If the word is simply to replace 'my lady', then call me by my name."

  Elisaria glanced at Simeon, who shrugged slightly.

  Elisaria responded first. "Yes, mother."

  We didn't make it far before we ran afoul of the Inquisitor.

  "What were you doing on the bridge?"

  I felt the familiar irritation towards this woman, but her own heart seemed more at ease in my presence after our altercation prior.

  "Seeing what I could do to help. I'm afraid I couldn't do much, considering how exemplary your crew is."

  Fahlia's eyes became slits as she stared up at me, her thin lips disappearing once more as she weighed my words.

  "I've used many vessels and crews. There's nothing special about the Judicial Pyre."

  I tilted my head slightly, trying to discern if her aloofness was a professional defense mechanism, or an ingrained trait.

  "They excel when they are valued." I smiled. "And given opportunities to grow with gentle guidance."

  "Gentle?" Fahlia snorted. "They're Navis Imperialis, not children."

  I walked up to a nearby display, and placed my hand on it. The machine spirits within answered my call and the display showed the bridge.

  "How..?"

  "I can speak to machine spirits." I glanced at Fahlia. "I can’t fix machines with my touch as my father could, but I can do this, at least. Now, look at these men and women."

  Fahlia slowly turned to the screen and watched. Their voices came through clearly, and she heard tactics and plans being discussed with an excited fervor. Gone was the gloom and defeated acceptance that I knew Fahlia had experienced amidst the bridge crew.

  "Did you direct them?"

  I shook my head. "No. I merely asked some simple questions and allowed them to soundboard off of me. Then I praised them for their good work."

  Fahlia fell into an eerie silence.

  "I'll take my leave, Inquisitor." I touched the screen, and it returned to its normal display. Fahlia didn't stop me as I left her to her thoughts, making my way back to my chambers as the Judicial Pyre neared it's next jump point.