Over the next fifteen minutes the crew and passengers got their personal effects together. The Warbird was almost on the surface and Denise had already decided who would go with the first group. She got all the passengers up on deck as well as Christine and her nurse. They all stood there as the Warbird slowly descended to within fifty meters. Denise was surprised when she saw the Warbird. It was the size of a small freighter with much more weapons than she would have thought normal. At first this concerned her but then she remembered she was in the Verge and it was a wild and loosely lawed area.

The ship landed and moved in beside the badly damaged Empress of Sol. The Warbird maneuvered to where the two ships could be tied together. When that was done and a gang plank had joined the two ships, Denise and Christine made their way to the Warbird. As they walked on to the ship Denise said to a smiling dark skinned man all dressed in very bright silks,

"Permission to come aboard."

"Yes, yes." He answered. "I will take you to Captain Huntly" in a very heavy Indian accent. Denise noticed that the smile never left his face. She was not sure whether she should relax or be on her guard. She decided to just follow him. They made their way to what she figured was the Captain's Ready Room. There they found a young woman sitting behind a desk. Denise inquired,

"Captain Huntly I presume?"

Huntly stood and extended her hand and said,

"Yes, but it is just Huntly. I am glad we made it in time to help."

"Yes, so am I", replied Denise..

"Well, down to business. I see from the information you sent me we can take all non-essential personnel and off load them on to the Birmingham."

"That would be great", said Denise.

"And I have selected Dr. Coleman here to go with them. She will be in charge in case of a problem, but I do not see that happening. These people have been exemplary under very trying circumstances."

"Good. We should be ready to go in a matter of minutes. I am looking forward to hearing more of your story on our trip to Telemachus. I must now show the Doctor to the area where the passengers are being billeted so we can be on our way." Denise was beginning to like this woman and her no nonsense attitude.

Denise made her way back to the Empress to find Linda in an embrace with her husband on the gang plank. Denise said,

"Don't worry Peter, I will take good care of her." He looked at Denise and she could see something flash across his eyes. It seemed to her to be resignation, but for what she did not know. Then Peter broke free and boarded the Warbird. The gang plank was pulled back and the Warbird lifted off.

Denise breathed a sigh of relief and went back to the Auxiliary Control. Getting on the Intercom she asked Yelp,

"How long until we can lift off?"

He paused and replied,

"About fifteen minutes Captain."

"Good. After we lift off I want you to head right to the airlock and get ready to hook up with the Warbird."

"Yes Captain." Then the line went dead. Denise turned to Connor and said,

"Has Warbird started to offload our people yet?"

"It has just met up with the Birmingham. They should be well off before we enter orbit."

"Good. I assume you have already plotted and intercept course and a course for the auto pilot."

Linda looked back at her and replied,

"Yes Captain. We are just waiting for the word from Yelp." At that moment Pogo, Graham and Martine walked into the Auxiliary Control and took open seats.

Pogo started.

"This is all that remains on the ship Captain." Denise turned to them and said,

"Doctor, what are you and Martine still doing here?"

Graham looked at Martine and then to Denise and said,

"I had to down load all my work and it took longer than I thought. As for Ms. Isopetet she waited for me." Denise nodded and said,

"Let's hope that was not a mistake. This plan of ours is not foolproof." At that moment Connor said,

"The engines read ready for lift off."

"OK. Well, let's get out of here."

They all sat there listening to the engines power up, not that they could really hear them but it is amazing what your mind will make you believe. The view screen did show them as they lifted higher and higher into the atmosphere and finally even out of it. They quickly made their way to the meeting location and hooked up with the Warbird. By the time everyone had got from Auxiliary Control to the airlock both ships were connected by a collapsible walkway. It was just pressurizing so they would not need environmental suits. Yelp checked all the gauges then opened the door. Everyone moved quickly and were in the Warbird in less than five minutes. Closing all the doors and collapsing the walkway the Empress of Sol was sent on a course out of the system at it's top speed.

Denise watched it through a window in the airlock until she could not tell it from the stars around it. Then came the blinding white light and for a second it looked as if there were a new star in the system. Then it was gone. A small tear flowed down Denise's cheek and Yalp, who was standing beside her quietly spoke,

"Your first command was a great command. Do not worry. There will be others."