Dash sat tensely as the Spindrift moved toward the first course change. He hoped the entire fleet had gotten away, other than the brave souls in the rearguard, but until the other ships dropped out of jump he wouldn’t know for sure that they were safe.
Or that they were sticking with him. That was another risk. He wasn’t sure whether the threat of the Limited fleet would bind the fractious fleet he’d inherited from Admiral North together, or force it to splinter.
Even within the Spindrift there had been mutterings, questions over whether they were doing the right thing. Dash’s initial instinct had been to lash out, to silence any criticism by force of will… and force of arms if necessary.
He’d reigned those thoughts in, realising they’d most probably be counterproductive. Instead h
