CHAPTER 13The war rockets from Avis’ home system of Aurelia stretched through space like a thin, red string. There were more than a hundred there, Stan thought, but he knew without asking that they were hopelessly outnumbered by the Thuscan ships.
The small rocket maneuvered over the lead ship—a hatch slid back—and the rocket settled slowly through the opening.
A moment later and Stan was in the main cabin, facing half a dozen tired looking men wearing the same dull blue uniform as the man on the screen. They were supposed to be fighting men, Stan thought, but they didn’t look the part.
They looked more like frightened civilians who had been drafted.
The man Stan had seen on the screen introduced himself as Elal and smiled wryly.
“We’re not the professionals you’ve associated with unt
