Vidar
frowned at console. A human ship had made an abrupt change of course and was
heading toward Tolar. He shook his head and tapped into their communications,
then ran the long range sensor recordings and analyzed the ship’s original
course. Kekrax Main.

            The chatter
on their comms was frantic. He thumbed his chin. Were they off course? He
watched as the ship crossed the boundary into Tolari space. The Sural was
occupied with a visiting provincial ambassador, but this was important enough
to interrupt his negotiations. He gave instructions to the guard by the door
and turned back to the display on his console.

            The ship
had come to a dead halt just inside the cometary belt.