It comprised six megafreighters carrying two weeks of the total output of the Mustang system to the Tabor system, another major center for trade in the Free Worlds. The convoy had a heavy escort: a dozen destroyers, four cruisers, and a multimegaton battleship. When the battleship was identified as the Gryphon, everyone on the bridge collectively gasped in surprise. Everyone except Victor. He didn’t understand the significance of the ship’s name. “That’s Holace Quill’s personal starship!” Captain Hyde said to Fowler in disbelief. “Why do you think he’d be escorting the convoy?” Fowler asked. “No idea. It may be why we were hired to clear this system. Speaking of which, time to send the all-clear signal.” Warwick composed a quick audio message and sent it to the convoy. With the Fortune and her two prizes loitering a million kilometers from the jump point, it would only take just over three seconds for the message to make its journey. Ten seconds later, the Fortune received a reply from Holace Quill himself.
