Rorcester shook me awake. Snapping instantly into alertness (a trick learned at great cost), I excused him with a nod of thanks and hurriedly pulled on my waistcoat. In the corridor, I checked the noticeboard tube. The flags for “Deck Officers Only”, “Report to Bridge” and “All Actions Interrupt” were up, the pipe hot but not scalding. Between one and three minutes ago, then.

I strode out onto the bridge again for the second time in too few hours. Firus glanced up and beckoned me over.

“Miles. The radiograph just picked up a relayed message from a supply patrol, originating from a ship about two hours out of range coming the other way from the front line. We can ignore it for the next two hours, but after that it starts getting suspicious.”

HEARTS DESIRE UNDER QUARANTINE EFFECTIVE IMMEDATELY STOP
ALL SHIPS RELAY STOP

I already knew the answer, but checked just to be sure.

“That’s impossible, captain. There are only two plague inspection ships within a hundred leagues, and both are laid up for repairs.”