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Starliner


The Empress of Earth

Finest passenger liner in the galaxy —

Brightest link in the chain that binds the starflung civilization of the 23rd century—

Six thousand lives in a single hull, trembling through multiple universes to land on raw, often violent worlds, each with its own history and wonder —

The Empress of Earth

Neutral pawn in an interstellar war!

When hostile necessity knows no law, Ran Colville and the rest of the complement of the Empress of Earth must bring home their ship and the passengers entrusted to them. From the Captain on his bridge to the Cold Crewmen who work in conditions that differ from Hell only by name, they'll have their work cut out for them this voyage!

Cover Art by Paul Alexander



ORDER Paperback
This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.

First printing, June 1992

Distributed by Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020

Printed in the United States of America

ISBN-13: 978-0-671-72121-3
ISBN-10: 0-671-72121-6

Copyright© 1992 by David Drake

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form.

A Baen Books Original
Baen publishing Enterprises
P.O. Box 1403
Riverdale, NY 10471
http://www.baen.com

Electronic version by WebWrights
http://www.webscription.net


WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE . . .

"One thing," said Franz Streseman. He didn't look young any more- "You are all brave, and no doubt you have weapons training, I am the soldier here, however."

He surveyed his four older companions. "Shoot first, shoot to kill," he said coldly. "Don't threaten and don't hesitate. It maybe that Oanh will be mistaken for an opponent. I myself may mistake her for an opponent."

Ran hadn't seen anything as bleak as the young Grantholmer's expression since he faced the Cold Crew in Taskerville.

"I say to you," Franz continued, "it is better that Oanh die than that she remain alive in the hands of these folk. I know them, I know their type. She is not human to them. We must not hesitate."

Wanda Holly licked her lips. "And on that cheerful note," she said, "I think it's time to go." She glanced at the others, then added, "Good luck, fellows. We may all be crazy, but I'm damned glad I know people like you."

DEDICATION

To Clyde and Carlie Howard
Because they're friends, rather than just because they
helped with the research; though they did that too.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Clyde and Carlie Howard, and Sandra Miesel, all dug up material I didn't know I needed until it arrived. Mark Van Name and Allyn Vogel diagnosed and cured the computer glitch that seems inevitably to crop up when I'm almost finished with a novel (this one turned out to be a printer glitch, but you couldn't have proved it by me). And Jim Baen told me to write this book because it was the book I wanted to write—even though I think he'd just as soon have gotten something that could have a tank on the cover.

It's nice to have friends.

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