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message. Medium heat version, for now."
    "Yes, ma'am." A few minutes passed while Carl passed on the order to the communications personnel and the standard scripted message went out directed to the skunk. "He should be getting it about now."
    Paul nodded with satisfaction. "We're seeing an aspect change. He's maneuvering to head away."
    "Yeah." Carl's expression went from casual to concerned as he scanned the readout. "Something doesn't look right."
    Captain Gonzalez raised an eyebrow and checked her own screen. "What's wrong, Carl?"
    "I don't know, yet, Captain. Something about the way that guy's moving makes me wonder which way he's pointing."
    Commander Kwan had returned to the bridge, unnoticed by Paul, and now pulled himself close to Carl, squinting at the display. "You don't think he's going to leave the area?"
    "Sir, he just looks funny to me."
    Gonzalez glanced over to where Captain Hayes had hooked himself to a tie-down near her chair. "Lieutenant Meadows is one of our most experienced watch officers. Sometimes an experienced sailor can spot things your instruments can't."
    Hayes nodded. "Just like back on Earth."
    "Yup. Mr. Meadows, is there -"
    Carl interrupted as his display flashed. "He's lighting off his main drive, Captain."
    Paul slapped his console. "Look at that vector! He's headed in, not out. You were right, Carl. What's he up to?"
    "Beats me. Captain, request permission to order the range safety ship to intercept that guy."
    "Granted. We can't do the test shot with him there. Have comms send a high-heat version of the get-out-of-here message to that idiot."
    The range safety ship, positioned closer to the intruder than the Michaelson , boosted onto an intercept course with the unknown spacecraft. A moment later, a green spacecraft identification symbol blossomed on the Michaelson 's display where the skunk had previously been represented by a yellow "unknown" symbol. "He's finally broadcasting a specific ship code. Ah, hell. He's Greenspace."
    "Greenspace." Gonzalez shook her head in disgust. "That figures. No wonder they're messing with our test firing."
    Captain Hayes indicated the glowing symbol. "Do they interfere with a lot of test firings?"
    "They interfere with anything they can. Anything they think is about the 'militarization' or 'economic exploitation' of space. Hell, humans came up here to exploit space economically, and once we started doing that some people wanted to fight over who got to exploit what, which is why the Navy's here."
    Hayes smiled humorlessly. "So, basically they interfere with everything."
    "If they can. But spacecraft are expensive and we're watching for them, so they don't get too many places. Unfortunately, they got to this one."
    "I see. If they enter an operating area like this, do they fall under our jurisdiction, or do we need to call in civil authorities to arrest them?"
    Gonzalez waved toward Paul. "Ensign. . .pardon me, Lieutenant Junior Grade Sinclair there is your collateral duty ship's legal officer. He will provide you with all appropriate guidance in such situations. Correct, Mr. Sinclair?"
    Paul nodded, acutely aware he was the object of two captains' attention. "Yes, ma'am."
    "And such guidance in this case would be . . . ?"
    It's a good thing I checked the rules on that subject before we got underway for this test shot. At least I've learned something since I was a new ensign . "We're authorized to make arrests and seize property if the protesters enter a posted restricted area and disregard instructions to leave." And . . . "We're to notify civil authorities and turn over the protestors and property as soon as, uh, reasonably feasible."
    "Very well. If we end up needing to know just what 'reasonably feasible' means we'll get back to you, Mr. Sinclair." Captain Gonzalez motioned to Carl. "Lieutenant Meadows, did the Greenspacers acknowledge our latest warning to leave?"
    Carl double-checked his panel, then shook his head. "No, ma'am. No reply."
    "Then