Devi follows orders, even if she hates them. Like her orders for this mission: pilot a single ship—The Matilda—on a fact-finding mission in the middle of a war zone.

Despite Matilda's apparent fondness for Devi, Devi feels the opposite about working with the sentient ship.

But as pilot and ship approach their target—a large CeaWayLaV warship—the pair discovers their inability to function as a bonded team threatens not only their mission but also the entire war with the CeaWayLaV.

Chosen by the readers of Asimov's SF Magazine as one of the best stories of the year.

"...an excellent piece of military science fiction."

—Tangent Online

"Another good story from Rusch."

—SFRevu