THE KNIGHT, DEATH AND THE DEVIL
Dylan leaves Beka to conduct the negotiations with the fiftieth member of the new Commonwealth while he, Rommie and Tyr take the Maru to help some long lost High Guard ships - and their AI's from the Drago-Kazov.
Their first stop is a casino where Dylan attempts to rescue an AI by the name of Ryan. But it seems Ryan doesn't really want to leave, so they shock him and take him to the Maru where he demands Ryan tell him where the lost ships are. Ryan reveals they are being held in Tartarus.
Tartarus is almost impossible to reach via Slipstream and the Drago-Kazov knew the seized ships would not be able to escape. Ryan says he escaped by tailing a patrol ship only to find there was no Commonwealth to rescue his friends. When the Maru arrives at Tartarus they find two ships (The Million Voices and the Wrath of Achilles) that Ryan actually betrayed them by fleeing his responsibilities.
Achilles and Mila won't follow Dylan's orders because they believe as AI's they were oppressed and treated as slaves during the Commonwealth's reign. They wish to be seen as equals.
The Drago-Kazov arrive with a device that can erase an AI, and before Ryan or Dylan can stop them, Achilles is is infected. The dying ship encourages the others to join together and fight. Dylan says it will be their choice whether or not they join the mission once they have escaped Tartarus.
Rommie wants to become the replacement for Achilles avatar but discovers that Ryan has already made the decision and undergone the dangerous task at hand. Ryan and the others are saved by Mila and several of the others ships sacrificing their lives so that the others may escape.
While all this is going on, Kasimir Politburo, the man with whom Beka is negotiating, demands to speak to Dylan. Beka must improvise but eventually Kasimir gets angry and won't speak to anyone except Dylan. She even uses a device Harper created so that a representation of Dylan will mimic everything she says. This backfires however, when they fail to turn off the communication and Kasimir learns of their deception.
Beka meets with Kasimir and apologises, then still manages to persuade him to join the Commonwealth.
