Destroying Xh-33 `s imminent colonization project was the least controversial solution of the several that had been available. Most `Dinis would have preferred to see the planet devastated in retribution for those innocent worlds which had been fumigated by Hivers.

Human opinion was virtually solid that destroying the Hive ability to go off that planet was a legitimate and the most acceptable deterrent. There would have been a massive human outcry had the affair been carried further.

To reassure both apprehensive humans and the aggressively vindictive Mrdini majority, Captain Quacho of the Arapahoc had remained behind on sentinel duty until a discreet space facility could be `ported to the nearest of Xh-33's moons. Any activity in Xh-33 space could be recorded. Should any occur, unlikely though that seemed, the Alliance could then vote on more lasting punitive action.

Meanwhile there were other enigmas to interpret: if there was no communication between Hive worlds or ship-to-surface contact, how could the Alliance hope to establish any interface with the Hivers? If no communication was possible, there was no hope of arriving at any mutually satisfactory, non-aggressive cohabitation of a galaxy which had sufficient M-type systems to accommodate all - with some control on overexpanding populations.

Afra sighed. Being of a methody upbringing as well as Talented, he eschewed violence: didn't really know if he would even defend himself. He would, he thought, defend his children, but probably not himselfœ Except that that would leave Damia unsupported. So he might even defend himself much as he would abhor the necessity. Humans had grown beyond that exigency.

Association with the `Dini had, unfortunately in Afra's estimation, revived `war'. If only there were some avenue of interface available Every attempt to get the captured queen to communicate - or notice that other intelligent beings were in her presence - had so far failed. How his daughter Zara had known that the queen was suffering from hypothermia, on the verge of extinction, was a matter no-one had been able to establish - especially Zara. She had also had no further empathetical contact with the queen. No-one had. The queen had ignored any visitor, even a Mrdini: even the very large Mrdini which towered above her not inconsiderable form.

That she could see and hear had been established by adroit remote testing. Various frequencies and combinations had elicited no more response from her than a twitch of discomfort. Those settings were kept on record.

It must be an amazing mind-set, Afra thought, to consider one's self the only being of worth in the galaxy.

There had been humans who had had such delusions.

They had generally died because of them and remained as small paragraphs in the greater history of humankind.

In an oblique fashion, it followed that, in the Hiver extermination of all life-forms on any planet they had chosen to colonize, they were totally unaware that they were eradicating entities which might feel they had the inalienable right to live.

The Hivers must also have been surprised by Mrdini resistance, though only the most determined attacks by Mrdini squadrons and fleet units had deterred the creatures.

Did other Hivers know of Mrdini resistance? If the Raven-Rowan merge had not sent the one survivor back to the Mother ship, would it have known that Deneb would resist?

His musings solved nothing and he could `hear' his family returning from a very successful hunt. He left a note for Keylarion, the Tower's T-6, to investigate recovering the couches and went back to the house to start dinner preparations.

Laria followed her father's advice immediately and contacted Earth Prime Jeff Raven and told him that the T-2 was unable to tolerate the Mrdini, an essential requisite for duty at Clarf Tower. She had been about to add an apologetic note when her grandfather cut it short.

All we need is unhappy Mrdinis, Jeff said, but in such a genial tone that Laria began to relax and wonder why she'd delayed so long in broaching the problem. Nearly five months was a long enough period to allow Clanssia to integrate and the girl hadn't. Laria did not mention some of the young woman's other less admirable characteristics which had enraged Vanteer from time to time and certainly annoyed Lionasha.

I'll have a word with Gollee Gren and see if he's got any promising candidates. And stress `Dini adherents Of course, it would be best to have a `Din i-raised kid like you.

That solves most of the problem Clarissia posed.

How many `Dinis were paired out, Grandfather?

Gren's got such figures. I seem to remember there were about a thousand in the first adoptions. Not all to talented families, of course, arid spread about the old Nine Star league worlds.

And then as many as the `Dinis could spare for placement.

There'll be someone. And mind you, miss, you keep after me until a proper match's been made. That's more important than you may realize and it is certainly my function to make sure any Prime has the right support group. Hear me? You put up with Stierlman far longer than you had to. As my old mother used to say, if a shirt's dirty, it's dirty.

`vkaat?

And don't tell me you've never heard how often your grandmother switched Callisto staff about until she latched on to your father!

All right then, I won't. Laria giggled.

That's better. Gollee's already on it. As soon as he finds a likely suspect, I'll ship it out and you can ship Clarissia back.

Oh, good heavens!

Sooner the better, pet.

Before Laria could start to temporize, Earth Prime was gone. As immensely relieved as she was not to have to put up with Clarissia much longer, Laria hoped that she'd have time enough to warn the girl. It wasn't exactly Clarissia's fault that she couldn't abide `Dinis No, it was Clarissia's fault because she'd made absolutely no attempt to see `good' in the Mrdinis.

In fact, all latent sympathy Laria had for transferring the girl dispersed two minutes later when Clarissia contacted her.

There is a delegation of those creatures on its way across the field, Prime Clarissia's tone reeked of distaste.

Laria looked out of her Tower window, though the Clarf `tower' was no more than a four-sided plasglassed cupola, raised eight feet above the rest of the complex, and saw that the delegation contained the large form of Plrgtgl, two medium-sized assistants and six lesser, smaller `Dinis.

Vanteer, Lionasha, full honours. Clarissia, can you at least assemble the proper refreshments?

Yes, came so curt an acknowledgement that Laria could almost see the repugnance on the girl's long face and the twitch of her slender hands, indications of the revulsion the young Talent felt at having to deal with the `creatures' in any capacity. Another twinge of pity racked Laria for the girl had been so eager to be assigned away from her home world. Her xenophobia had not then been apparent to anyone, even Gollee Gren, but it developed speedily enough on Clari' Vanteer, a stockily built mid-thirties native of Procyon IV, with the heavy bones of that planet's human adaptation, and the dark-eyed, dark-haired, dark-complected Lionasha, the `lithe' (which was Lana 5

special designation for her T-7 expediter), could be counted on to divert `Dinis from approaching Clanssia.

It was as well, Laria thought with a sigh, that native `Dinis did not read human countenances as well as the Tower `Dini contingent did.

Nor did any of them really notice that Clarissia conveyed no body language at all - standing stiff and straight as if lacquered in position.

That was a mercy since she would have made the true depth of her revulsion all too easily readable in movements.

Once Plrgtgl announced its mission, Laria had no further time to fret over Clarissia's possible misdemeanour. Plrgtgl had a huge job for the Tower, requiring it to organize and expedite the timetable for a considerable amount of cargo to be shifted: to the other `Dini planets and to the satellite space docks. Without it being stated, Laria and her staff realized that a goodly portion of the `Dini space fleet was being refitted and resupplied in the shortest possible time.

Such activity provided her with the perfect reason to remove Prtglm's corner.

WITH SO MUCH TO BE SHIPPED TO DIFFERENT PLACES, ALL CRADLES WILL BE NECESSARY, she said as she riffled through the documentation. `THE CARRIER WHICH HAS RESTED ON THE FIELD COULD PERHAPS NOW BE MOVED TO A SOUTHERN LOCATION TO DISPLAY ITS MESSAGES THERE TO GOOD EFFECT.' She pretended total disinterest in Plrgtgl's reaction to the request and quickly moved to another topic, adding body language to augment the praise of her words. `SO MUCH OF THIS YEAR'S HARVEST TO GO OFF-WORLD, TOO. A CREDIT TO THE COLOURS.

Plrgtgl rolled its. poll eye, attractively covered by a crown of lace which had recently become a `Dini fad.

Laria was well accustomed to such scrutiny and continued to scan the cargo way-bills to the red ones that indicated live `portations.

IT WILL BE GOOD TO SEE THE KTLS,' she added as nonchalantly as she could since she was over joyed to see the ship listed as an arrival.

Laria kept very good track of what went to the KTLS since her brother Thian had spent so much time on board. And saved so many `Dinis from the ultimate sacrifice of their kind.

Thian was now T&T on board the Genessee and they exchanged news whenever she had a shipment for the squadron.

YES. THE KTLS HAS HONOURED ALL MRDINIS AND EVERY COLOUR THAT SERVES ON IT,' Plrgtgl said, shifting its lower limbs, body language she had come to read as `pleased'. `THN LN HAS SERVED THE KTLS TO THE HONOUR OF YOUR HOUSE.

As she bowed in acknowledgement of such praise, Laria kept her expression neutral despite an intense desire to grin. Plrgtgl had used another human idiom.

High-ranking `Dinis, like Plrgtgl, were gradually sprinkling their conversations with more and more Basic terms. If only that usage could also alter some of the `Dini minds and methods.

First things first, she said to herself Hey, said Vanteer, his expression bland though his voice was triumphant, another score for Basic!

Keeping count, are we, Van? asked Lionasha whose eyes twinkled.

And thank whatever gods there be that you're getting rid of that monstrosity. if you're downwind, the stench is appalling.

Vanteer added a flash of himself holding his nose and gagging.

Even my `Dinis are complaining.

Laria dared not react or even shoot him a warning glance. All her attention must be on Plrgtgl. She signalled for Lionasha to take the documentation and begin organizing a timetable for the `portations.

THERE WILL BE A GREAT RECEPTION CEREMONY FOR THE ARRIVAL OF THE TRIUMPHANT KTLS, Plrgtgl said.

AS THERE SHOULD BE FOR A SHIP THAT HAS DONE SO MUCH,' Laria replied formally and made the necessary body gestures that signified pleasure, honour, delight and acceptance. She could carry on high-level communications now with just body language, though more and more `Dinis had become fluent in Basic and prided themselves on using it in the presence of humans.

She flicked her eyes to where Tip and Huf were standing respecffully to one side of the great Plrgtgl and caught their approval of her expertise.

IS THERE TIME TO REFRESH WITH COOL DRINK?' Laria asked, gesturing towards the table and its array.

Clarissia had - unobtrusively at least - backed herself against the wall. Tip, Huf, and the other `Dinis - all too well aware of her dislike - took over the hospitality duties, bringing forward `Dini seating while Vanteer and Lionasha served the fruity juices which Laria imported from Terra, knowing how much `Dinis liked them.

I'm not telling you your business as Tower Prime, Vanteer said on a tight private level, but we're going to have more `Dinis in and out of here and she's becoming more and more of a liability.

We'll back your decision in that, Lionasha added.

Your Prime's already initiated the appropriate steps for her transfer, gang, Laria replied, focusing her thought to the two, though Clarissia was so tight in her xenophobia she wouldn't have been aware of a telepathic shout in her vicinity.

Hallelujah! was Vanteer's response in an archaic term that surprised both women.

Despite Clarissia, the official visit went off very well and Plrtgl was so excited in its own fashion with such imminent traffic Plrtgl was rather possessive of the Tower as its special project - that her reserve went unnoticed.

`We'll be busy, kids,' Lionasha said, having had a chance to estimate how much Tower time and energy would be required for the material and animate objects scheduled to be `ported and received. She grinned around the room but her grin faded at Clarissia. The thin girl stepped forward then, swallowing convulsively.

`I do not wish to abandon Clarf Tower at a time of maximum activity, Prime, but I request as immediate a transfer as possible.' She swallowed again and the others noticed that her pale complexion had turned yellowish.

`Oh, you won't leave us short, Clarissia,' Laria said airily.

`Prime Raven has already promised us additional assistance. As soon as you like, I can `port you back to Blundell.' Both Lionasha and Vanteer were too self-possessed to show any surprise at Laria's abruptness and were kind enough to make appropriate sounds of dismay.

`No, really, I must go, Clarissia said, her fingers twitching at her sides, and without another word actually `ported herself out of the room.

`Well!' said Lionasha and turned to Laria, hoping for an explanation. Vanteer's grin got broader and he winked at the Tower Prime.

`As I said, I've been working on the problem,' she said casually.

`I just got the official permission today.

We may have to work harder Not really you'll meet me half way and bring me in, said a male voice that Laria did not recognize.

She glanced from Vanteer to Lionasha to see if the `path had been audible to them. Apparently not, so she continued her sentence.

`But not for long it seems. So where are you so easily retrievable?

Not precisely `easily'. I'm currently with C Squadron, and his spatial co-ordinates tagged on to the `path. Ting on the A.S.

Strongbow as courier and pack mule.

Laria could almost see a wry grin on the speaker's face. She also caught the sense of terrible fatigue and ennui that his flippancy was trying to conceal. Pack mule? Well, that was better than `stevedore'.

when can we expect you?

I have my orders, I'm packed, and I'll get into the capsule as soon as you tell me to.

You really aren't wasting any time, are you?

Frankly, clarff Prime, I'll be very glad to leave this ship.

I've I've been gone a long, long time.

There was that in his tone of voice that touched an echo of deep empathy in Laria.

`Tower generators up, please,' she said, taking the stairs to her eerie two at a time. what is the squadron going to do about resupply, she asked, ri you're here?

I've been reliably informed that my replacement will follow swiftly.

And you are? Laria asked, suddenly realizing that although she would now recognize his mental touch anywhere in the galaxy, she didn't know his name.

Oh, and she heard him chuckle, I have been on board too long. I'm T-2 Kincaid dano, Altairian bred.

You `11 be very welcome, Kincaid.

Thanks. And a laugh again echoed in her head. My `Dinis are ecstatic at the posting, never having touched down on their homeland.

Laria let an exaggerated sigh of relief escape her lips.

He had volunteered the answer to her most important question.

That's probably the only reason I got promoted, clarf Prime, he said with another dry chuckle which told her he had at least heard, and understood, her sigh. Another plus which he couldn't possibly know she'd had to explain so many casual references to Stierlman, whereas Clarissia had always been so worried about how to respond to any attempt at levity, Laria had found her sense of fun was atrophying.

Why on earth hadn't she been assigned someone of Kincaid's calibre in the first place? Then she recalled how long the two squadrons had been travelling. But surely She took herself sternly in hand: she had been able to run Clarf Tower quite capably with Yoshuk and Nesrun.

Then Vanteer had been sent to help until the Sef Tower had been commissioned and her T-2s had been sent there. Lionasha joined her and Vanteer, and Stierlman was sent as her T-2. A Tower Prime did need to find exactly the `right' personality for a good rapport - those complementary qualities which her grandmother had found in Afra after trying to adjust to many incompatible personalities.

Kincaid's `Dini affiliations would now be essential, to counter any harm Clarissia's short tenancy might have caused.

A totally wayward thought made her choke back audible laughter: what if Clarissia was to be Kincaid's replacement? A shipful of long-voyage officers and crew might just be what the girl needed.

Being `Dini-paired is certainly an advantage here, she `pathed, but that would scarcely be the deciding factor, Kincaid.

The Tower generators were reaching the necessary whine as she asked Lionasha to put the relevant space charts up on the screen for her. She triangulated the position and, settling into the couch, reached out with her mind for the unmistakable mass of metals and humans which had been vivid in his peripheral identifications of his current position. She felt for the equally identifiable mass of a carrier, Kincaid and his two `Dinis within.

Ready?

You have no idea how ready! was his devout response and she picked him up, feeling once more the definite and deep fatigue in his assistance to her contact.

What under the suns had the squadron required of this courier-pack mule to bring him to this level of exhaustion? She lowered the carrier gently into the cradle nearest the Tower, hoping the wind blew the stench of Prtglm away from him. It is also very important, he added in an aside that she wasn't certain she was supposed to hear.

Vanteer, do the honours, will you? She could sort out this `important' when they were face to face. He's Kin ca id dano of Altair, our T-2 replacement, plus `Dinis.

Clarissia, she added in a direct `path to the girl, a personnel carrier has just arrived and is available to take you to Blundell - ri you'll give me an estimate of how long it will I can go right now!

Clarissia was either hysterical with relief or joy, or bOth at the serendipity of release. By the time Laria had risen from her couch and gone to the window overlooking the field, she saw Vanteer shaking hands with a tallish man - his back was to her. Her sense of his fatigue was reinforced by the sag of his shoulders. When he and Vanteer turned back to the carrier to assist two well-grown `Dinis to alight, the lid of the carrier hid his face from her. Clarissia, with a welter of luggage following her, half raced across the plascrete. The two men then helped her and her gear into the carrier. Laria grinned as Vanteer closed the lid with a definitely firm shove.

She's ready to go, Laria. I'll bring Kincaid, Npl and Pis up to the Tower.

Laria nearly `ported herself back onto the couch she was so eager to send the girl away! She could also feel Clarissia's assistance in getting the generators back up to launch. First time the girl hadn't waited for orders.

I wish you well wherever you go, clarissia.

Don't be so magnanimous, Laria, the girl answered in a snarl, you know perfectly well you've been wanting to get me out of your hair since the moment I got here and you discovered I'm not a weasel lover like you. You'll soon find that the popularity of you collaborators is on the wane and your family will be replaced. That I can promise you.

Laria stifled the dismay such animosity caused her.

She refused to respond to silly mouthings and threats.

And the service her family gave could scarcely be considered sinecures. She forced herself to respond with dignity You are a competent T-2, Clarissia, and as that I can recommend you to your next post with no hesitation. Goodbye!

You haven't heard the last of ME!

Laria ignored the virulently delivered rejoinder but she flipped the carrier as fast as she could back to the huge Earth landing field at the Blundell Cube.

Gollee!

Open to you, Laria.

clarissia's a good T-2 but watch her.

I had that intention ri she couldn't work out with you, Laria.

In Gollee's tone was an anodyne for Clarissia's parting venom.

Are you coming down, Laria? asked Vanteer in an `I think you should' tone.

You bet I am.

clarissia launched a choice parting shot? asked Lionasha with a trace of anxiety.

Laria did not respond but came down the stairs in a far lighter tread than she had ascended. She shouldn't be so naive, but she had hopes for the newcomer, if only because of his humour.

Kincaid was tall, his `Dinis nearly as big as her Tip and Huf Despite being of different colours, Npl and Pis were being most affectionately ringed by the six resident `Dinis, all wriggling and nattering in the most fervent of welcomes imaginable. Kincaid was whistling a very old tune that Laria only recognized because her Denebian grandmother had sung it to put her younger siblings to sleep on summer holidays. `If you go down to the woods today, you're in for a big surprise.' After the strains of the morning, Laria burst into laughter and knew that she couldn't fail to like Kincaid.

He advanced towards her, his thin, very pale face alight with pleasure that she'd identified the tune. He couldn't ever be called `handsome', not the way Yoshuk was, but he was attractive, despite a ship pallor and a dry skin that gave him more facial wrinkles than he ought to have. She didn't think him older than Vanteer. Rangilly built but far too thin for the big bones of him, he held out to her a big blunt-fingered hand, palm sideways so she could merely brush it for the touch that Talents preferred as casual contact or shake it.

She was so glad to see him, a confirmed `Dini person, a man who laughed easily and obviously had an outrageous sense of humour, that she grasped his hand and took full advantage - as he did after a moment's polite hesitation - of the complete contact. He was piney/green/oddly velvet, very very tired and, though he didn't try to hide the fact from her, she caught the hesitancy and realized that he was homosexuAl. If he made a good T-2, that wouldn't matter. It would almost be better if they were friends, as her grandmother and Afra had been, rather than lovers. Still `The first thing you do, Kincaid dano of Altair, is get some extended rest,' she said briskly, twisting her hand in his and starting to lead him out of the main Tower room to the living area. `You'll have to be careful of the sun here, Kincaid, you've been confined too long in a ship - - -` `Don't you just know it . . . he said ruefully. Look, Laria Prime, he said on the most private level which their joined hands provided, there is something exceedingly important `I'll get some of the strongest blocker, Lionasha said, `and goggle glasses to reduce Clarf's dazzle. Even peripherally it's going to bother you.

`Go on ahead, Laria, and darken the room the best guest, Clarissia's left hers in a welter,' said Vanteer, picking up one of the duffles that Kincaid had brought with him, `you're to sleep!' `Look, I'm here to help Laria Prime, I must `You're in no state to be help in 4ny form, Kincaid, Laria said firmly, in answer to both voiced and `pathed messages, `until you've had some rest.

You don `t realize . . . He was insistent and gripped her hand to express his urgency.

A couple of hours won't make that much difference, will it?

she asked, as if his admission of his sexuality would matter to her. Or maybe he didn't realize that his fatigue had made it very easy for her to reach to the more private areas of his mind. Even with my help you couldn't `path beyond your nose.

After hours, rio, I guess riot. But, and he added aloud, `Nil and Plus have to contact their `Ours can manage that courtesy while you're grabbing a few hours' sleep,' Laria said placatingly, dropping his hand as she pushed open the door out of the Tower.

Lionasha grabbed up the second dufle as they all manoeuvred the long man where they wanted him to go. Raising his arms in surrender, he allowed himself to be guided.

Laria marched straight to the nearest and largest guest bedroom, palming the blind controls to complete darkness, and lowering the room lighting to a suitable dimness.

`Ah!' Kincaid exclaimed as he took in the spacious surroundings.

`A real bed, too!' Laria laughed. `Yes, you wouldn't fit on a bunk too well, would you?' He did a shoulder roll onto the extra wide and long bed and lay there, sighing with intense relief, arms and out at the oddest times. This might be one of the times legs spread out to the edges. For a beat, the other three Talents waited for another comment from him.

Laria covered her mouth and her giggle.

`He's asleep?' whispered Lionasha.

`Out like a light!' The three left the room, Laria palming the lights off and carefully sliding the door shut.

`Not that I think a torpedo would wake him Laria said as they returned to the Tower complex.

Hallway down that corridor they could hear the excited `Dini voices. Their gang were already taking care of the arrivals.

`They can all have the day of i, Laria said as they entered the main complex. `Nothing's due in now.

`You're right,' Lionasha said, glancing at the topmost way-bills on her desk. `None of Plrgtglm's shipments will arrive until tomorrow but here,' she added, tearing a slip from the printer with a flourish, `are the coordinates you can send that misbegotten carrier to.' She handed Laria the slip `Prayers have been answered all round today. Rev up the generators, please, Vanteer,' Laria said, and settled herself in the nearest chair. `I have the oddest feeling I've already done a full day's work with only one catch and one send. This one is the bonus.' Printout in hand, she concentrated and, catching the rhythm of the generators, flipped Prtglm's carrier to the co-ordinates given. `And that is that!' Vanteer sniffed the air about him. `Yes, a definite improvement.

`All round,' Lionasha agreed. `Don't know how you stuck her so long, Laria. You've the patience of a saint.' `What's a saint?' asked Vanteer.

`Oh, you!' Laria said, for Vanteer's humour broke he was trying to catch her out.

Lionasha had taken Vanteer's query at face value and, being keen on history, explained the concept thoroughly while Laria listened. If this Kincaid fitted in with these two half as well as she rather thought he would, they were finally a real Tower Team. Vanteer was as hetero as she could wish - she could also wish for a bit more from Vanteer but there was no way she could initiate things, not with Van's personality and the fact that he liked spreading himself around, which inhibited her. There were several others in the growing human community who might find Kincaid companionable.

TLP, HGF, ALL OF YOU, PLEASE TAKE NPL AND PLS TO SEE CLARF. DO NOT FORGET ANY OF THE SIGHTS THEY SHOULD SEE AM DO NOT WORRY ABOUT REPORTING UNTIL TOMORROW MORNING FOR WORK.

The darker pelted of Kincaid's two sable-coloured `Dinis turned most politely to Laria. `KNKD HAS TIRED WITH TOO MUCH STRAIN. YOU WILL LET HIM SLEEP, LR LN?' UNTIL HE WAKES, MOST EXCELLENT NPL.

There was a moment of excitement between Nil and Plus for neither had been formally introduced to Laria and her being able to identify one from the other pleased both immensely.

LR LN KNOWS MRDINIS WELL,' said Tip with as much pomposity as a `Dini of its longevity could manage. Huf Vanteer's Dig and Nim as well as Lionasha's Fig and Sil were convulsed in `Dini giggles.

It took all three humans to herd eight wriggling `Dinis out of the main Tower entrance. They were still reeling with laughter until they reached the outer gates when suddenly all eight assumed the usual dignified postures of `Dinis of reasonably high rank.

Laria Prime?

The summons must have been repeated on gradually increasing levels of urgency before Laria woke, unable in her sleepiness to identify the caller.

who? She was surprised as well as slightly annoyed to have a deep slumber broken into.

Kincaid. I apologize but I am rested sufficiently now to make an extremely important and top secret report to Earth Prime. There was a hesitation that Laria interpreted as both embarrassment and necessity.

I am unable right now to make so long a `path and ask for your assistance.

What he did not say, and which alerted Laria as nothing else could have, was the fact that the secrecy of the communication was crucial.

None of the Tower staff must know of the `portation, the generator must not be used.

Kincaid might say he was sufficiently rested but Laria knew by the edge on the words he spoke that he was by no means as rested as he would like her to believe.

I'll collect you on my way to the Tower, she said, and slipped into the loose, light, long robe that most of the humans living on Clarf preferred.

He was standing at his closed door, still wearing the ship suit he had arrived in although he was bare-footed.

She nodded approval and led the way. It was four in Clarffs morning and the floor under their bare feet was almost cool. She took the stairs two at a time and realized that he did so, too. Another nice change from Clarissia who had been prim to the point of the worst excess of methody. Laria pointed to the couch which, she also noted, they would have to lengthen to fit his frame comfortably but he sank onto it now without a murmur.

Have you merged often enough to be comfortable with the procedure?

she asked. There was a great deal she would need to learn about this man before they did many `portations.

More with other T-2s and T-3s than with a Prime .

It's as well you're still too tired to resist then, she said and firmly took control. Deep inside, she wondered again what the navy had been doing to the man to reduce him to this level of nearly total mental and physical exhaustion. Then she caught edges of anxieties, deep loss and disillusionments. So he'd had a rough emotional time on the Strongbow as well as overwork. Despite that, the merge was as easy as slipping a hand into a perfectly fitting glove. More to admire in the man.

Laria id merge to Earth Prime, urgent.

I'm here and I've been expecting Kincaid's contact, Laria.

Just support him, will you?

That was surprise enough for Laria and she immediately assumed the secondary position of the merge, deft enough with all the practice she'd had with her parents at Aurigae Tower, bolstering the strength of the merge.

I had my orders, as you know, sir, but there were other ways in which I was asked to assist the squadron and since there was no specific limitation, I used my own judgement when the matter was presented to me.

Properly done, Kincaid. Proceed.

Laria tried to keep herself from tensing: this sounded suspiciously like what had happened to her brother; no specific orders against an action which had disastrous consequences. Judging by what she had empathed of personal distress, even Kincaid's maturity and a wider scope of experience had not prevented a trauma with which he was trying to cope.

I was asked to send the new designed plastic probes to those M-5

planets which we were passing when at a fesible distance for my ability. Captains Steve rice and Hsiang were most anxious to establish some reason for such by-passes. The first had once - and Kincaid paused significantly - been occupied by hivers for the colony ship was in orbit and sufficient of the now identifiable Hive buildings and agricultural workings were visible - though the world did not show the same concentration of effort that was visible on the Xh-33. No activity was observed during the forty-el;ght-hour parabolic surveillance. The second world examined was completely devoid of life or vegetation but there was a ring of debris which both Captains Steve rice and Hsiang decided was similar to the one observed by Squadron B.

The third M-5 world was not yet dead but in such ecological imbalance that only immediate action could reverse the process. I have the right-ordinates and I suggest that an expedition be mounted - joint if that is politically sound - to save what could be a habitable world.

Hivers were there, two small buildings remained but in ruins. The fourth world is being colonized by Hivers.

Was that probe seen?

Negative.

Thank you, Kincaid. You've done more than you were required and we very much appreciate your efforts. Prime Laria, you are to be certain this man is completely recovered before he is required to take his position in the Tower.

You can count on me, Earth Prime.

I know I can, dear child. Now both of you get back to your beds.

Especially you, Kincaid.

Laria, still merged with Kincaid, felt him starting to reach out with another sentence and deftly, and as painlessly as possible for even the merge had caused his mind distress, eased away `You heard my grandfather. Enough is enough.

Kincaid had swung himself sideways on the couch, burying his head in his hands, body sagging.

`Glutton for punishment, aren't you?' she said, a trifle annoyed with such dedication even as every ounce of her heritage approved it.

`You realize how important the messages are.

`Yes, indeed. But, now, my friend and she paused just long enough to cause him to make eye contact at her use of the word. She smiled down into his tired eyes. Friend Kincaid dano of Altair, you're going to sleep yourself out.' Then, without asking, she gently `ported this long man friend back to the bed in his quarters, amused at her maternal attitude but keeping that amusement well screened. He made neither protest nor resistance to such manipulation. Too exhausted to, she thought. When she passed his room on her way back to her own, she `peeked' in. He had turned on his left side, cradling his head on one am. She flipped the light cover over him.

Dawn brought a cool breeze no matter how hot the night had been or the day would be. She didn't want him coming down with a ridiculously humanoid cold.

Kincaid roused late the next evening and was instantly served a nourishing meal which Laria and Lionasha had spent some time concocting.

Thanks whoct'erse'it thk, he said when he had finished every scrap on the tray. He was asleep again before anyone working in the Tower could respond.

Whatever did they do to the poor guy?' Lionasha asked.

`More than a T-2 should be required to do, I'd say, Laria replied with some asperity.

`Like your brother, huh?' Vanteer asked.

Laria shook her head. `For one thing, Kincaid is a T-2 and didn't have the capacities either Thian or Rojer have, but he did a lot more than he should have. Pretty far off even for just normal catch and shove.' Vanteer looked up at the tri-d galactic globe that was being updated almost monthly by the various squadrons, human and Mrdini, exploring in every direction. `Yeah, he would have been dangerously close to his limit, even with the generators those Galaxy class ships have.

Lionasha gave a sigh. `We are going to need his heist soon, Laria,' she said, patting one sheaf of the heavier materials to be sent to the moon spaceyards. `Those are big daddies.

Laria had tested the state of Kincaid's sleeping mind and was reassured by the return of a healthy resilience.

`Another twenty-four hours and he won't know himself' `Then we can schedule the party for the day after tomorrow?' asked Lionasha with just a hint of the eagerness she had for the project.

Vanteer and Laria laughed, knowing just why she was eager.

Since the early days of the Clarf Tower, when Yoshuk and Nesrun had managed however they could in the strange environment, many more humans had moved to take up administrative or consultancy posts on Clarf, and on the two Moon bases. Close to three thousand humans, some with varying degrees of Talent, though that was not a prerequisite, now formed a loose but agreeable social unit. Specialists came, integrated briefly, or stayed on as their work required them. The Tower facilities had been enlarged several times and into several levels to accommodate transients. A large tract of land, near the sea, had been allotted the more permanent human colony. Lately Lionasha had been seeing a young Denebian servo-mechanics engineer, Buzbeth Hawk. While he was a T-5, he was only just marginally empathic with humans.

Lionasha didn't mind: she got through to him with no trouble.

Vanteer preferred to `mingle' as he put it, though he was already contributing to the support of two children from different mothers of minor Talents.

He was certain the girl was already a receiving telepath. Laria often wished that Vanteer would `receive' a little more from her than he did.

But you don't force human relationships, especially among Talents.

She knew that much from the story of her father and mother.

Twenty-four hours later, looking refreshed and certainly relaxed, Kincaid joined the Tower staff for their early morning meal. He had obviously found time to discover the working schedule to know that Clarf Tower liked to get as much of its heavy work as possible done in the dawn hours.

`Am I fit, Prime?' he asked as he pulled out a chair to sit opposite Laria.

`Yes, or I wouldn't have allowed you out of your quarters, she said, passing him the coffee pot.

Appreciatively he sniffed the steaming aroma and grinned. `It's real! The navy has some brew they insist is coffee but, believe me, it isn't!' `We do have certain perks in this Tower that even the Fleet can't manage,' Vanteer said, passing him over the dew-fresh fruit which `Dini farmers regularly left at the Tower gates.

`Clarf is certainly an improvement. Then he gave a sudden jerk to his shoulders and looked about him frowning. `Where are Nil and Plus?' `Helping the others,' Vanteer said, jerking his thumb over his shoulder toward the still shadowy Tower field. `We got big daddies to move.

They've integrated so well you'd think they were the same colour.' Kincaid looked immensely relieved and began to eat his breakfast.

`They've been well, they were incredibly understanding on our tour with Squadron C.

Lionasha leaned slightly across the table to Kincaid.

`Don't be surprised if they keep their poll eyes elevated a while.

They've been given heroes' welcomes. Their colour kin mobbed the complex the first morning and they've been out every night since.' `They need to be with their own. Both are close to hibernating.

`Yes, we noticed and Plrgtgl made very prestigious arrangements for them,' Laria said with a grin as she rose. `Bring your coffee up to the Tower, Kincaid.

We've got to get started.

He swallowed the fruit he was chewing, splashed more coffee into his cup and made for the stairs.

`Refills, whenever Lionasha said as she settled at her station.

`You've worked a Tower before?' Laria asked.

`Hasn't my file caught up with me?' `Oh, it's in the banks all right, but I'd rather work with you,' she said, with a slight emphasis on `work' `You had no trouble merging, even dead on your feet, and that's the hardest part of Tower work. Some never get the knack.' As she chatted to put him at his ease, she settled herself on the couch.

`Hey, this one's new, isn't it?' he asked, running fingers along the suede-like covering and noticing the length of it.

`Well, you'd hardly have fit on Clarissia's old one.

`Well,' and he mimicked her tone exactly, `it's much appreciated,' he said, sliding onto the couch and giving a sigh as his legs were supported beyond his long feet.

`With the stuff we'll have to shift today, Kincaid, comfort is as essential as placement. Lionasha,' and she raised her voice, `what's first?' `The big daddy for the moon base - Laria pointed to the placement tri-d in the screens above the couches. `We've more inner system traffic than most Towers.

She saw Kincaid listening to the rising whine of the generators, then felt his mind touch hers.

`It's all of us today for one of these, Kincaid,' she said and took first Lionasha and then Vanteer into the merge with the T-2 as back-up. The generators reached the required strength and Laria pushed the merge to port the cargo carrier deftly to the cradle awaiting it on the moon base.

Kincaid turned his head to grin at her. `So that's how a real Tower handles mass.' `The first of many. And thank goodness we've got eight `Dinis for ground handlers. They really are the best!' Kincaid fell into the rhythm as if he'd been a part of the Tower complement for years. Neither Vanteer nor Lionasha would have commented on how easily he fitted in but Laria could nevertheless feel their relief Most before they knew it, they had swung the significant volume of outgoing traffic and were beginning to haul in the out-of-system. By the time Clarf's sun reached zenith Laria called a halt. Despite the air conditioning, the Tower room was becoming uncomfortable.

Hey, came the cheery voice of Yoshuk from Sef Tower, any time you want to send that guy here, he'd be welcome.

That goes for me, too, added Nesrun.

Don't either of you dare poach now I've got someone who fits in, Laria said firmly.

Yes, ma `am, no, sir Yoshuk replied so cockily she could see the grin on his face.

Kincaid was stretching and relieving the tension of muscles which had been automatically responding to the day's `lifts'. His mind had lost the morning's resilience and Laria hoped she hadn't pushed him too far.

`Lunch, and then with this sort of heat pushing down on us, we all take a siesta,' she said, certain that both Vanteer and Lionasha would fall in with her scheme.

`That gives the `Dinis time to rest, too. And don't look out on the bright of the day without glasses!' she added as Kincaid strolled to the windows to look down at the `Dinis scurrying about. Two were lagging somewhat behind the pace of the others. `Nil and Plus'll notice the difference for a while but they all adjust more quickly than we do.' Blinking vigorously with tearing eyes, Kincaid managed a halfœsided grin. `Who was it told me that Clarf was an easy Tower?' `Oh, it is,' Laria said, on her way down the stairs.

`We're just a little busier with all the rearrangements.

Next week, we'll hardly have a snitch to switch.' Sensibly they ate as lightly at midday as the `Dinis.

Nil and Plus needed some judicious eye care but when Kincaid would have performed it, the other six `Dinis pushed him out of the way and had a great time fussing over exactly how to effect the most result in the fastest time. The three long-term residents of Clarf Tower smiled proudly at the concerted effort.

`I've been away longer than I realized,' Kincaid said, slowly peeling one of the meltingly sweet bog pears that the others had recommended.

`How long were you on that cruise?' Vanteer asked.

Kincaid paused, frowning before he answered.

`Nearly five years, I think. Basic `That long?' Laria tried to remember exactly how long Thian had been out but it was not five years.

`Oh,' Kincaid said with a diffident flick of his fingers, `I'd been sent out with Squadron C long before those ion trails were discovered. We picked `em up in our quadrant. Then it was even more important for the squadron to have a Talent.' `Were they trying to burn your mind out?' Vanteer demanded with heated indignation before Laria could speak.

`No, and they didn't,' Kincaid replied though he began to rub his forehead in an unconscious gesture.

`I'd more than enough latents among the crew personnel to draw on when I had to Waiting for some clue to his personal distress, Laria caught it. So, the long cruise had had many complications for the Talented homosexual.

`How long have you been getting headaches like that?' Laria asked, trying to keep both dismay and concern from becoming evident.

He dropped his hand from his forehead and met her eyes. Then managed a chuckle. `Comes and goes.' `Fine Prime I am,' she said, pushing back her chair and coming around behind him. She placed her fingers lightly, like a net, around his skull and gently supplied the inhibitors that would reduce both the ache and the minute swelling of the cerebral area which governed all psionic activity.

`I'll be fine, Laria, really I will,' he said, reaching up as if to disengage her fingers.

`Don't you dare,' Lionasha said, waggling a finger at him.

`Laria's one of the best at healing.

What Laria also felt, because Kincaid had no way to prevent it, was that his emotions were in a turmoil, more of the brew of hurt, loss, disappointment, and, yes, physical pain, that had not been resolved by the sleep and relief of bodily fatigue. His participation in today's merge had almost wiped out the remedial effect of several days' much-needed sleep. Considering his state, he'd been a real trooper.

`Headache gone now, friend?' she asked casually, removing her hands since se now knew more than he did about his condition.

He gave her as searching a stare as he could without calling attention to the exchange. Then his taut lips relaxed into a brief smile. She resumed her seat and took another bog pear from the bowl as if her treatment had been no more than a simple pain block.

`Yes, friend, much better. Thank you, he said and finished eating his own pear.

`Lionasha, it's just the lighter stuff for the evening pushes, isn't it?' Laria said and managed a very convincing yawn. `Won't be that much to do when it cools down.

`Right-o, Lionasha said.

`I want to check that ping I heard before I get my nap,' Vanteer said, moving towards the stairs that led to the Tower's machine level.

And that was how Clarf Tower managed to deceive Kincaid until the worst of both the physical and mental fatigue began to heal.

When Rojer's profound emotional trauma began to ease, Isthia advised that he be allowed to enrol in an engineering programme which he had been so keenly interested in prior to the tragedy. He must learn to shift his concentration from his loss. She offered her beloved cottage, not so isolated any more as Deneb City was spreading ever closer to her lakeside retreat, and flattened arguments that too much solitude for the grieving boy might have an adverse effect.

And you think that one or another of us won't be subtly aware of his state of mind at all times, Damia? Isthia had snorted with disdain. We are always but a thought away, yours, mine, Afra's Jells, added Earth Prime.

The cottage worked for you and Afra, didn't it? Isthia went on, ignoring her son's interruption. We all know he needs to grieve. let him. right now companionship is not on his agenda. In fact, it would only serve to remind him of his loss. We've done as much metamorphically as we can. Now he needs to be diverted and, if its engineering that he has a passion for, let `s fan those flames and put his mind to work.

Damia and Afra drew Xexo into the discussion and the Aurigae T-8

had no hesitation in supporting Isthia's suggestion. Rojer had a natural engineering bent and it was right that he get his qualifications. There were other engineering candidates on Deneb, so he could have as much, or as little, social intercourse as he wished.

After all, how many Towers were there for Primes to run? Xexo went further and, after a long and useful discussion with Commander Metrios of the Genessee, developed a curriculum meticulously tailored to beguile young T-1 Rojer Lyon into studying himself out of grief After a desultory and half-hearted start, Rojer began to respond to the cleverly devised study programme and to spend hours on the terminal, competing with himself on Engineering Teach. His progress was duly noted. If Xexo grinned fatuously as he tended the generators at Aurigae Tower and adopted a smug smile whenever Rojer was mentioned, no-one contested him when he'd allude to Rojer's progress as one of his own better `engineering' accomplishments.

Occasionally, his uncle Jeran, Deneb's Prime, called Rojer to assist in the Tower, `to keep his hand in' There he met cousins with varying degrees of Talent who were also pressed into service. Though he had never much liked his cousin Rhodri, he found himself drawn to the youngest of the Eagles, the shy and self-effacing Asia, who was also in the engineering programme.

He was constantly receiving invitations from the cluster of relatives, Eagles, Ravens, Sparrows, but he rejected all, with the excuse that he had to study, keep up the garden and keep down the fish population in the lake. At first he had railed at what he considered their tactless disregard of his loss. Except for Asia whose deep blue-grey eyes always saddened whenever he caught her looking at him in the monthly tutorial sessions. But that attitude was difficult to maintain when, empathic as he was, he sensed a supportive presence when the black moments descended on him.

Never the same person, and never an intrusive one, but someone there when something sharpened the pain of his loss. Damia was most often there or his father: once it was his grandmother, several times Elizara, particularly at the beginning, but mostly his grandmother Isthia or his aunt Besseva supplied the solace. Once he was sure it was Asia who reached him one very black night but then definitely the presence was his grandmother. He could not avoid knowing how deeply they were willing to share his pain, his sense of loss - especially when their thoughts became inadvertently specific in their own personal experiences with loss and grief While he was left to himself to heal, he was never truly alone and that, all by itself was the greatest balm.

Then, about six weeks after his installation in the cottage, either Isthia or Besseva - both women insisted he drop the familial titles - started taking him out to dinner and an evening's company. At first he suspected some sort of `kind' conspiracy when he noticed no `Dinis present but his female relations, having so many homes to choose from, adroitly picked those which had no Mrdini associations. He often rode with Asia to her house because she'd listen to him sounding off on engineering theories. She often had some very adroit suggestions.

`Why don't you speak out at the tutorials? Anyone would think you were just being tolerated in the class?' he asked one day when she startled him with her grasp of jo-junctions.

`Oh,' and she waved her free hand nervously. `I might be wrong and then they'd all laugh at me.' `You haven't been wrong once with me, Rojer said, annoyed at her diffidence.

`Yes, but you're different from everyone else in my family,' she replied. `You listen to me.' Rojer kept his annoyance to himself remembering all too well how much of a bully Roddie had been: probably the reason his sister wouldn't speak up for herself `Would you care for a fish dinner? Say tomorrow night?' he asked her several weeks later.

`Only,' and he grinned broadly at her, `you have to catch your own fish.' She had a rippling kind of laugh and, rather than send her scuttling back into herself he grinned back.

`I am, however, a very good cook so you don't have to cook it.

`I really ought to study the quantums ` she said, already retreating from that moment of amusement.

`So ought I. We'll make it a work evening: catch fish, eat fish and discuss quantums while we work.' He knew Asia was a T-4 - she'd been tested - but it didn't hurt to reinforce her and he was deft enough to do so. Like `so many Denebians, she was lackadaisical about honing the ability she had. That made it all the easier for him to make a few adjustments, to help her think better of herself `You do understand the quantums better than I do, -` `We'll find out whether or not I do tomorrow.

Right? Gotta get on home now,' he said, as they came to her turn-off. He kicked his pony, Koto, into a lope and waved one hand in an airy farewell.

They got together once or twice during the next few weeks. By then his studies had begun to intrigue him into making voluntary forays into the various aspects of spatial engineering. Such problems were the best meat to feed a healing mind. Many Ravens had been of an engineering bent and Rojer had caught his share of it, as well as a keen sense of spatial relationships. The maths were soothing, too, and, over the next four months, he advanced as fast as the computer Teach would let him.

When he and Asia shared tutorials, he realized that her grasp of the fundamentals was as firm as his own because she would volunteer answers if he was the only other student present.

Some days, when he had worked to total mental fugue, his grandmother would suddenly require some item of hers from the cottage and he'd have to ride Koto to wherever she was. He knew, and she knew that he knew, that either of them could have `ported the item to her if she needed it urgently but they both knew he was the better for the exercise. He submitted to her careful bullying with good grace.

Isthia never had cause to call him a cocky boy and she approved of his friendship with Asia.

But, oh, in the night, how he missed the feel of warm `Dini bodies snuggled against his. And oh, how often he was about to ask Gil's opinion or share a wry notion with Kat. He'd still wake to find his pillow damp but Isthia insisted that tears were well spent.

I'm over five times your age, Rojer Lyon, and I still cry!

Isthia had told him rather forcefully the first time he protested that he was too old for weeping.

It gave him a headache but he'd usually feel better inside.

Then there was the morning when Jeran required help to bring in a large ship of Mrdini specialists who wanted to prowl through all the bits and pieces that Denebians had found of the original two Hive scout ships. As Jeran had no `Dini language skills, Rojer had to perform the landing courtesies. That gave him his first contact since the tragedy and, to his surprise, he slipped easily into the required formalities of body and language. Then, too, these were `Dinis he'd never met before nor would be likely to meet again so there was no real personal involvement.

Isthia had been right, Rojer decided on his return home. Time did heal. He recognized that he had taken one more large step out of mourning. He began to spend more time with Asia and had managed to teach her to fry her own fish without burning it.

Rojer? His uncle Jeran's voice was unmistakable. `Port yourself here.

Rojer had also learned over the last year not to expect explanations from Jeran so he saved the problem he was working on the Engineering Teach and checked to see if his clothes were clean enough for a Tower appearance. He'd depilated his face that morning and had had a recent trim, though today's scrutiny in the mirror made him realize that the Gwyn silver lock seemed to have broadened.

Finger-combing it back from his forehead, he exhaled a deep breath and `ported himself to the plascrete apron at the foot of the Deneb City Tower.

As well he picked the spot he did, for there were quite a few vehicles parked just beyond him, and several of the ubiquitous Denebian ponies in the turn-out field.

He wondered what was up.

By the time he had assessed the population of the large Tower room and `felt' the agitated presence of his cousin, Asia Eagles, he decided that today was Test Day for the several engineering students of Deneb City. He took the Tower steps three at a time. Jeran welcomed his breathless nephew with a solemn nod - his uncle could be more methody than his father ever was - and pointed to the one free workstation.

There were six, back to back and arranged so no-one could see into the other. Asia was in the workstation opposite him. He gave her an encouraging grin because her complexion had an odd green tinge to it.

`Maybe he shouldn't have sprung the test on you so suddenly?' he whispered as he sat down.

`He knows how I'd fret,' Asia said, looking sicker than ever.

`You'll do grand, Asia. You're faster'n'me in jojunctions and quantums.

She cast him a dire look. `No-one's faster'n you at quantums, -` NO TALKING! `Of any kind, Jeran added aloud.

`I'm the monitor.' Asia made a sorrowful grimace.

`Your stations will display the test questions in precisely one minute four seconds. Two hours are allowed for the first section, to be followed by a break of fifteen minutes during which you may move about or relieve yourselves. There are four papers, with a half-hour break for lunch. You may, of course, leave the test-station whenever a paper is finished.' A mixture of groans and guffaws met that statement.

Jeran permitted himself a small smile. `It has been known to happen.

Is everyone prepared?' Deeper groans greeted that query.

The dark screen before Rojer suddenly lit and the initial page of the first paper presented him with a problem he knew he could answer easily. That gave him considerable self-confidence. He'd show them all * * * `There's no way I've passed,' Rojer heard Asia groan in a tone of abject defeat at the end of the examination day.

`Don't come on like that with me, Asia,' he said as sternly as he dared. Even with him, she'd sometimes retreat into a silent unresisting victim. `I've been working with you too long. I know your abilities. And I won't have you belittling yourselfœHe did a little `tinkering' to encourage more optimism. `There wasn't a single problem we haven't gone over and you know all the structural ones because we've gone over them together. So, we'll just wait and see if I failed, too.' Shocked out of her self-denigration, her ripple of laugh bubbled up, slightly hysterical with disbeliefœ You? Fail? Rojer, you couldn't!' `Since I know as much as you know, then you couldn't either.

Or we both did. Pick your choose!' he added airily, grinning.

Somehow he could usually make her smile back at him. It was a tired and tentative effort on her part, but it was a smile.

He gave his head a shake to clear the tension of a long day's concentration and exhaled sharply. He really didn't think he'd done too badly so there was no way she had. Certainly not on the spatial equations and the jo-junctions. They'd been snaps. He'd seen Commander Metrios work them often enough while on the Genessee - - He pushed himself back from the workstation, compressing his lips. He hadn't thought of Gil or Kat all day - even at the lunchbreak when they'd all been exchanging complaints about the severity of the testing.

That is as well, Rojer, for you must move on now, he heard Jeran say softly, and not because there was anyone who would listen but because Jeran wanted to convey more than sympathy and approval.

`Softly' expressed such multiples better.

`You're dismissed now, candidates,' Jeran said out loud. `The results will be tabulated and sent to your personal terminals later this evening. You've been diligent and I am certain that all who should qualify will.' `He says that every year, murmured one of the boys Rojer did not know.

`Rojer,' Jeran went on, though he surely had heard the cynical remark, `Rami asked if you'd care to stop by before you leave the City.

Rojer grinned at the implied invitation to dinner.

Jeran's wife was an extremely good cook and tonight would be one when he'd appreciate having a meal he didn't have to prepare. He could even put up with the proximity of his cousin Barry's `Dinis.

Jeran also caught that and nodded once again, his eyes, so like the Rowan's, brighter with approval.

`Not the fatted calf but that casserole you're so fond of' Jeran said, after the others had departed. He was closing down the station, switching the messaging system to his house unit.

`Can I help?' Rojer asked.

`This doesn't take long. Get a breath of fresh air, lad,' Jeran said and gestured for his nephew to leave.

Just as Rojer reached the bottom of the stairs, he was astonished to hear the generators turn on.

Find yourself a carrier, Rojer, a voice told him. You have five minutes to gather up any things you need from the cottage.

Mother'll send on the leftovers under your bed.

Granddad?

Speaking as such, let me congratulate you on the high{h scores you achieved on your exams. Honours, even. There was a chuckle. Speaking as Earth Prime, you're to get your lazy butt to the Mars Moon Base.

The refugee ship has just now assumed its assigned geosynchronous orbit and the technicians are thronging to get inside it. High Council has insisted that I assign Primes to assist in this venture into alien territory.

Father, Jeran interjected, Roger's had an exhausting day.

And you know farely well that we Primes can't bear proximity to Hiver metals. The reaction on a tired mind will be all the most intense . - Jeran, you fuss more than your grandmother over the boy.

And it's Rojer's choice. Care to come?

Suddenly mental fatigue vanished as the adrenalin of challenge swept through Rojer. Even the Moon Base had food dispensers. And sleep? At this moment?

I got honours, granddad? If he had, then Asia had.

High enough to make Xexo impossible, according to your mother, and certainly Earth Prime wants one of his own there to keep an eye on things. You won't be required to go `in' the vessel: just manoeuvre lights and rescue those who step into Hiver tubes.

Rojer wasn't certain if it was making Xexo proud or the challenge of investigating, even at a remote distance, the undamaged Hive sphere, that was causing his elation.

Hell, granddad, I could even manage going inside it - if I didn't have to stay too long, Rojer replied.

Then move it, lad, or the post'll have to go to someone else.

granddad, did Asia Eagles pass?

Asia Eagles? There was a pause. Yes. But don't waste time.

Rojer did not consider it a waste of time to try to give Asia that reassuring news but when he tried to reach her mind with the good news, she'd closed up tight as a pod in a misery of anxiety. Just like her, the silly clunch! She'd know soon enough and he'd tease her - gently about her lack of confidence. Then he focused his mind on his room in Isthia's cottage and started `porting tapes, disks, oddments, belatedly remembering to snatch a carisak into which he dumped these belongings.

You'll need at least one change of clothing, lad, Jeran said with an amused snort and himself plucked several items of clothing from the cottage, more neatly folded than Rojer had left them. These were added to the carisak.

Closing it, Rojer sprinted for the nearest single personnel carrier. As he stretched himself out on the narrow couch inside, he reached out a long arm to haul the lid down. He heard a brief second thump and grinned that his uncle bothered to check that the latches had caught. So methody of him!

Please thank Raini for me, Jeran. I'm sure I won't eat as well &ad luck, Rojer, the brisk kindly voice of his grandmother cut in.

thanks for everything . . . and then Rojer felt the indefinable sensation that told the experienced travelling Talent that he was nolonger where he had just been. He heard a chuckle.

Granddad? Now I'd call that cocky!

Would you? And his grandfather's chuckle renewed with a certain pleased edge to it.

`OK in there, sir?' a slightly less confident voice asked.

`Fine!' The hatch opened to reveal a double-domed darkness, well sprinkled with stars, but Rojer was too familiar with Callisto to believe that's where he'd been `ported.

He sat up and saw the naval rating peering in at him.

`Rojer Prime. . . his grandfather corrected him firmly.

Lyon, Prime. Am I expected?' `Yes, sir, you are sir Rojer grimaced a bit at the `sirring' since it evoked memories which still caused him to wince. He hitched himself out of the corner, slung the carisak over his shoulder and gestured for the rating to lead the way.

As he came round the carrier on his way to the airlock that joined the carrier depot with the gigantic Moon Base facility, he stopped abruptly. There, above him, half-lit by Sol, was the complete sphere of the refugee ship he was here to explore. She was appropriately equipped with regulation buoy lights.

`She's a beaut, sir, even for an alien craft, the rating said with an odd ring of pride in his voice. `We were lucky to snag her to Mars Phobos Base even if now there's as many `Dinis here as there would be if she'd been sent to one of theirs.' "Dinis bother you?' Rojer asked, bridling at the hint of intolerance in the rating's tone.

`Me, sir? No, sir,' was the almost startled reply as they entered the first of several lift shafts on the way to their destination.

`Cute little beggars, most of `em.

Better manners n some I could name not too far from here. To starboard now, sir.

A quick scan of the rating's mind showed Rojer that the man was honest enough - so long as he was not required to be much in their company.

`Don't they keep that Hiver queen here?' The rating visibly flinched and shot Rojer a nervous look. `No, she's down on Earth's Moon Base. Heinlein Rojer depressed the `deliver' button. A mellifluous Buildings. No way she or anything she can make out of her eggs can get out of that place.' `Oh? Has she hatched more of the larvae?' Surely someone would have mentioned it to him, Rojer thought, if the matter had been noteworthy.

`A couple of oddies. Small scuttling things,' and the rating gave a snort of disdain. `Vents got checked again, thinking she might be trying to send `em outside. No way she can!' The man had pride in his service's security measures.

As they traversed several corridors and took one more long ride upwards, Rojer wondered how soon he could wangle a chance to get down to the Moon and observe her. If, as the experts were now fairly certain, the queens controlled all ship functions, he ought to see her for himself as well as the attendants and other varieties she had finally allowed to hatch. As far as he knew, his cousin Rhodri was still on duty there.

`Here you are, sir,' the rating said, stopping by a door and pointing to a palm-pad. `If you'll just do the necessary .

Rojer obliged by placing his hand on the pad and felt the tingle that registered the quarters to his imprint.

Then the door whooshed open on a good-sized, attractively furnished lounge area: a good few notches above the usual naval base interiors. Peering about, he saw that he also had separate sleeping and sanitary rooms. The rating was more concerned that he know how to operate the internal comunit, where emergency life-support equipment was stored, and which numbers to dial for which services. He had no sooner finished this briefing than the comunit blinked a message light.

`I'll leave you to it, sir,' the rating said and, with another smart salute, left.

voice - much kinder to the ear than the usual `service' computer voice - informed him that Commandant Enarit del Falco would like to see him as soon as he was settled. A directional node dropped out of the message slot.

Rojer checked the digital on the wall and decided, as he reset his wrist unit to the local time, that as soon as he was settled' included attending to the rumbling in his guts. It was mid-morning here and he was far too hungry to wait till lunchtime.

The dispenser unit was standard navy; the menu that scrolled past Rojer's incredulous eyes was anything but. Delighted, Rojer watched long enough to discover many favorite and esoteric dishes before he ordered the most unusual item he saw - a high protein described as `genuine beefalo steak', which tasted succulent enough to be genuine.

Then he contacted the Commandant's office that he was now settled in.

Donning the button which had been forwarded by pneumatic slot to him, he let it guide him through the maze of corridors and lifts. He knew that the Phobos Moon Base was as many levels deep in solid lunar rock as above it and equally as wide. He figured by the upward progress on which the rating had led him that he was housed in `executive territory' but he made another upwardly mobile short journey to an even more prestigious level, encountering more and more officers of high rank as he progressed - inward now, he thought.

Though he was an obvious civilian, he was more often accorded a salute than a smile. Then, as he turned to a set of wide double doors, the node informed him that he had arrived.

The Commandant's suite of offices were imposing on a par with his grandfather's level of the Blundell Building. He sensed many minds not far away and wondered if stopping to eat a meal had made him late for an important meeting. The handprint pad was conspicuous enough to suggest that everyone put his hand there so he did. One leaf of the door swung inward to a huge but empty foyer, walls and ceilings impressively decorated by naval ships, sea and space, down the ages.

Damn, Rojer thought, he should have made some attempt to find out this Commandant's status in the table of Alliance organization.

He's not quite as important as Grandfather, said a very welcome voice, but he thinks he is.

Where are you, Thian? Rojer looked at the many doors leading off this foyer.

Come now, brother, surely that's elementary!

Rojer chuckled and confidently turned to the righthand one of two double-doored entries. It opened to a huge, well-populated `operations' area, dominated by screens wrapped round the walls, with horizontal plotting boards at various locations on the floor space, two transparent spheres, one of which was fitted out with some internal components. All around the room workstations were occupied and equations and displays flashed their messages to those seated before them. He spotted five with engineering configurations. The room was full of humans and Mrdini and no-one paid his arrival any attention whatever.

Hi, there, bra, said Thian, his voice buoyant with cheerful welcome. Did you like the beefalo? Smart of you to eat while you had the chance because the Admiral is unlikely to take into consideration that you've done a full day's work already.

Once his brother began speaking, Rojer located him at the far end of the chamber in a group of evidently high-ranking naval officers to judge by their static positions and sombre expressions. About them, like satellites, other uniformed personnel hovered, either busily checking note-pads or awaiting assignment.

As Rojer made his way toward his tall, self-assured brother, he noted the more obvious fact that, while Thian wore a navy shipsuit, there was an FT&T insignia on his shoulder and the Prime tab on his collar. He also thought his brother looked a lot older than he had when they had last met. Whenever that was. Ah, yes, when Laria had come home for her birthday. There were subtle changes in his older brother's face and bearing.

Watch the one who's jabbering at me, Thian added as Rojer made his way across the cavernous room, although Thian gave every outward appearance of total concentration on what was being said to him by a shorter, black-haired man with a strangely taciturn face.

If Prtglm had had the sense to get human support to destroy Xh-33, Admiral Enarit del Falco, our Base Commandant, is the man who'd've given it and rejoiced. Del Falco is also extremely shrewd, intell(gent and capable. There isn't a thing that happens on this base that he doesn't know about within seconds. He's got absolutely no Talent so we're safe to say all the things we want right in front of his face.

On the other hand, lie's got a natural shield as impregnable as a Hive sphere, which is very inconvenient. Even Granddad and Grandmother can't winkle in.

The admiral turned slightly just then and Rojer gave an inadvertent shudder at the closed face and took the final steps to his brother under the admiral's scrutiny.

`Ah, Admiral, speaking of the devil . Thian said as if he'd just noticed his brother's arrival. He raised one arm which he then placed about Rojer's shoulders, squeezing his hand in welcome. And continued a mental briefing while he effected the introductions.

`Here's Prime Rojer Gwyn-Lyon, Eng. Mec top honours - yes, you did get top honours today which is exactly why you got snatched from the quiet of Deneb and Grandma's cottage and thrust into this situation without a chance for a day's rest - who's assigned along with me to help you penetrate the interior of the Refugee - That's her official designation, bra. Don't let his manner get under your skin, Roj. He tries that one on everybody, even Granddad and Grandmother. Got nowhere with them so u'e have to keep up the family tradition. He doesn't like Talents but he needs the help only we can give him.

Fortunately both you and I are independent of his authority even if we are assigned to help.

`Good to see you, bra.' And Thian dropped his arm, smiling down at the admiral in his charismatic way, much as their grandfather might have done in a similar situation.

Having Thian in physical and mental support with so much coming at him all of a sudden made all the difference. So Rojer could smile, too, summoning up what Isthia had called the deplorable tendency of her male relatives to charm as easily as they breathed.

Adopting a casual confidence, he inclined his head courteously to del Falco. The commandant did not offer his hand to the young Talent.

Instead del Falco gave him such a piercing stare - he had the sort of large black eye that appears to see through to the soul - that Rojer was very glad of his brother's warning.

`Privilege to be aboard, Admiral del Falco.' `I thought you were younger than your brother.' `We're not far apart age-wise, sir,' Rojer replied.

Pea response, Roj. He hasn't had time to read your transcript because we had to wait to see if you passed the exams before we could snatch you here. The team that's going on board the Refugee requires staff qualifications. You got more than some, less than most. He won't take long to assess you. He's got an info-plant. And he's accessing your file right now. His eyes flicker when he's listening to it.

Updates on demand. Don't know why he isn't schizo. Oh, and our birth years are not given. Granddad's had dealings with this bird.

Just as well you don't look seventeen. That last was said in a rueful tone, acknowledging Rojer's bereavement and its tragic circumstances, and accompanied by an affectionate mental hug. Steady on. He's coming up with `the look'!

The Admiral was and, in spite of Thian's warning, Rojer very nearly rocked back on his heels at the intensity of that black and penetrating gaze. So he smiled as equably as he could until del Falco broke the eye contact, having evidently heard sufficient from his info-plant to place Rojer in the pertinent category.

`Dini coming up behind you, Roj! his brother said, his tone coloured with apprehension.

So Rojer had just enough warning to be prepared when a `Dini voice spoke.

RJR LN, YOU WILL NOT MIND TO WORK WITH GREYS?' One of the good guys, Thian added, smiling at the newcomer.

So Rojer kept the smile on his face as he turned and almost committed a solecism as he began to drop his eyes to the usual `Dini height. But the `Dini who had spoken was nearly as tall as Rojer. And not at all like the grey Prtglm.

GREY HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN EXCELLENT COLOUR, rojer said, using the body language that expressed honour at being in its company while inclining from the waist with the bow deserved by a `Dini of such size.

The memory of Prtglm, or its colour, no longer had the power to distress him. `WHAT NAME, PLEASE, IS ONE TO USE IN ADDRESS?' `THIS ONE IS KNOWN AS GLMTML.' `I'm glad that you two Primes have the chance to meet Glmtml,' the admiral said, observing the exchange.

`It leads the Mrdini team that's going to reveal Refugee's secrets for us.' A smile that was not a smile but nearly a threat spread his lips just slightly. `Prime Lyon has just arrived, Glmtmi, so he hasn't been briefed `Not that Rojer needs it,' Thian said in a bland tone and a shrug of his shoulders. `Straight transfers of carriers to the Refugee airlock, and then we act as guiding lights.

And we rescue when required. You know how many tubes a Hiver ship has!' Rojer nodded solemnly while the Admiral, unaccustomed to being interrupted, hesitated for one beat before smoothly continuing. `.

then there is no further need for delay, is there?' He turned to Glmtrnl.

`Your team is now assembled for transfer?' `All are,' Glmtml said, deferentially switching to Basic since the Admiral apparently was not fluent in `Dini.

`Then let us proceed with Operation Illuminate,' and the admiral turned his basilisk stare on the two Talents.

He snapped his fingers behind his back and one of the waiting ensigns leapt forward.

The very gesture raised Rojer's hackles. Maybe an admiral had prerogatives a space captain didn't, but the implied absolute obedience to such a discourteous summons rankled.

Why do you think I enjoy baiting him so much, Roj?

Thian said.

`Escort the Primes to their ready room, Ensign.' `No need for such ceremony, Admiral,' Thian replied. `I know where we're stationed,' and he shot Rojer a mental picture of where they were going - a small room with three Tower couches. The room already had one occupant.

More surprises, Thian?

Thian grinned. This evaluation operation is going to take all three of us and wish we were more. lit's go. I love `porting away from him. He hates it and there's not a thing he can do about it since `porting expedites troop movement. `My compliments and best wishes, Glmtml.' Rojer had only time for a similar courtesy before his brother `ported away. He followed.

That admiral had better watch himself, said the very pretty occupant of the room as Rojer and Thian appeared. He has female officers. Why do I have to creep about the place like an anathema, Thian?

`I told you that you should flaunt your self Flavia.

This is, obviously, my brother, Rojer, who will remember his manners when he stops gawking at you.' Completely surprised by the sight of such a lovely woman, Rojer willingly held out his hand to touch hers.

Green/minty/velvet. Flavia smiled quite gently back at him and then turned with a business-like attitude to Thian.

`They've got the right sort of beams now, and I think every single marine and Mrdini're festooned with more light cells than Noel trees,' she said as she slipped gracefully onto her couch.

Thian directed Rojer's attention to the huge transparent three-dimensional screen that dominated the wall facing their couches.

At the point which Rojer also identified as the main hangar deck of the Refugee, there were three coloured globes: blue, green and yellow.

Concentrating briefly on that area, Rojer also sensed a large number of humans and `Dinis.

`Rojer, I'm supposedly in nominal charge of our part in this operation,' Thian said. `That board'll light up with each centimetre we cover so we'll know where we've been. I know you had a little look round the frige `Through a glass darkly, bra, since the inside was still fogged with gas `Since you're so full of engineering honours, you get to hunt for the engine room .

`I found it before - I think.

`In the southern hemisphere, yes? Good. My priority is the life-support system which the boffins think might surround the central axis.

`Are they suited up?' Rojer asked.

`No, the navy flooded the ship with enough oxygen to fill a volume of enclosed space equal to the size of the Great Sphere, and there's an auxiliary system as back-up stuck off in the corner of the hangar.

Plus, everyone's packing an emergency breather. The sooner we get the integral life-support system going, the better.

The other priority for you is finding out what sort of fuel the Hivers use but that'd also be stored in the southern hemisphere of the ship. Flavia,' and Thian grinned at the girl, `is going to penetrate into the queens' quarters and we might need you to switch there, too, Rojer, to figure out how to turn the power on.

Mostly we gotta keep track of people who get into trouble, slipping off into tunnels and getting stuck in the small tubes.' `Like you did on the Great Sphere, huh?' Thian gave his brother a mock scowl.

`I was following orders when I found the larvae.' `Still comes down to baby-sitting,' Rojer said with a spurious groan.

`I wouldn't let any of the marines hear you put it like that, Rojer,' Flavia said in mock warning.

`Marines can break legs just like anyone else,' Rojer replied flippantly.

`Not with this Admiral,' Thian said tartly. `Everybody comfortable? Good, then,' and he pointed to the red light blinking on the comunit, `the boffins are all loaded.

Let's hoist `em up there.' Rojer turned his attention then to three large carriers, each filled with excited men and Mrdinis, cradled and waiting to be `ported up to the ship.

`OK?' Thian said, looking from one side to the other.

Flavia and Rojer both nodded and simultaneously the three Primes lifted the carriers and deposited them in a neat line on the Refugee's hangar deck where once the deadly Hiver scout ships had been housed.

What'n'ell is that? A smell or an emanation? The voice was female, the tone disgusted and uneasy.

`They've sent Talents up there?' Flavia asked in surprised indignation.

`Admiral doesn't believe in the stingg-pzzt, Thian said, `although I explained it quite carefully and so did Granddad and Grandmother.' `So who's the speaker? Can we reassure her?' Flavia asked.

Thian had closed his eyes briefly. `I think that's Lieutenant-Commander Semirame KIoo, head of the naval exploration team.

According to her file, she's a T-5 sender, with little or no training.

She opted for a place in the Naval Academy.' `So we don't know if she can receive?' Rojer asked.

Commander Kloo?

Huh? who?

Prime Thian speaking. You are experiencing what we Talents call the `stingg-pzzt' of Hive metal.

That wasn't in my briefing. She sounded both relieved and annoyed.

I don't believe the admiral accepts this reaction as valid. As you are currently surrounded by Hive metal, you `11 be pleased to know that such a reaction confirms the possession of latent Talent.

Thanks! was the droll response.

Anyone else in your team seem afraid in a similar fashion?

So far I'm the only one complaining, Prime Lyon, and her tone was resigned.

Thian, please, me.

How'd you know my nickname? Nevermind. Of course, you would.

How do I get rid of this stinggpzzt sensation? Or reduce its effect somehow or other. It's rather . . . disconcerting.

It won't hurt you but continued exposure might make you rather short-tempered.

Ha! I've already got that reputation so now I've a good reason.

So long as it doesn't bite me, I'll just get on with the job.

Shall we?

My brother, Rojer, is your guide, Rome. He can dampen the reaction to some extent. let him know you notice anyone else affected or if it begins to affect your judgement.

Thanks. Hey! That's better. And hey, I didn't know I could receive.

Rojer took over. Primes can manage two-way communications with much lower than a T-5, Rome. Now, I've ignited my guide globe and, ri you `11 just have your group follow it, we'll begin Operation Illuminate on its way to the engine rooms.

I've got enough ladders to climb us back down to Mars. And hey, this beats staying on the combutton. Rojer could almost see her grin.

lit's move it, and by the additional depth to her tone, they knew she was speaking aloud to her detail. Follow the yellow-brick road right!

Forries, you take left, Maumu, take right and plant those cells whooops, just lost Maumu down a tube. Oh, hey, that's great!

Rojer retrieved the faller who was as shaken by the unexpected and almost instantaneous rescue as he was by an equally unexpected descent.

Well, slap a light beside the dam tied tube, sailor, was Rome's testy comment. And if you were stopped before you hit the bottom, be glad we've got the Talents on our tails. Beg pardon, lighting our way!

As the various teams proceeded, the sphere slowly filled with details. Oval tunnels of varying circumferences riddled the periphery and evidently provided access for Hiver specialist life-forms from one area to another. Few were comfortable for those exploring them but gradually, over the next week, a network in each quadrant and hemisphere began to emerge.

Rojer found the engine room and the incredible clutter of components that, when activated, gave Refugee its propulsion. Fuel was discovered in sealed tanks, each fed by intricate coils into one section of the vast engine mass. More powerful light units were requested by those who had had a harrowing trip down smooth, cramped oval tunnels. The engine room was not all that spacious either and seemed to be accessed by conduits much too small for either human or `Dini bodies.

`A combinant fuel,' was one expert 5 immediate theory.

`Then why is the mixture apparently run over that large crystalline object so carefully bracketed in the housing?' Opaque pipes around the chamber suggested some sort of lighting: a theory that was supported by the fact that the various feed lines and coils were colour-coded.

To prove it correct, the sphere's power would need to be on.

`You'd have to be an acrobat to service this bloody affair,' said a propulsion specialist from Earth. He was attempting to get on top of the main unit for a better perspective.

Several fascinating boards, of a control type, were discovered at floor level. They were segmented into different colours and were touch-controlled. Another few sections covered one of the lower ceilings of the large oval chamber. Judiciously removing some of the floor plates showed that these panels led directly either to the engine mass or the fuel tanks. Geting diagnostic machinery into the cramped engine room required both Rojer's assistance and the removal of nearly a dozen specialists. By `removing' them back to the main cargo bay where food was being served and remote screens had been sited did much to reduce their disappointment and anger at not being right on the scene.

Flavia's group penetrated rather more easily than expected to the twelve queen quarters which formed a circle around the inner axis of the ship. Four of the twelve were larger than the others, suggesting that there was some order of precedence among the queens. Once again, controls were situated in awkward - for human and Mrdini - positions depending from ceilings, angled up from the floors and in the narrow ends of the oval-shaped quarters.

`No-one's found the starting button yet,' Rojer remarked to his companions. He was hallway to cancelling a random thought as too ridiculous when his brother started to laugh.

`They may yet have to do just that, Roj.' `Do what?' Flavia demanded, half turning her head in their direction while she kept most of her attention on her work.

We've got a queen, Thian said softly. Presumably she'd know how to start up - Flavia's eyes went round. lit her aboard that ship?

She can't take it anywhere but if all the king's horses and all the king's men can't figure out how to turn the power on --- Thian said and shrugged without adding the obvious conclusion.

`Oh!' Flavia mulled that problem over. `Surely someone `Hope so!' Rojer said but he couldn't be very encouraging as he watched his group clambering over the machinery, following coloured leads, attempting to fathom the unusual composition of the Hive drive. It was apparently much more efficient than it looked.

There were only so many viable forms of space drive, or so humans and Mrdini were agreed. Perhaps they should have tried to capture one of the Xh-33 scouts or shuttles when they had the chance. But, according to what Rojer had been told, that had been impossible as well as unlikely. The kidnap of Refugee had been thought to be enough of a coup as well as a solution.

After two full watches of exploration - and the kind Wasn't this more of an academic exercise anyway, Rojer wondered. They didn't really need to know how the Hive ship worked, or who did what where and when. The navy did need to discover exactly where to aim what sort of missiles to destroy a Hive ship, or render it helpless.

Thian had located the life-support area, just above the queens' level. The gas had destroyed whatever plant types generated oxygen although emergency supplies in tanks were carefully racked in adjacent storage space.

Thian's second find were the round cases of food stuffs: all colour-coded, though whatever glyphs the spheres bore were indecipherable. The semantic experts were delighted with this much to work on. The ship seemed oddly devoid of signs of any type, though illumination proved that certain colours must be recognizable to various queen workers, or why bother colouring anything?

One of the `Dini xenobiologists suggested that a sample of each of the food cases be sent to the Heinlein Base. The queen had been quiescent far too long and the theory was that she might be missing some vital nutritional elements. Surely that could be remedied by supplying her with home-grown sustenance.

On the main schematic board, tubes, halls, oval access conduits, pipes and tunnels were appropriately coloured to match the originals.

Save for the irising airlocks, hangar and cargo bays, there were no doors.

There didn't seem to be `crew' quarters either but there were more of the larvae tubes, all spiking out from the various queen quarters, similar to the ones Thian and Lieutenant Auster-Kiely had discovered.

Empty, of course.

of vigilance required of the three Primes - Thian sent a message to Admiral del Falco that the Primes were going off duty.

`Don't let him argue you out of it, Thian,' Rojer said, the inexorable fatigue of nearly thirty hours of intense activity making itself felt in his mind and bones.

`I'm bushed.' `That is quite obvious,' Flavia said, but she spoke with such kind concern that Rojer couldn't resent it.

She swung her legs to the side of her couch. `They've more than enough to keep them going with the main objectives found. They have enough personnel to swap round but we don't have that option. I'm quite hungry!

Those sandwiches they sent up - oh, hours ago now have left a larger gap.

When contacted, the Admiral grunted and frowned.

`And what happens if there is an emergency requiring a Prime's abilities? Had you thought of that?' `Indeed we have: Earth Prime has delegated a capable T-2 for such duty,' and right on cue, someone rapped on the door. `Here is Clancy Sparrow now.

Another cousin? Rojer asked in amazement just as the door to their ready room slid open.

`I know. I keep trying to live it down,' Clancy replied with a grin which widened appreciatively when he turned to Flavia. Then he noticed the sphere and whistled. `Boy, you guys lit the great white way!' He swallowed then, eyes rounding in concern. `Let's just hope I don't get more than one emergency at a time with such an area to cover.

Thian laughed and gestured for Clancy to take his couch. `Call on Beva Margellis if you do get pushed.

She's a T-3 Healer but she can `port independently or in merge.

You met Beva, didn't you, during the briefing?' `Yup, got her touch.

See you. And, hey, Roj, congratulations.

So much had happened that day that Rojer couldn't remember why Clancy would be congratulating him.

`Oh, yeah, thanks. How did Asia do?' Clancy grinned. `i'll coz was only two points below you!' `I told her she'dpassed. Asia's not stupid!' `Oh, hey, I know it,' Clancy said, recoiling from Rojer's fervent partisanship. `We all know it back home on Deneb. We just can't seem to get her to know it.' `Go to bed, Roj,' Thian said and Rojer wasted no more time, using the last of his energy to `port himself to his quarters. He took time for a shower and a nutrient drink. When he gratefully stretched out on the excellent and comfortable bed, he had time for one guilty thought: he'd've had plenty of room for Gil and Kat in with him.

`Those are emergency repair ways and it's the scuttling critters that were used for `em,' Thian was saying the next day when Rojer reported for duty. He was speaking on screen to a scowling, grizzled naval officer with commander tabs on his collar. `If you've plumbed `em with remotes, that's the best that's available. Doesn't that help?

Or do you want to borrow one of the scuttlers the queen hatched?' Hi, Roj! Boy, do you feel a hundred per cent better this afternoon.

You shouldn't have let me sleep so long.

You needed it and we need you alert.

`Permit one of those those vermin . . into the Refugee?' The commander turned brick red with outrage.

Flavia waggled fingers at Rojer as she lay on her couch, without turning her head about. Rojer could see that she was directing a remote node down one of the narrower tubes.

To judge by the colours that crisscrossed the sphere map, the internal investigation of Refugee was proceeding well.

`The vermin , Commander, were designed to manoeuvre in those spaces as mobile repair units. The wiring seems to be coded by an imbedded design since there wouldn't be sufficient light to see colour.

Since neither humans nor `Dini come in the appropriate size, it was just a suggestion!' `And totally unacceptable! Totally! You may be a Prime but you're here to do just one job. Now stick to that!' `As a Prime, let me remind you, sir, that I would be in complete control of the critter,' Thian replied and Rojer had no trouble `pathing how much Thian enjoyed the present exchange.

No-one's thrown the power switch, Flavia said, her mind alive with laughter though her expression was serenely polite. The navy's having knicker attacks. The `Dinis are sulking and it's all our fault.

Sipping from his third cup of really fine coffee, Roj sat on his couch to listen to both levels of Thian 5

conversation. Interesting that his brother had had much the same notion that had occurred to him. The only beings who could operate that ship were those for whom it was designed. For all the consultants, advisers, experts and technicians swarming about in the Refugee, not one of them had the shape, height or digital equipment that was required to power up the ship. Until then, no `complete' investigations could be essayed.

`Just forget that asinine suggestion, Prime, and I'll forget you made it.

Thian shrugged. `As you wish, Commander, but I feel obliged to mention that there would be no risk.

The creatures are purpose-built, as it were, and can do no more than they were designed to do - run those small access ways to make necessary repairs.' `Repairs are not the problem, Lyon. if' and the commander's pause was significant, `and when you come up with any more such bright ideas, use the proper channels.' The screen went blank.

Flavia then doubled up with a fit of the giggles.

You were marvellous, Thian, she `pathed since she was physically incapable of speaking intelligibly through her laughter. Oh, Roj, that man `5 been impossible since we came on duty. To begin with, he doesn't like Talents and resents having to work with us. And the stupid things he wanted Clancy to do - - The only one on this watch with any sense is Rome Kloo. She thinks we should make a device like the palps of the queen and see if the board can't be activated by using those.

Pressure operated? A sequence needed? what? which?

Thian had turned away from the blank screen, his facial expression one of disgust and frustration.

`OK, engineer, you got any ideas? I sure would like us Primes to start up that bloody ship of theirs. Hell, we've done all the work on it so far, following it, capturing it, stealing it, and bringing it back. Lighting the whole damn thing up so they could see where they were going. And now we're supposed to turn it on.

They're the naval experts. We're just lousy T&Ts.' Then Thian let out a long breath and apologized to them for sounding off.

`You got the right, bra, Rojer said and then cocked his head.

`You got the right idea, too. Only putting one of the queen's scuttle bugs isn't going to solve anything. If I remember correctly, Grandmother Rowan was under the distinct impression that the queens gave all the orders, so if the scuttle hasn't any orders, it'll just sit there.' Thian regarded his brother, flicked his grey eyes to Flavia and a smile started to curve his lips.

Now, just a minute, Thian, Rojer said with more intensity than he intended, I got in trouble - - You didn't get in trouble, Roj, Thian said, his eyes sparkling with sudden anger as he corrected his brother.

And you had enough smarts to recognize Big Trouble when you saw it. So did Gil and Kat.

The unexpected reminder brought tears to Rojer's eyes. This was the first time anyone in his family had spoken so bluntly about the incident. But Thian was wound up and Rojer forced himself to ignore that painful reminder and concentrate on what his brother was saying.

But I think we all have the same idea. Flavia? She nodded. I'll clear it with Granddad, Thian added. Besides, we'd need his help and Roddie's at the Observatory. But it could be done.

The navy'd have apoplexy, Rojer began, although the idea was taking firm root as the only way to many objectives, not the least of which was confounding people like Admiral del Falco who fundamentally did not like Talents and made their distrust and hatred as obvious as the commander had. OK, Thian, how would we go about it? Rojer asked.

Thian crossed his ankles, dangling them off the side of his couch, his hands clasped between his thighs. Well, it'd take a fair amount of timing. One, getting Roddie to falsify the recorders in the Observatory so no-one knows the queen is gone. Two, we gotta have the queens' chambers on the Refugee cleared of people and now technicians are crammed into them, each thinking he or she'll find the switch-on.

Three, we need the right sort of personnel on duty, both `Dini and human, so no-one panics when the ship turns on.

How can we be sure the queen `11 co-operate even if we could get her there? Flavia asked.

if you'd been locked up away from all that was familiar to you, and you were suddenly in a ship you could operate, wouldn't you try to escape? Thian asked.

I would, being a human, Flavia said.

A `Dini would, too, Rojer said. But would a Hive queen?

I think so, Roj, Thian said thoughtfully. You said they didn't waste any time scramming from Refugee when they were threatened. I think survival is the highest priority of queens.

But if it takes twelve queens to crew a ship, Flavia put in, and that's what even our experts believe now So, if she just stands there as she's been doing, we won have lost anything, will we? Thian said.

But look how survival oriented she is - hatching attendants to tend to her needs first, then the tiny ones she obviously hoped would be able to get out of the facility. She hasn't done a thing since they failed.

Common sense suggests she'd try.

And that's all we need her to do, isn't it? Try? Flavia said.

Show us how to start that wretched ship up. Then we can leave this installation and do something more appropriate to our rank and skills.

Thian and Rojer both regarded Flavia with surprise.

I'm tower-trained, Flavia said with a touch of asperity, and while I've certainly enjoyed a break from my usual duties, I do not appreciate being belittled by persons like that commander. She pursed her lips and regarded the brothers with a slightly defensive expression, as if daring them to reprimand her.

Thian smiled, and Rojer rolled his eyes as his brother soothed Flavia. `Yeah, it could get under your skin. But then, you have every right to be annoyed at the treatment we've been getting. I've been serving on navy ships so it doesn't bother me as much but that commander's attitude needs adjusting.' He winked at Flavia and then Rojer. They'd been reasonably sure that their ready room conversations were being recorded, a standard operating procedure. So, do we put this bnght idea through the proper channels?

Granddad? what if he doesn't like it? Conflicting emotions which obviously didn't worry Thian at all besieged Rojer. But then Thian Rojer cancelled that line of thought.

So, we get our heads handed back to us by one more authority.

Thian shrugged. I think it'd be kind of fun to try! Hell's bells, Roj, it was your notion to begin with.

Yeah, but . . . Then Rojer stopped to ponder the ramifications.

Yeah but, and Thian dared him, if it's young Engineer Prime Lyon who shows the navy boffins just how easy it was to determine where to turn the power on . It'd shake a lot of people and `Dinis up and certainly give us Primes a minor triumph.

I'm game, Flavia said with a laugh, her eyes twinkling as she was caught up by both mischief and a possible triumph. Then her expression sobered. Can we transport a Hiver?

We've never run across anything we couldn't `port, Thian said, and both Roj and I have handled some pretty odd packages. Hell's bells, Flavia, you were in with me and Grandmother stealing that sphere. We just steal the queen for a few minutes. OK? And before his fellow conspirators could restrain him, Thian sent a finely tuned message to Earth Prime.

Are you available, Earth Prime?

To you, Thian, always.

We've an idea which needs your clearance, sir, and your help.

lit me have it.

When Thian finished the explanation, all three young Primes held their breath throughout the seemingly endless silence from their superior.

As the naval operation seems stymied, obviously an unusual step must be taken to break the impasse. Yours makes more sense than any others I've heard. And certainly poses no danger to anyone. Of course, the queen might not be docile once she realizes where she is.

Can you cope with that possibility and be able to restrain her?

All we'd have to do is `port her back to Roddie.

But should she start the ship up Sir, Rojer said, a ship this size takes time for its engines to warm up to take-off power. We'd have her back in her quarters before she'd get that far in a countdown.

Look, I'll hedge that possible problem with a little safety net of my own, Jeff Raven said. I'll contact Roddie myself to see how we organize the - ah. . . excursion from his end. I gather she's in one of her immobile states now.

Lieutenant Rhodri Eagles was only too happy to conspire to `loan' his prisoner to the scheme.

I've kilos of recordings I can set in place. But you are sure she can't just scuttle out of the queens' quarters and get loose in the ship?

That possibility's being handled, Thian assured his cousin. There had been so many minor injuries of personnel falling into tubes, tunnels and crawl spaces that grilles had been placed over apertures not in use.

The ones leading from the queens' quarters could be telekinetically `locked' down.

Sort of mean of us, though, isn't it? Giving her false hope?

Roddie added, showing an unexpected sympathy for the Hiver queen.

Hey, man, you need a change of duty if you're starting to think like that, Thian replied.

Well, you know, maybe I ought to apply for a transfer.

This duty was exciting - for a while. But the glamour has long since worn off Any chance of you guys speaking up for me? Roddie asked.

Sure thing. who to? Earth Prime or your CO? what sort of duty did you have in mind?

ANYTHING. I've even learned enough `Dini to get along with them!

We'll tell you when to switch tapes. Get one picked out and ready to substitute because we'll have to move fast when we do.

Getting a chance to speak privately with LieutenantCommander Semirame Kloo might have presented some problems but she solved that by appearing at their table, tray in hand, during the next meal break.

They had chosen this end of the officers' mess-room because the next table was empty.

`Can I join you? Or are you off naval types?' `Why would we be?' Thian said, surprised at her query.

`Baldwin!' she said succinctly, sliding her tray onto the surface and seating herself. `I heard how strong he came on today, the xenophobic pea-brain. He hates having to work with mixed crews, and that means you as well as the `Dinis. He also wants to take all the credit for any progress made on his watch as he's a little overdue for promotion, you see.

Thian grinned at her. This mess-hall bug free?

Rome Kioo rolled her eyes and grinned at Thian.

`Sure is. Whatcha got to say?' While her eyes began to sparkle with curiosity and her body tensed ever so slightly with anticipation, she started on her meal, acting in a perfectly normal manner. But remember to say something out loud so no-one'll wonder why this corner of the room's gone silent.' So Thian began one of the double-talking conversations he was becoming adept at. `Chow's good today and we sure need the break.' We have an idea that we could get the queen to show us how to power up the Refugee.

`Hmmm, so it is.' And Rome chewed with evident relish. Tell me more, you delightfully dembus man!

All three Talents took turns explaining the plan, sprinkling innocuous comments now and then. When all was made clear, Rome looked wisffully down at her empty plate.

`I know that was a good meal but I've absolutely no recollection of what I ate `You nearly choked once his face straight with an effort.

`And had two coughing fits helpfully `But we can do it,' Rome said. `Only it will have to be on the next watch. I'm on, so is Glmtml `It'd go along with this?' Thian was surprised.

Rojer said, keeping Flavia added `Oh, you'd be surprised,' and she switched to covert speech, at what old Glmtml'd do it's ofrd up with some of the brass on this project. She blotted her lips with the napkin, rose and picked up her tray. `Thanks for the company. Like to do it more often while you're here. I may need your discreet help in rearranging the duty roster? Like having the less co-operative types sent to check out ordnance? She grinned with sheer malevolence. The Refugee had racks of missiles but no launchers set in installations clearly awaiting them: yet another sign of how rushed the Hivers had been to leave their system and its decaying primary.

`Any time,' Thian said. `See you around?' `Yup!' and Semirame Kloo strode confidently towards the disposal slot, slipped in her tray and left the wardroom.

Slightly more than an hour later, Kloo gave a polite rap at the Talents' ready room door before she slipped quickly inside, a grin plastered on her face, as she flattened herself against the wall.

Got some tinkering for you to do with the duty roster. Gotta get it done in the next five minutes. Can you?

Throw it up in the air and I'll catch, Thian said without moving from his couch.

Rome hesitated a moment, shrugged and tossed a folded piece of film up in the air. It disappeared.

I can have everyone crucial to this operation of yours in position fifteen minutes before this watch ends. OK? she added.

Couldn't be OKer.

She was gone as smoothly as she'd arrived. Thian spread the film on his thigh and smiled.

Cover for me, will you, Roj, Flavia? I'll have to get myself into the main . . . ah, here. Hmmm. That gal's pretty clever.

There, that should do it. Roddie?

You rang, coz?

Thian gave him the time.

Uncle Jeff agreed? Ohhohohoho! I take back half the things I've said about my illustrious relative, Rhodri Eagle chortled with gleeful anticipation. If he's going to cover your asses, he'll cover mine, too. Wow! why is it that you can never brag about the really neat things you've done?

Because then they wouldn't be the neat things, Flavia said unexpectedly. `I do believe they have the life-support system on line,' she added out loud. `D'you think sgit leaves will make a difference . . . to the quality of the oxygen, I mean?' `They do on all the ships I've been on which added sgit leaves to their plant banks. And the `Dinis never have foul air.' `In'trusting,' Flavia said, drawling. `Well, it will save the drain on the Moon Base supplies, of course.

Because the Talents were more on a stand-by basis now that the Refugee's interior had been diagrammed, the rest of the watch seemed to drag almost interminably.

My crew's in place, Thian, Rome said. Then over the comunit, `Ah, Prime Thian, this is LieutenantCommander Kloo. Can you stand by?

We're effecting a decontam drill.' `We heard you, loud and clear, Commander. Work away.

Rojer caught a shadow out of the corner of his eye and, turning to investigate, nearly fell off his couch.

Granddad's here, he tried to whisper to Thian.

Thian didn't turn his head but grinned broadly.

Sort of thought you might, sir.

Since I might have to save your asses, as Roddie so inelegantly put it, I thought I might as well be in on the fun.

And as back-up, too. Don't you trust us, sir? Thian said, only half in jest.

I trust you all right, Thian. It's that elongated insect that worries me. We know so little about their psychology.

Ready when you are, came Rhodri's cheerful voice.

Your plan. Go ahead, Thian, Jeff Raven said, folding his arms and standing approximately where Rome had earlier in the watch.

Merge, Roj, Flavia, Thian said.

The three minds linked neatly, just as if this wasn't the first time they'd made such contact. With Thian in the lead, Rojer was more aware of the strength of both minds than he'd been during their more or less solo workings on the Refugee. He was also conscious of another potency which both bolstered and encouraged, yet was not a part of the triple merge.

`They' had no difficulty finding the Hiver queen where she nestled in her shavings bed, her attendants polishing her body parts and smoothing the fine hairs of her limbs. The stingg-pzzt from her was unbearably acute as the Thian merge made contact but the hesitation lasted only that brief second of surprise and then `they' neatly placed her in the now darkened queens quarters of the Refugee: in one of the larger chambers.

Somehow Rome had rigged `night' lighting which showed the watchers the queen's form. She had been in a semi-recumbent position in her shavings, but the Merge had placed her upright and she had to adjust her limbs for the standing position. That done, she remained motionless.

Hell's bells, Thian said, we don't have days for you to decide where you are and what to do.

Stay calm! said the confident watching potency.

Abruptly the queen moved into action with such speed they nearly missed her first movements. Palps reached ceilingward, seeming to slide across the panels.

She had also rocked back on one set of nether legs, freeing the front set to dance across the floor panels.

Instantly orangey lights came up around the room in the tubes that had been designated as Hiver lighting.

Next the panels lit, decorated with odd symbols and different shadings.

We got power all over the fucking place, Rome said, in choked amazement. I'm not sure I can explain this.

Don't bother.

Oh Lord, engine room's going crazy. Hey, I think this has gone far enough, Thian! Panic coloured Rome's tone.

Don't worry, Commander, Jeff Raven said. This ship's anchored so tight not even full speed forward could break her loose.

I know the sequence to turn the power on, Rojer said.

I've got the pattern of how she activated everything, Flavia said.

Sorry, gal, your parole just got cancelled, Thian said and the Merge replaced the queen in her prison.

what'd you guys do to her? Rhodri complained. She's going wild!

Can `t say I blame her, Jeff remarked placidly. I'd be a bit pissed off too, fil thought I'd just seen the way home and it disappeared.

Your decontam drill just finished, Rome, Thian told her.

Queen's back in stir and doing a mad dance.

wheeee! But can you start it all up again when we want you to?

the commander asked, doubt colouring her tone.

Any time we want to.

For all the good that does, Jeff remarked. Well done, Primes, not an ass in jeopardy. I'll leave you to the fun of explaining it all to the Admiral. But I'll be listening so don't say anything I'll have to apologize for.

Granddad!

`Admiral, it was a concerted effort,' Rojer repeated, an

edge to his voice now because he was growing weary of the barrage of naval doubts and, particularly, del Falco's aggressive interrogation. He was sorry that, as the engineer of the three Talents, he had volunteered to answer any technical questions. `Any' had turned into an incredible `many'. And none of his answers pleased xenophobic Baldwin who was as close to sulking as a grown man should get. All three Talents had been particulary careful in answering his stabbing questions since his suspicions were so clearly `heard' in his public mind. `Given the height of the queen,' Rojer explained patiently, `the positions of her manipulative limbs and her optics, the upper panel was the logical main control, while she received status information from the lower one. The three of us merely fiddled with variables until we hit the right combination. I think it was Flavia who actually got the lights turned on.' `The queen's upper limbs have triangular-shaped palps,' Flavia said, her voice falling into a `rote' pattern as she repeated her part of the explanation, `so that was the form of pressure I used.' `Why did you call a decontam drill at that time, Commander Kloo?' Baldwin demanded, abruptly switching to the other `culprit', the duty officer.

`Sir, if you will remember, you yourself suggested that we start emergency drills on the Refugee, due to the fact that the life-support system was only just on line,' Semirame said in an earnest tone, leaning slightly towards him, not quite apologetically but with an air of gentle reminder. Actually, he gives so many orders, he'll never remember he didn't. A drill is s.o.p especially with a new installation. If he hadn't ordered it, he should have.

I don't know about you and Rojer, Thian, Flavia said with considerable vexation in her voice, but I find their attitudes suspicious, disagreeable, ungrateful and positively spiteful. what difference does it really make who found out how to turn on the power in that wretched old ship? It's never going anywhere. But it IS now powered up and I do not like being accused of `going behind their backs for personal glory', or `overstepping' the parameters of `our assigned functions We kept their personnel safe and we made the ship just that bit more safe when we turned on its heating system. We've explained and explained and diagrammed as much as we know, so I think it's time to leave this merry-go-round.

With no brass ring. And I concur with your analysis, Flavia, Thian replied. I'm up with such a catechism. We have finished `our assigned functions'. Therefore we can leave.

Rome, will our stalk irig out in indignation put you in jeopardy?

Don't know how you `ve stood it as long as you have. As I was busy overseeing a decontam drill and nowhere near the site of your crime, they can't even pin dereliction of duty on me. `Sides, del Falco's not after me. I'm crew. He's after you because you're not.

Flavia, do you wish to make the statement aloud or should I?

You'd better do it, Thian, Flavia replied. I might lose my temper.

Thian and Roger exchanged surprised looks.

`Mr Lyon!' del Falco said, obviously having had to repeat the call to attention for he was scowling with annoyance. Both Mr Lyonses regarded him.

He asked you why did you choose that precise moment to try out your theory, Rome supplied.

Thian rose, the signal for both Flavia and Rojer to follow his example.

`We chose that moment because the queens' chambers were empty and we would not be jeopardizing anyone's safety in case we hit the wrong buttons,' Thian said. `Now you can turn the panels on and off at your discretion. The ship is thoroughly and safely explored, independently lit and supplied with oxygen so our assignment has been completed.

Earth Prime has just informed me that we must return immediately to the Blundell Cube. It has been our pleasure to assist in this project for the navy on Mars Phobos Moon Base, Admiral, Commander Baldwin, Commander Kloo, Glmtmi, and sirs.' Thian bowed to the panel of human and Mrdinis that had been interrogating them for the past three hours, then he strode from the room.

The courtesies that Rojer and Flavia gave their inquisitors were as polite but briefer and then they were in the corridor.

lit's blow this joint, Thian said.

They all heard the commotion inside and `ported to their quarters where they collected their possessions in deft sweeps of closets and drawers.

where away? Rojer asked Thian.

Blundell, of course, Thian replied as if there could be no doubt.

There's a large enough carrier on the transport deck.

They met there moments later, Flavia looking attractively flushed by their dramatic and precipitous exit.

And we won't even have to use the Base generators, Thian said, chuckling, last to enter the carrier. He pulled the lid firmly shut.

OK?

At Rojer's mirthful shout and Flavia's giggle of acknowledgement, their minds merged and they propelled themselves off the Moon Base and down to the headquarters of Federated Telepaths and Teleporters on Earth.

You're a cheeky lot, said Jeff Raven, but he, too, was chuckling.

Report to my office so you can repudiate the blast I'm getting from Admiral del Falco.

The man is not only ungrateful, Flavia said firmly, but unmannerly. He never so much as thanked us for solving his problem for him.

`Port right up to my office, kids, I've cleared the way for you, Jeff said as the lid of the corner was opened by the head expediter of Blundell facility.

`Boss wants you pronto,' but he was grinning broadly.

Is the word out all over the world yet? Rojer asked Thian on a very thin line.

No, nor will it be, Jeff answered, having no trouble at all insinuating himself into his grandsons' link. Hurry up. The Admiral's just getting to the part about gross insubordination, exceeding orders, and I suspect mutiny will figure in there soon.

`Sorry,' Thian said to the expediter and `ported himself as ordered, Rojer and Flavia a nanosecond behind him.

Knowing Jeff Raven's office well, all three made sure to arrive at a point out of range of the occupant on the screen. Admiral del Falco, Commander Baldwin visible on his right, was waxing eloquent about the `antics' of these `unruly, undisciplined and unprincipled Talents `I thought you kept more control on your people, Raven. You told us they were well trained, skilled and capable of the assignment. They walked out of a half finished debriefing with many questions unanswered. I don't mind telling you that I, Commander Baldwin here, and ` He turned to his left and his scowl deepened before he gave a snort of displeasure and faced directly into the comunit again. `We will not recommend that those three receive assignments from any navy unit again.' `Oh, really?' Jeff said. `How odd. Because I've had twenty urgent requests - - and he lifted a pile of message flimsies from his desk to plain view of the Admiral' from naval exploration groups, Squadrons C and D, now refitting at Clarf and from Captains Osullivan, Ashiant, Cheseman, Quacho, Plr, a priority urgent one from Captain Spktm of the KLTS, and another top-security assignment which I don't believe you are cleared to know.

Hey, Granddad, that's a low blow, Thian said chuckling.

Hit `em again, harder, Rojer suggested, delighted.

Admiral del Falco glared and his impassive face settled into an even more threatening blandness. `They may change their minds when they see the report I shall insist be attached to their NE-440 forms.

`Really? That they prevented serious injury by rescuing seventy-five crew members, human and Mrdini, during the course of your exploration of Refugee which was completed in less than thescheduled time: that they were also able to discover and turn on the ship's independent power system. That, by the way, was not in their assignment's parameters but Talents pride themselves on doing "more" than they are required to do. Part of the dedication of our personnel, Admiral.

And don't go riffing out NE-440 forms on FT&T personnel: a waste of time as they're not under your jurisdiction. Thank you for your perceptions on this mission and good luck with your operational enemy ship.' With a peremptory wave of his hand, Jeff blanked the screen.

`And that makes the Phobos Moon Base low man on FT&T job priorities.' He rose from his chair, still taller than his grandsons, vigorous and obviously amused by recent events. `I don't think they gave you anything to eat during that three-hour grilling, did they?

Name your pleasure,' he added, gesturing for them to take seats in the lounge area of his spacious office.

`My guts wouldn't've let me eat any more of their food anyhow,' Rojer said and, turning his head to the dispenser, called out the elements of a sustaining meal.

Jeff chuckled at the choice, then urged Flavia to send her order.

Thian realized that his stomach was unknotting as well and shortly had as comprehensive a spread of dishes as his brother.

`Hope you haven't taken a dislike to navy life, Flavia, Jeff said when he had ordered a salad and all were sitting about the beautiful Altairian fruit wood table, now laden with succulent comestibles.

`No, sir. I had no trouble with the lifestyle, sir. Both Thian and Rojer have told me a little bit ` She shot Rojer an anxious glance until she realized he was applying himself diligently to his meal and only half listening. ` - - about the services they performed. I'd have no apprehensions of serving as a Talent on a ship.

Taking an objective viewpoint, I did feel that Admiral del Falco's internal conflicts and ambitions were the source of much of his behavioural pattern.

`Well said,' Jeff murmured with a laugh and roguish grin at his grandsons.

`Were you considering another naval assignment for me, sir?' she asked.

Watching Flavia delicately consuming a pasta dish, managing a neat twine of strands of hot cheese around her fork, Thian could well imagine the impression she'd make on any crew. Maybe he'd read more into Granddad's choice of her as a mission member than existed.

Except he knew Jeff Raven wanted his grandchildren to marry into Talented families to produce yet another generation of gifted children.

`Several situations have come up for T-1s so I'll spread the lot of them on the table,' Jeff said. `Squadron C's been brought back for refitting and resupply, as well as a change of personnel. C's been out longer than D.' `Then they're going to follow the other Hive ships to their destination?' Thian was excited as well as relieved. He hadn't liked the idea of that ship loose and preying on an unsuspecting planet.

`That's what I hear,' and implicit in Jeff Raven's voice was the caution that what he had heard might be altered.

`Squadron A replaces elements of C and D and will continue the search with augmentation and would very much like you back, Thian, especially Captain Spktm.

Squadron B will now consist of four human and four `Dini ships and, if you'd consider that assignment, Rojer, you'd have no prejudice, believe me.' Jeff glanced reassuringly at Rojer. `The KTTS is one of them but the ship has a new captain, officers and crew.

Captain Quacho's finally been relieved at Xh-33, but the Arapahoe will need refitting. There's to be some other reshuffling of units in B, but I don't know what.

The squadron's been ordered on a mission to survey the M-5 planets the Hiver ships by-passed. The xenobiologist lobby is rabid to get to those damaged planets, as much to see what went wrong as to see if anything can be salvaged from Hiver occupation. I'm also not sending any T-l on these long cruises without a personal support team, and with such augmented squadrons, I'd be happier to have two T-1s, or a T-1

and a good T-2 as back-up. There are also some shorter-term exploratory cruises, in the Xh-33 quadrant of space, if you don't care for the longer journeys.

Having Talents aboard has been of great assistance.

Don't know why I didn't think of it before, except that FT&T has been mainly planet-based. Think about your options. And there are always dirtside openings if you want a complete change.' Then Jeff grinned. `One more matter, just before del Falco got on to me, I had word from Heinlein Base that the queen's been energized.' He grinned, cocking one eyebrow, his deep blue eyes twinkling. `I don't know if it's the food you sent over from the Refugee or what, but Roddie reports that she's minutely re-examined every single one of the Great Sphere larvae that were sent there and she's done something to more of the eggs she herself laid - in between having a good munch-out on three of the nine containers. The others she hasn't opened.' Flavia gave a little sigh of regret. `Maybe it was truly unkind to raise her hopes when we never intended to let her escape.