This is a work of fiction. All the characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.
Copyright © 1999 by S.M. Stirling & David Drake
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form.
A Baen Books Original
Baen Publishing Enterprises
P.O. Box 1403
Riverdale, NY 10471
ISBN: 0-671-57860-X
Cover art by Gary Ruddell
Interior maps by Preston Wilson
First paperback printing, April 2000
Library of Congress Catalog Number 99-17126
Distributed by Simon & Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
Typeset by Brilliant Press
Printed in the United States of America
. . . Suicide, Adrian thought. My brother can't possibly cut his way into Vanbert—riots, chaos, street fighting—and get out with her.
probability of success 35%, ±7, Center said.
Raj's mental voice cut in: If you're going to stage a raid into a major city, riot and insurrection make it a lot easier.
"If I help him . . . how much does that improve the chances?"
There was a long silence in his head; he was conscious, somehow, of Raj and Center speaking at a level and speed beyond his comprehension.
Tell him, Center, Raj said at last.
probability of successful rescue attempt increases to 53%, ±5, with your participation, the new weapons, and full support from raj whitehall and myself, Center said. however, this is an unnecessary risk to you, our operative, and does not advance the prime objective to any significant degree.
Raj's voice added with a flash of amusement: You're going to do it, son—I would, if I were you and alive—and we hardly have a choice other than to give you all the help we can.
Adrian nodded and walked out into the bright morning light. "Fered," he shouted. "Gather the grenade slingers. I need their help."
Also in this series:
The Forge
The Hammer
The Anvil
The Steel
The Sword
The Chosen
Warlord (Omnibus)
Conqueror (Omnibus)
BAEN BOOKS by DAVID DRAKE
Hammer's Slammers
The Tank Lords
Caught in the Crossfire
The Butcher's Bill
The Sharp End
Cross the Stars
The Belisarius series
with Eric Flint:
An Oblique Approach
In the Heart of Darkness
Destiny's Shield
Fortune's Stroke
The Tide of Victory
Independent Novels
and Collections
Birds of Prey
The Dragon Lord
Redliners
With the Lightnings
Lt. Leary, Commanding
(forthcoming)
Starliner
Ranks of Bronze
Lacey and His Friends
Mark II: The Military Dimension
All the Way to the Gallows
The Undesired Princess and The Enchanted Bunny
(with L. Sprague de Camp)
Lest Darkness Fall and
To Bring the Light
(with L. Sprague de Camp)
Enemy of My Enemy
(with Ben Ohlander)
BAEN BOOKS by S.M. STIRLING
The Draka series
The Domination
Drakon
Drakas!
(forthcoming anthology)
with Jerry Pournelle:
Go Tell the Spartans
Prince of Sparta
Blood Feuds
Blood Vengeance
The Children's Hour
with James Doohan:
The Rising
The Privateer
The City Who Fought
(with Anne McCaffrey)
The Ship Avenged
Snowbrother
Saber and Shadow
(with Shirley Meier)