Garuth was staring around him as if he had just awakened from a dream. “What was I thinking?” he whispered. “I had no right to ‘do this.”
“It had to be done,” Shilohin told him firmly.
“Two objects a hundred thousand miles out, coming this way fast,” zoi~c reported. “Probably defensive weapons coming to check out this area.” It was serious. The screen hiding the Shapieron would never stand up to probing at close range.
“How long before we register on their instruments?” Eesyan asked hoarsely.
“A couple of minutes at most,” zo~c replied.
In the Jevienese War Room, Imares Broghuilio stood gazing at a display showing the deployment of his task force in the vicinity
of Thurien. Although the ships were in ws~-confrolled space, vis~ had not jammed their communications beams to Jevien. No doubt the Thuriens had guessed that the force had standing orders to commence offensive action automatically if it was interfered with in any way. At least, they hadn’t risked it, which was precisely the kind of reaction he had expected from a timid and overcautious race like the Ganymeans. Again his instincts had proved infallible. Exposed at last for what they were, the Thuriens had shown again that they had nothing with which to oppose the combination of nerve, strength, and willpower that he had forged. A deep sense of satisfaction and fulfillment swept through him with the realization that the issue was already as good as decided.
If a response had not been received by a certain time, the plan called for some selected uninhabited areas of Thurien’s surface to be devastated as a demonstration that the ultimatum was serious. That time had now arrived, and Broghuilio’s aides were waiting with a tense expectancy. “Report the current status of the fleet,” he instructed curtly.
“No change,” JEVEX replied. “Bombardment squadron standing by and awaiting order. Secondary beams unlocked and primed for area saturation. Coordinates programmed for targets as selected.”
Broghuilio gazed around his circle of generals to savor the moment for a while longer, then opened his mouth to issue the command. At that instant JEVEX spoke again. “I have to interrupt, Excellency. A channel has just opened from Earth, top priority. Your response is requested at once.”
The smirk vanished from Broghufflo’s face. “I have nothing to talk to Sverenssen about. He has his instructions. What does he want?”
“It isn’t Sverenssen, Excellency. It’s Verikoff.”
Broghuillo’s expression changed to an angry frown. “Verikoff? What business does he have there at this time? He should be handling the situation in Russia. What does he mean by ignoring protocols in this fashion?”
JEVEX seemed to hesitate for a moment. “He. . . says he has an ultimatum to deliver to you personally, Excellency.”
Broghuilio looked as if he had suddenly been punched in the face. He stood absolutely motionless for a few seconds while an ominous tide of deep purple crept slowly upward behind his beard, starting at his collar and eventually finding its way to his
scalp. The generals around him were exchanging shocked, uncomprehending looks. Broghuillo licked his lips, and his fists opened and closed by his sides. “Get him here,” he growled. “And JEVEX, do not disconnect him until I say so.”
“I regret that is impossible, Excellency,” JEVEX replied. “Verikoff is not coupled neurally into the system. I have audio and visual contact only.” A screen on one wall of the room came to life to show Verikoff standing in the center of Sverenssen’s communications room, evidently having thought better of committing himself to the recliner that was partly visible behind him. Something had happened to him since he had entered the room. He was staring out from the screen with his arms folded solidly across his chest, and he looked calm and assured.
“Behold, the textbook warlord.” Verikoff allowed his lip to curl into a contemptuous sneer. “You should not have sent us to Earth, Broghuilio. It has been an honor and an education to meet real warriors. Believe my words-you would be even more of a fool than the fool you are to pit your rabble of amateurs against the Terrans. If you do, they will destroy you. That is my message.”