“Ridiculous,” said General Havoc, pursing his lips. “The bet is much too vague. How do you decide who’s won?”
“Phule’s orders will include a list of objectives for the mission,” said Battleax. “I’ll pay up if his company leaves the planet without fulfilling ninety percent of those objectives.”
“Hah!” said Blitzkrieg. “Jester will be lucky to get anything done. General Havoc, I trust you to make an unbiased decision. Will you be our arbiter?”
“Oh, very well,” said Havoc. “But that’s a lot of money to ride on one man’s decision. I suggest you find at least one more arbiter, preferably someone outside the Legion.”
“He’s right,” said Colonel Battleax. “Why don’t we choose a panel of three, two of whom will have to agree on whether Captain Jester has met his objectives. Since the general is your choice, I should choose the second; then let them choose a third, who won’t be beholden to either of us.”
“Who’s your second?” asked Blitzkrieg, frowning.
“As General Havoc suggests, it should be someone from outside the Legion,” said Colonel Battleax. “I was thinking of Ambassador Gottesman.”
“There’s a fine choice,” scoffed Blitzkrieg. “State’s completely hoodwinked by Jester. Gottesman’s likely to give him the win without even bothering to look at the list.”
“The ambassador isn’t quite as gullible as you paint him,” said General Havoc. “I saw him make some very hardheaded decisions when we negotiated the Landoor peace treaty. But even if he does go easy on Jester, there’ll be a third judge to convince, and I can promise you it’ll be somebody impartial.”