y
have no control. We don't buy that. We need you
to gather and send confirmations to us and, while
you're doing that, disrupt the plans and weapons
being marshaled against us. Use whatever
initiatives you can devise on site. Go where you
need to, do whatever it takes to frustrate our
adversaries."

"What happens if we fail?"

"Failure is unacceptable. As long as you or any
of your people are alive and useful to us we'll get
through to you and we'll expect you to keep us
current on developments."

"Big order."

"Yes, it is."

"I am, or rather, I was, skipper of a space
freighter," Brad said, tenting his hands. "I know
almost nothing of military operations, intelligence
gathering, and especially covert actions, whatever
those might entail. I'm not familiar with space
weapons except for garden-variety small arms. Other
than Kumiko, I gather that the members of this team
are not experts in the weapons and explosives we
are likely to encounter or use. You're sending us
in against a rough crowd, from the way you describe
them. Aren't you risking a lot on us?"

"Absolutely."

"I refuse."

"You're not being given the choice. Neither are
the others."

"I can withhold my cooperation."

"I repeat, Brad, you have no choice."

Ram paused, eyeball to eyeball with Brad,
whose eyes had gone cold. Ram's voice went as
flat as when he had read the group their orders.

"You will be psychologically adjusted as you
progress through this indoctrination. The
'adjustment', for want of a better term, is
necessary for several reasons. It applies to
the entire team."

Brad stared.

"What does that mean?"

"Just that we can't afford to let normal human
weaknesses and scruples interfere the mission."

"The hell you say," Brad raised his voice. "You're
telling me we're expendable?"

"You're in covert intelligence work, Brad, and
you'll be in the enemy's camp. Doesn't that
answer your question?"

"Come on, dammit."

Meeting Brad's eyes, Ram shrugged.

"Each of you will be full to the brim with
motivational boosters to keep you oriented to
the mission. You won't stray, whatever the
temptations. We'll install undetectable barriers
against psychic probes; then there are..."

"Damn you, Ram." Brad cut in, his voice crackling
with rage. "You sons of bitches are going to
robotize us. Expendable is bad enough; you're
programming us into suicide."

"Not quite, Brad. Hear me out."

Ram paced restlessly as he spok