hated men in the Federation. They say I destroyed their
Navy. And, we are not going to get a chance to try Plan K. They decided,
today, to accept the Combine's offer to send envoys in a month to
discuss possible revision of the Treaty of Porran. When I left, they
were wondering if there was any chance of getting out for less than Base
Q."

"But, good lord, sir, Base Q supplies nine tenths of all our power. The
Combine will have a strangle hold on us, if they get that."

"Quite. But the people will give it to them, rather than fight. And the
President will sign."

"Surely, sir, the people are not all cowards?"

"No. If they had time to think, they would fight. That's why the Combine
is striking now. The people are panicky. Hysterical. The collapse of
Venus was so sudden, and the disaster to their P-boats so complete.
They've just lost hope. Most people would rather live under a dictator
than die to no purpose. They've just lost hope."

The pounding of the Old Man's fist measured his words and the depth of
his anger.

"If we could only make them hope. Somehow. Anyhow."

Suddenly, his clenched fist stopped in mid-air. He frowned. Slowly, his
hand opened. The frown relaxed and a smile replaced it.

"Maybe we can, at that. Maybe we can." He leaned back with his eyes half
closed. His aide knew better than to interrupt him. Ten minutes later,
he opened his eyes.

"Make arrangements to have Commander Morgan take command of Base Q as
soon as possible. Within two days at the outside." His manner was curt
and clipped. "And bring him here to me before he leaves."

"Yes, sir. But may I say, sir, I do not understand?"

"You're not supposed to."

"Yes, sir."

The aide was a competent man. Orders were written that afternoon, in
complete disregard of normal red-tape. Base Q was advised of the
imminent shift. Commander Stanley Morgan boarded a jet plane on the
Australian desert that night. The next morning, he was shown into the
Old Man's office.

"Commander," the Old Man said after the preliminaries were taken care
of, "as you are well aware, you have been in considerable disgrace,
recently, for getting too close to the Venusian-Combine war, in defiance
of orders. It has been felt, in certain quarters, that you might have
caused a serious international crisis."

* * * * *

The junior officer started to speak, but the admiral waved him to
silence.

"You could, if you like, point out t