cloak for bad
weather, and the sporran is useful--but I do not think I would be
comfortable with fitted garments all over, such as yours."

"Good point," Medart said. "Since uniforms are supposed to be both
convenient and a form of easy identification, there's no reason you
shouldn't use a kilt the right shade of green; along with the badge, it
should serve the purpose. And once we have time, you might want to
recommend similar uniform changes for the Irschchan members of other
Imperial services."

"Should we survive, I will do so." Corina went into her sleeping area
and ordered a complete uniform, though with kilt instead of shirt and
trousers, from the fabricator.

"Thark? There's him, of course," Medart called. "But there's no point
in worrying about him right now. Make your preparations, get
everything as ready as you can--then worry; it might let you find
something you've overlooked."

"I will try." Corina shook her head, but Jim was right; she did tend
to concern herself with problems that never arose, and that did waste
time.

Medart heard the fabricator's delivery bell ping, then sounds of
rustling cloth as Corina changed. The pattern rapport had made a big
difference in her manner, he thought, and for the better. She was much
more relaxed around him, even a little less formal. And she seemed
more sure of herself, which would help.

Corina felt strange, changing out of her accustomed bright garb into
the functional, if in her opinion unnecessarily drab, forest green.
The fabricator had included an ankle-length cloak with heavy silver
embroidery and the Imperial Seal; she considered that for a moment,
settled it over her shoulders long enough to admire it in the mirror,
and removed it. That was for formal ceremonies in which she used her
military rank and title, not for every day. There was a visored hat,
as well, but she didn't try it on; such headgear did not take Irschchan
ear structure into account, so she planned to avoid wearing it. And
possibly suggest another uniform change.

She stood holding the badge for a moment, still hesitating to take the
final step and pin it on. It was only a small piece of platinum, a
star in a circle, but it meant almost total independence and authority,
subject only to the Sovereign, anywhere in Imperial space. It was odd,
she thought, but this particular symbol affected her more than it
should. Either Irschchans were more symbol-conscious than she ha