ps three hundred--yet five of us
will accomplish little against Thark and the Seniors of the Prime
Chapter."

"Right," Medart agreed, "since unshielded ones wouldn't last long. Who
else have you found?"

"Besides yourself, there is Colonel Greggson, as you know from the
conference. Also Captain Hobison, and the small Marine from the
demonstration, Lieutenant DarLeras."

"That one somehow doesn't surprise me," Medart commented.

Corina purred briefly. "He is the first Sandeman warrior I have met,
but from my reading and your memories of the warrior Gaelan, I am also
not surprised. An enthusiastic fighter, of course, and even shielded,
I sense great potential in him."

"He's got that, all right," Medart agreed. "First in last summer's
graduating class at the Academy in the Complex, and if he'd fit the
psych profile better, he would've been approached about the Rangers.
But he can't help thinking of combat as a preferred option rather than
a last resort." Medart paused. "It might interest you, and supports
your theory, that Captain Hobison was asked. He refused, but that
doesn't change his abilities."

"Four out of the first five either Rangers or Ranger-level," Corina
said thoughtfully. "Colonel Greggson is not?"

"What do you think? No--too inflexible, not enough regard for others,
too narrow an orientation. He's at the top of his field or he wouldn't
be on an IBC, but he's definitely not Ranger material. Go on."

"Once we have found any shielded people, we must develop your Talent,
in particular your shield and darlas. You do have the ability, but it
will be of little use without better control than you have yet
achieved. And greater power, as well. Admittedly, you did knock me
out yesterday; that, however, was in part because I had partially
lowered my own shield, trying to feel any trace of your darlas. That
is one mistake I do not plan to repeat."

"I should hope not!" Medart said emphatically. "You gave me quite a
scare, and I'd rather not `be' any more people than I have to."

"It is imperative that we find out about the aspect of your Talent I
have, for lack of a better term, called reverse darlas. A thing not
understood may be a help or a hindrance. We must discover which this
is, and if it is a help, how best to use it."

"Yeah, and if it's a hindrance, how not to use it. What about timing?"

"I am concerned about that," Corina admitted. "I hope to have the week
to ten days you