voice on the ship's annunciator. "General Quarters--
All hands to battle stations. General Quarters--man your battle
stations. Rangers Medart and Losinj, Palace assault team, to the hangar
bay, please."

Corina scrambled out of bed and into her kilt. "Emperor Chang!"

The ship-comp's voice was unchanged. "Yes, Ranger Losinj?"

"What time is it? What is happening?" The announcement left no doubt,
but she wanted details.

"It is 0230, sir. The Prowler requested clearance for Sydney
Spaceport, but is on course for the Palace Complex instead. Defsat
Five estimates their arrival there in fifteen minutes."

"Blades!" Corina ignored the ship's "I beg your pardon, Ranger?", and
sent a hurried thought. *Jim?*

*On my way. We'll land about an hour and a quarter behind them.
Another hour to orbit, then fifteen minutes to the Palace. Seems he
was closer to ready than you guessed.*

*Let us hope not disastrously so.*

*Right. Anything you can do from this distance?*

*I do not think so, at least nothing useful. Once we are aboard the
lander, however, I will attempt to read Thark; his shield will have to
be down for him to work, and he may be distracted enough not to notice
so light a touch.*

*If it's down, can't you hit him with darlas? You don't need to be in
sight of him, from what you said.*

*I do not need to be in sight of someone without a shield,* she
returned. *That is all I am sure of. Should I attempt such an attack
on Thark, it may have some effect, or it may simply alert him to our
approach. I think it would be wiser to do no more than observe, if
that is possible, and maintain the element of surprise. You have far
more experience than I in such situations, however; I will defer to
your judgement.*

*I've got more experience in combat, less in Talent. We go with your
judgement on this one. See you in a second.*

It was a little longer than that, but less than a minute later the two
were in a shuttle going to the lander bay. "No armor?" Medart asked.

"I do not know how to use it," Corina said. "But you are not wearing
it either, and you must be familiar with its use. Why not?"

"From your demonstration, there'd be no point. Armor can protect
against blasters, but not against Talent--and it has a lot of places
where a touch of TK would be fatal. If anyone wants to wear it I won't
argue, for the psychological help it can give, but I'm not going to
burden myself with it."

The