en, our
objectives should be no more heavily defended than any others unless we
ourselves attract attention to them in some way.

"The Seniors and I, together with thirty-six Sanctioners, will take
Prowler to Terra, leaving here in time to attack the Palace in
coordination with the rest of you, at 0245. I wish the assault force
could be larger, but anything more would certainly be stopped by the
primary defense satellites. Therefore, we must use the strongest
Talents available, and those Sanctioners who are most proficient with
weapons, to compensate for the greater number of Palace Guards."

An elderly Irschchan in a dark blue plaid kilt rose. "Will that be
sufficient if Losinj is there and opposes you?"

"Yes," Thark replied without hesitation. "Admittedly she is strong,
but she is only one person; she will, at worst, slow me somewhat."

He returned to the original subject. "Once we eliminate the Emperor
and any Rangers there, we should have no major problems. We will have
enough telepaths on hand to screen any humans in positions to cause
trouble, and any of those who plan to do so we will kill. Afterward,
we can replace the nobility with our own initiates, on the basis of
strength of Talent. That is far more logical, and will insure far more
stability, than the hereditary system now in use."

"One more question, if I may, Master?" That came from a young male in
scarlet.

"Go ahead," Thark said. "We have time."

"I have heard rumors that some humans have developed Talent."

Thark projected amusement, was joined by several others. "It has been
rumored indeed," he said. "Stories from long ago, before the Empire,
do hint at some, but the strongest of those legendary humans would be
about equivalent to a first-year student. There are not even rumors
from more recent times."

"With respect, Master, what of the Narvonese Dragon-Kindred and their
ability to project emotion?"

"An intriguing novelty," Thark acknowledged, "but hardly either Talent
or useful, except in a very limited sense."

"Still, if there are any--"

"We can worry about hypothetical situations later," Thark said in mild
reproof. He didn't blame the youngster for asking, but facts were
facts: humans just were not Talented!

"Enough discussion," he said finally. "You all have your assignments
and you know the schedule." He briefly considered dismissing them with
the final lines of an old battle chant, but decided against it. I