We do have a rebellion to stop."

III

Corina didn't pay much attention to her surroundings as the three went
to the Palace roof where Medart's lander waited. Reaction had set in,
now that she was safe, and for the moment she was numb.

It wasn't until they were inside the boxy little vehicle that she paid
full attention again. Small as it was, this was a space-going vessel
of the Imperial Navy, something she'd thought lost to her forever when
her Talent made its belated appearance. Her ears went forward
attentively; she didn't want to miss anything.

Medart noticed, and smiled. "Your first time aboard a spacecraft, Ms.
Losinj?"

"Yes, Ranger."

"Take the right-hand seat forward, then. No co-pilot's necessary on a
surface-to-orbit hop, and you'll get a good view from there." He
turned to his bodyguard, who was also the lander's pilot. "Nevan,
would you help Ms. Losinj strap in, please?"

"Aye, sir." Nevan, now in Marine black, bent over the young Irschchan.
"Here . . . this goes across your lap, and these two over your
shoulders, all to the same buckle. It's a quick-release type; to get
out, just slap this button."

"Thank you." Corina accepted the help, though she didn't really need
it. Her pre-Talent hopes of attending the Naval Academy had led her to
study anything she could find about the Fleets, including such minor
details as how to secure flight restraints.

She had given up those hopes, forced herself to repress them and think
about her future in the Order instead. To suddenly have them back--
once she'd given the Ranger what help she could, of course--was almost
too much to believe. And to be making her first trip off-planet aboard
a Navy craft, with a Ranger, was something beyond her wildest dreams.

It was truly no dream, though, she assured herself, and as they lifted
off she was determined not to look foolish. That was easy at first;
she had seen enough holoshows to be familiar with the green sky's
darkening, becoming black as they left atmosphere. Soon she could see
stars, now hard bright points of light rather than the soft twinkling
she was used to.

One began showing a sunlit disk, and she realized that had to be Ranger
Medart's ship. Tiny-seeming at first, it grew rapidly, filling the
lander's window and continuing to grow.

Corina's determination faltered. She had seen innumerable pictures of
such vessels, knew their immensity--a Sovereign-class battle cruiser
wa