-eight. Except for me, they decided to bring you a
random sample; the only Navy ship class that has this small a crew is a
courier."

"I can't offer all of you rooms here, then. Is your ship small enough
to fit on a ten-acre estate?"

"Yes--equatorial diameter's two hundred meters--but since you can't
have a dock, we'd leave a rather large hole. Just how big depends on
how solid the ground is."

"Fairly solid, and if the Kingdoms survive this, filling a hole will be
no problem. As soon as King Mark makes his announcement, then, it
might be a good idea to bring your ship here."

"Agreed, Excellency. My Marines can supplement your troops if you
think there's a chance of attack, that way."

"Very little," Cortin said. "Being prepared is never a bad idea,
though." She turned to Odeon. "Mike, would you call Brad, brief him,
and ask him for the loan of any Strike Force troops not on
anti-Brotherhood operations?" She grimaced. "Not that I like asking
them to camp out this time of year!"

Odeon grinned. "Be glad to, Joanie--and I don't think they'll mind,
for you." He went to the phone to call Colonel David Bradford,
Commander and Bishop of the St. Thomas RES Strike Force.

DeLayne shook his head. "I don't know what you've been taught about
us, but it must've been fierce. And you're on our side!"

"I am not on your side," Cortin said. "If I didn't believe aiding a
peaceful transition to be the Kingdom Systems' only chance to survive
as a society, I would be fighting you to the best of my ability. You
may be able to change my mind--under the circumstances, I'd like
nothing better than to believe the best of you and your Empire--but
right now, I'm no more than a reluctant ally."

"A reluctant ally's better than an active enemy, Excellency." DeLayne
grinned. "You must have an ultrawave, to've spoken to His Majesty; may
I use it to report in and request assignment here?"

"Yes--it's beside the phone Captain Odeon is using. If you can, please
also find out how soon Ranger Medart will be arriving, and ask that he
be informed I have been named sole negotiator for the Kingdom Systems."

27. Interim

DeLayne's call was fruitful, more quickly than Cortin had expected. As
soon as he identified himself, he was transferred to Ranger Medart.
Cortin studied him while DeLayne reported. She'd seen photos of the
Ranger before, but that had been before she had any expectation of
meeting him, or having her