s, and trying to exude some measure of
confidence and calm---which wasn't easy with only four big guns of his
own, and his power-shields unstable. His headset buzzed with two and
three voices at once. THERE HAD BEEN NO TIME TO LAY ARMADILLO MINES!

The civilians (those who would go) were huddled in groups of two- to
five-hundred in the deepest recesses of the mines, along with the
prisoners. He had no illusions about their safety. The rest, perhaps
a thousand grim, forlorn men and women, stood resignedly behind them in
the vast hollow that joined the three cave openings, bright arches that
looked out on the light of day, watching a young officer try
desperately to save them. And all the while Shin struggled to think
what Shannon would do in his place, and what he would feel.

All at once the Canton lasers began to fire. The temperature in the
enclosure rose noticeably, and the walls began to tremble from the
pushed-back force of the shields. The soprano thump of their own guns
began to sound, as Shin fired his energy bursts in answer. They made a
brave sight and sound, bright spheres whizzing through carefully timed
openings in the shields, but seemed to have little effect on the grim
machination set against them.

Feeling the trap close in, Shin strode from one battle station to the
next, snarling his commands like an animal. Sections of rock crashed
down from the ceiling to the sound of screams and deep pocks. A great
fissure rose along one wall, widening, and he began to wonder if he had
not murdered these people after all. One of the Laurian gunners was
struck by a falling stone, and he ran to take his place.

As suddenly as it had begun, the Canton barrage ceased. The advancing
machines stopped dead in their tracks. The Laurian shields, too, went
down, and their guns would not fire. The clustered civilians, many
locked in sheltering embraces, looked around and at each other. Medics
ran to attend the wounded.

Bewildered, Commander Shin moved out from the largest of the cave
openings to examine his shield projectors. To left and right they were
intact. WHAT HAD HAPPENED?

He heard a soft roar as of a ship passing high overhead. He looked
first at the halted Canton wedge, not trusting. They were little more
than a kilometer away. The ground troops moved about in confusion as
officers shouted, but the great Armadillos were silent and still.

Tentatively at first, the scattered shapes and ten