negative
ions."

Hearing this, Brunner's senses came suddenly, vividly to life. Some
half remembered, theoretical principal of matter..... As the fear
materialized in thought, he was filled with a dread such as he had
seldom experienced.

Looking up, he saw that Dubcek too was unnerved. He turned toward the
speaker as calmly as he could and said, "Link up with the main ship's
computer. Keep me posted."

25) P-R6(ch)

Masaryk. "Robot battery still coming forward, moving into range."

"What?" replied Dubcek absently.

"The enemy battery, moving into range and preparing to fire. We've got
to move back."

"Yes. Of course. Mongoose to corridor one, column one."

K-R1

For some reason these coordinates seemed to Brunner the final
manifestation of an impending doom. Riveting the globe with his eyes,
he understood the reason why. The enemy was perfectly positioned.....

"Colonel," he said. Dubcek glared at him, angry and agitated.
"Colonel, please." The commander left his post and came toward him.

"What is it?"

"Sir, if that's some kind of star gate---"

"It CAN'T be..... That is only a theory."

"But the American scientists are said to be coming close."

Dubcek did not wait to hear him out. He started toward the chief
scientist.

At that moment a blinding silver halo split the sky, and through its
inner darkness passed a ship far greater than any yet seen in battle.
To his final, unyielding horror, Brunner saw the outline of an enormous
carrier take shape inside the globe, in perfect position for the kill.

26) New queen appears, QB3. Check.

BECAUSE WAR IS NO GAME, AND NO ONE PLAYS BY ANY RULES.

At their posts, Masaryk and Wessenberg were struck dumb. Dubcek stood
still in the middle of the room. The chief scientist had taken out his
ear-piece and thrown it to the floor. All seemed incapable of
movement. Finally Masaryk stirred, shook his head and cleared his
throat.

"Colonel. A second enemy carrier has appeared. Bearing 01 to 02,
F-six. He's staring right down our throat."

Dubcek, shaken to the bone, somehow managed a short laugh. He turned,
walked toward his executive officer.

"Configuration?"

"Commonwealth Super-carrier. It's the Americans, Ivan."

Dubcek breathed out his final despair.

At that moment the communications officer turned toward him. "Sir.
It's the Commonwealth commander with. . .terms for our surrender."

"Bastard," he muttered beneath