up of
nations which had to live, buy, and protect within their means. The
four Commonwealth battleships were of a class possessed by only three
Powers in the galaxy---themselves, the Soviet Space Republics (which
didn't deal them out), and the German States, who had no apparent love
for their sundered countrymen. Also added to the equation:

The two remaining Coalition carriers, ten years old and of a lesser
Soviet series, could fit together inside the Dreadnought, and had not
one-third the long-range firepower. Neither was capable of extended
warp; and needless to say, they had no star gate, and thus no surprise
capability. They were built for defense, and the Coalition defenses
had been breached. How Hayes (or anyone else) could take pleasure in
the prospect of a battle at such clearly unequal odds, remained a
mystery.

He was connected to Helmut Itjes.

"Yes, General Hayes. You have our people by the throat; what do you
want?" Itjes had lived too long.....

At this point Hayes blanked out his own visual transmission. He then
wrote out his replies on paper, to be read by the Communications
Officer. He was going to leave the enemy no proof of the conversation
about to follow. A short pause, then the young man read:

"I want you, General Itjes. If the First Combat Fleet will engage us,
to the death, the civilians may go free---afterwards."

"And if we refuse?"

"I will blanket the planet with microwaves. It would be a shame to
destroy. . .such beautiful architecture."

"What kind of animal are you?" snapped Itjes. He now saw, beyond all
doubt, that he was dealing with a madman. The written notes, read by a
young voice without malice or understanding, had sent a chill straight
through him. They reminded him strangely, uncannily, of the techniques
employed by Adolph Eichmann and the Hitler S.S.

... "The one who's going to see you in Hell."

"I will attack when the Dresden detachment joins us. Then God HELP
you."

"You have twelve hours, Helmut."

"My name is ITJES!"

The screen went blank.

* * *

The Coalition First Combat Fleet, both detachments, stood fast at a
safe distance from the hornet's nest that surrounded Schiller, and
formed into a single front to face them.

Itjes stood among his officers and technicians on the bridge of the
carrier 'Smolensk', staring at the blank communications screen. Five
minutes before he had