r loyalty for granted. Well. Enough said." He smiled
again the strange half-smile, and disappeared into the corridor.

*

Like Bonaparte (and other self-appointed monarchs) before him, Hayes
too had his personal Guard, a elite corps of two-thousand pilots and
fighting men, specially trained and chosen, fearless, loyal to him and
no other. This he had been able to create, in the midst of a democracy
which discouraged internal militarism, because of his forty years in
the service, most of it spent as a distinguished veteran of high rank
and favor, his ten years as the only five-star general in the land, and
finally, his three years as Secretary of State. His remaining capacity
for harm was not to be underestimated. His own part in the conspiracy
to murder Stone was not yet clear, though the twelve officers and
Secret Service men implicated had all been close associates, or men who
shared his personal beliefs.

So he detached his elite unit, consisting almost entirely of Blue Angel
flyers and Special Forces assault troops, to Westmoreland Station.
Calder himself was to lead them: two light cruisers, sixteen
destroyers and fighter escort. He was given the following instructions.

"When you come within clear tracking range, make contact and identify
yourself as the 21st Airborne of the Sixth Fleet. Here are the
counter-codes. Tell them you've been detached to patrol the area.
Don't say why.

"Request permission to come aboard to refuel, and to gather the latest
news of developments at home. The station is far enough out that they
may not yet have heard of the death of Stone, or the search for the
Third Fleet. Ask specifically if there is any message for you from
Gen-Admiral Hesse. If they act the least bit suspicious at the mention
of his name, or say he's been arrested, etc., act shocked and ask to
hear the whole story when you arrive.

"Continue to advance, and if they raise their shields or become
defensive, break down resistance and board. Try to avoid damaging the
fuel cylinders, but don't worry about other signs of battle. We can
always blame it on the Russians, and say you drove them back. Needless
to say, in that event we can't have any witnesses."

Calder had nodded sternly, assembled and given an in-flight briefing
(no more truthful than necessary) to his forces, and made for
Westmoreland.

But Plant was no fool. The farther outposts were among the first he
contacted. They knew in fu