ll (as far as the two month time-delay
permitted) every aspect of the situation, and were prepared for just
such a move. Two experienced (and loyal) CIA men had been dispatched
to Westmoreland. And when Calder, calling himself Brig. General Adam
Winslow, established contact and made his pitch, they conferred quickly
with the Base Commander, then decided on and executed the following
plan.

The commander of Westmoreland 'station', a mere rock of a moon,
floating with others of its kind about a semi-gaseous giant similar
Saturn, responded to his inquiries that they'd had no news of Earth in
months, were glad of the company, and asked, What was the situation
with all the Soviet scouting ships about?

Upon hearing this, Calder, who shared Hayes' way of thinking but not
his shrewd intelligence, felt that all was well, and that he could
write his own ticket. But to be certain, he brought his force in
several vessels at a time, to be serviced while he himself went to
speak with Col. Billings, the officer in charge, of whom he knew
vaguely from his years at West Point.

While the two discussed Calder's version of recent events, including
the fact that he had encountered the Third Fleet not far off, which was
said to be running low on fuel and supplies (Huckleberry Finn in a
dress had been more convincing), the two Intelligence men set to work.

Posing as members of the ground crew, they implanted small aluminum
tubes, canisters, on the landing gear of three fighters. On the
synthetic caps which bound them were written these words, superimposed
over an imprint of the Presidential Seal:

"You are hereby authorized by the President of the United Commonwealth
to view these contents in private, and to act upon them as you see
fit." If these proved ineffective, the two planned to involved
themselves more directly when the Third Fleet came in for fuel and
supplies.

Word was also sent in all directions that Hayes was in the vicinity,
and that the Soviets were not far behind.

III

Captain Olaf Brunner, newly promoted, was scarcely recognizable as the
same human being who had once been so unsure of his military role, and
stood in trepidation at the approach of the Alliance Fleet.

He had not relinquished command of the Czech destroyer upon coming to
again in its infirmary. Rather, against doctor's orders he had
remained there for one day only, then thrown himself into his duties
with such vehemence that all in t