ed, that your Ship-Captain would to the Emperor report
that you the Ordeal taking are. That all that necessary is." Then he
smiled slightly and added, "But I no reason see, you cannot transcripts
of intercepted Imperial newscasts receive. I will orders give, that
the daily summary to you delivered be."

"Thank you." That was actually more than Tarlac had expected; he'd
only asked because it couldn't hurt to try.

"Ranger Esteban Tarlac," the First Speaker said, her English
pronunciation careful.

Tarlac turned to her. "Yes, my Lady?"

She went on in Language, with Hovan translating. "Your Ordeal will to
human tolerances scaled be. As Fleet-Captain Arjen you told, we ask
not certain death, and the Scarring at least would surely fatal be if
we did not such allowance make. The Lords stern are, but fair, and you
a good sponsor have. There danger is--it must there be--yet no more
for you than for any other."

"That's good to hear." It didn't alter his certainty, but it did make
Tarlac feel good to know the Traiti leaders were taking such care. "I
was wondering, when the Fleet-Captain told me about it. Have you asked
any other humans to try the Ordeal?"

"We have no others asked," the Supreme replied through Hovan. "Another
has it tried, however. You the second human ruhar are; the first his
own mind under questioning destroyed, and was by his interrogator's
clan--N'chark--accepted, as clan-born. He the Ordeal tried and failed,
without dishonor."

"Will you his name--" Tarlac broke off, shaking his head. "Did it
again, Hovan. Sorry. Just ask him the man's name, will you?"

"All that know, ruhar. Horst Marguerre, once a major in the Imperial
Marines. One of those he commanded still a prisoner is."

"I've heard of him." So Marguerre'd had the A-I conditioning, had he?
Well, that wasn't too surprising; he'd been in Special Forces, most of
whom did have it, and he'd been reported missing and presumed dead
early in the war. "How did he do?"

"No worse than many." Hovan translated that part of the Supreme's
reply, hesitated and spoke to his ruler, then went on to Steve. "He
the part failed that I may not to you describe, ruhar. I can only say,
he no harm suffered, and seems to be in N'chark happy."

That was better than anyone who used A-I conditioning had been told to
expect; Tarlac felt some satisfaction for him. "If he ever gets back
to Terra, he can have his memories reimprinted, if he wa