sically, but it would wipe out, completely and
permanently, every memory he had. He would never remember so much as
his name unless he was returned to Terra to have the tapes of his
latest mindscan reimprinted.

"So it's not that much of a risk," Tarlac said. He raised his voice.
"Very well, Fleet-Captain. I accept your invitation, and your Ordeal.
When and how do you want me to transfer to your ship?"

"No reason for delay there is. Now come. A spacesuit use, your ship
to leave. When you far enough from it are, you will onto this ship
brought be. You need nothing extra bring; we will all your requirements
supply."

"It'll take me about twenty minutes to get to an airlock and suit up."

"Understood, Ranger. I your arrival await."

With that, Arjen's image disappeared from the Lindner's viewscreen,
replaced by a view of his fleet. Willis stared angrily at the
englobing Traiti ships, running fingers through her short blonde hair
in a gesture of frustration. "I still don't like this, Steve. I don't
like it one little bit. Letting them get their hands on a Ranger . . ."

"I'm not too fond of it myself," Tarlac admitted, "but I can't see any
way out. This was a beautiful trap. They've made sure the Empire
loses a Ranger, one way or another, but if Arjen's being honest, at
least it keeps a cruiser and crew. And you know as well as I do that
if there's any chance of ending this slaughter, I have to take it." He
grinned fleetingly. "I guess this is one way to find out what they're
really like. While I'm suiting up, squirt-transmit a copy of the log
to Terra, would you? The socio specs may be able to dig something
useful out of what he said."

"Yes, sir." Willis stood, bleakly aware that the loss of an IBC would
be minor next to the loss of a Ranger. If she could have saved him by
sacrificing the Lindner, she wouldn't have hesitated. But, as usual,
the Ranger was right; in combat there were bound to be heavy losses
occasionally, and in such cases the best that could be done was to save
what little was possible. "Ah . . . will you be going armed?"

Tarlac grinned, almost grimly. "It probably won't mean much, but yes.
He called me a guest, and I'm going to act as if I believe him. That
means full uniform, including gun." He took a last slow look around
the bridge, then extended a hand to Willis. "Good luck, Jean. See you
after the war."

"You too, Steve. It's been an honor captaining your shi