guage. Lacking the word, it
lacked the concept, and so did the people who spoke it. It was true
that no Traiti had surrendered during the entire course of the war, and
there had been speculation about the reason; the hypothesis that Traiti
were incapable of it had gained some favor over the years.

Tarlac wasn't glad to find it was right. That meant that even more
than the chance of peace rode on his survival of this Ordeal. Damn!
Tarlac thought the word with vehement intensity, but didn't say it
aloud. It wasn't fair! A race's extinction should not depend on one
man, especially one who wasn't at all sure of his own ability to
survive!

Clearly, he could no longer afford such doubts. So, think of
something else for now.

Okay. He'd already begun to see how complex the Traiti were, much
more so than the Empire suspected. The Empire's knowledge was limited
to these people's savage ferocity--or what seemed like savage ferocity.
The war had exploded suddenly and simply: a scoutship exploring about
150 parsecs coreward from Irschcha had fallen silent. A rescue ship
sent to check on the scout had had time to describe its attackers
before it was destroyed as well. The third ship was the Emperor Chang,
a battle cruiser which survived its Traiti attack and brought word
that, like it or not, the Empire was at war with an unreasoning enemy.
Traiti hostility was long proven, but Tarlac could no longer believe it
was unreasoning.

"Hovan--why did your people attack that first scout, ten years ago? I
feel certain it didn't give any deliberate provocation."

"I cannot fully say, since I have not the tapes seen. We knew not that
its intention peaceful was. You should the Supreme ask, when you him
see. But this much all know: an alien ship suddenly over a new-landed
homeship was, a possible danger to females and younglings. It
responded not to challenge, and visual contact obscene horror showed."
Claws flickered briefly on one hand, then Hovan continued. "Our
guard-ship the only way it could reacted. That we since learned a mistake
was, but too late."

"Most of that I understand, I think, but I'll take your advice and ask
to see the tapes." No wonder the Traiti had acted as they had. Their
hyperdrive at the time had been slow to transition; when an Imperial
ship appeared within seconds, it was only natural that they'd interpret
it as a threat. And scoutships were armed--had to be--so that even if
the ship ha