lear, concise and complete report, Spence," Newton applauded
when he finished reading.

"Where do I send it, and to whom?"

His father looked at him quizzically. "Have you forgotten about the
special mail box for SS men?"

The younger man looked astounded. "You mean, even a thing like this
merely goes in there?"

Newton nodded. "However, in this case, since I would have been the one
to pick it up, I'll take it to Base and transmit it to the Council.
Incidentally, future reports should be marked on the envelope 'Report to
Federated Council'."

A couple of hours later Admiral Hawarden called Hanlon at the hotel,
where he had just finished making arrangements for Philander's operation
and treatments.

"Your father and I want you to come to Base at once, sir."

When he arrived in Hawarden's private office, the admiral handed him a
pair of silver bars. "These are yours now, Captain Hanlon."

The young man looked up in surprise.

"You were told promotions were swift in the SS--for those who produce,"
his father chuckled. "The Council was very gratified with your report,
and ordered the promotion."

Hanlon looked at the two insignia, and his fingers stroked them almost
tenderly.

"You miss the uniform, don't you, Spence?" sympathetically.

Hanlon gulped and nodded silently, very close to tears.

"Are you sorry you made the choice you did--to give all that up?"

A long, poignant moment of silence, then Hanlon threw back his head in a
gesture of pride. "No, Dad. I'm honestly glad I did it. To be able to
free those fine Guddus from slavery, and to save the Federation from
that horrible plot--it was well worth the little suffering it'll cost
me. But," and his smile was pathetic, "I do miss the uniform. I was so
proud, wearing it."

A moment, then Hawarden spoke. "Here are the transcripts of the Bohr
notes," and soon the two SS men were deep in the study of them. When
they had finished some time later, they agreed it was a very
comprehensive plan.

"But did you notice," Hanlon's eyes were cloudy, "he doesn't say a thing
anywhere about the part his planet or system were to play in the
conquest?"

"Yes, I'd noticed that." It was a duet from the two others, and Newton
added, "For all there is here, you'd almost feel sure he was playing a
lone hand."

"If that's true," Hawarden said thankfully, "none of the other men we've
picked up matter--we might as well let them go."

"I'd say so," Newton agreed, "if we ca