n, then decoy
whatever the enemy has there into space where we can get at them. That's
their last fleet capable of a sortie, and with that gone we can combine
our whole strength and go around to Coar. She'll probably give up
immediately, on the spot."

* * * * *

Jezef thought it over. "Will they be foolish enough to leave the moon?
As long as they're safely grounded there, they constitute a
fleet-in-being and demand attention."

"We'll give them a reason to move, then ambush them. Right now we've a
lot of reorganizing to do, and I want you to get it started. We're
splitting this Force into Groups One and Two. Here's what I want."

* * * * *

They cut drives and drifted in free fall while supplies were transferred
between ships, then Tulan held an inspection and found crews and
equipment proudly shipshape. Despite the proliferating rumors, morale
was excellent.

A few hours later the realignment began. Space was full of the
disc-shapes; thin, delicate-looking Lights with their projecting
external gear, and thicker, smoothly armored Mediums and Heavies. He had
twenty-three of the latter in Group One, with twice as many Mediums and
a swarm of smaller craft.

Group Two, composed of the supply ships and a small escort, was already
formed and diverging away. That was a vital part of his plan. From a
distance they'd look to telescope or radar like a full combat fleet.

He was almost ready to swerve toward the third planet and its moon, but
first he had a speech to make. It was time to squash all the rumors and
doubts with a dramatic fighting announcement.

He checked his appearance, stepped before the scanner, and nodded to
Communications to turn it on. "All hands," he said, then waited for
attention.

The small monitor screens showed a motley sampling of intent faces. He
permitted himself a tight smile. "You know I have orders to surrender
the Fleet." He paused for effect. "Those are the orders of the Council
of Four, and to disobey the Council would be unthinkable.

"Yet it is also unthinkable that a single ship of the Fleet should
surrender under any circumstances, at any time; therefore I am faced
with a dilemma in which tradition must be broken.

"The Council of Four has lost courage, and so, perhaps, have many of the
people of Sennech. We have ways of knowing that the people of Coar, far
more than our own, clamor at their government for any sor