to consider: that with Coar swinging behind the sun, the
accuracy of her new weapon had gone to pot; and that before she was
clear again he could pound her into surrender.

His swift campaigns had already smashed her flabby fleets and driven the
remnants from space, but the Council, faced with the destruction and
casualties from just a few days of the weird surprise bombardment, was
cowed.

He'd spent the previous night at home, but wasn't going back now, having
decided to make his farewell by visiphone. It was the thing he dreaded
most, or most immediately, so as soon as he reached the flagship he went
to his quarters to get it over with.

Anatu's eyes--the same eyes as Jezef's--looked at him out of the screen,
filling him with the familiar awkward worship. "You've heard?" he asked
finally.

"Yes. You won't be home before you go?"

"No; I ..." He abandoned the lie he'd prepared. "I just didn't feel up
to it."

She accepted that. "I'll wake the boys."

"No! It's--" Something happened to his throat.

She watched him for a moment. "You won't be back from Coar. You've _got_
to speak to them."

He nodded. This wasn't going according to plan; he'd intended it to be
brief and controlled. Damn it, he told himself, I'm Admiral of the
Fleets; I've no right to feelings like this. He straightened, and knew
he looked right when the two sleepy stares occupied the screen.

Their hair was stiff and stubborn like his own, so that they wore it
cropped in the same military cut. It could have stood a brush right now.
They were quiet, knowing enough of what was wrong to be frightened.

He spoke carefully. "I'm going to Coar to talk to them about stopping
the war. I want you to look after things while I'm away. All right?"

"All right, Dad." The older one was putting on a brave front for the
benefit of the younger and his mother, but the tears showed.

As Tulan cut the connection he saw that Anatu's eyes were moist too, and
realized with surprise that he'd never before, in all the years, seen
her cry. He watched the last faint images fade from the screen.

* * * * *

Sometime near dawn he gave up trying to sleep, dressed, and began
composing orders. Presently Jezef came in with cups of steaming amber
liquid. They sipped in silence for a while, then Jezef asked "You've
heard about Grefen?"

Tulan felt something knot inside him. He shook his head, dreading what
he knew was coming.

"He kil