rt, do you have anything I could use to show the Colonel
what I mean? It had best be light; as I said, that aspect of my Talent
is not particularly powerful."

"I think so," Medart replied. He reached into a pouch on his belt,
pulled out a small notepad. "Is this okay?"

"It is fine. Would you put it on the table, please?"

He did as she asked. She stared hard at it for perhaps five seconds,
concentrating, then the pad rose from the table. Apparently on its
own, it circled the room, then settled gently back to its starting
place in front of the Ranger.

For long seconds, nobody spoke. Then Medart said softly, "If the Order
can do all that, I'd say we have a bit worse of a problem than I
thought."

"Not all can do everything," Corina reminded him, "any more than I can.
Still, their abilities do combine to make a formidable power. The
problem is a serious one."

"This Talent of yours is all very well," Greggson put in, "but I doubt
if it would be any good against armed, trained Security Division
Marines. I'd bet on my men any day."

"You would lose," Corina told him, then she looked at Medart. "It
seems I must demonstrate this as well, since Colonel Greggson appears
unable to accept my word. Although there are many who equal or surpass
me, my Talent is above average; I can give you some idea of the
opposition you will have to face."

Medart nodded. "Good suggestion. Greggson, get half a decade of your
best troops together in the main gym as soon as you can."

"Yes, sir." Greggson left, scowling at Corina as he passed her. She
wondered what she could have done to arouse the man's hostility; after
all, she had barely met him.

"Give him a few minutes to get them together," Medart said, "then we
can meet them in the gym. Do you really think you can defeat five top
SecuDiv Marines?"

"I do not know," Corina replied quietly. "It has been some time since
I worked with unTalented people, and last time I tried, I could defeat
only two, neither of whom had a shield. On the other hand, I have been
training with Thark and Valla. But defeating them is not as important
as convincing Colonel Greggson of the danger he and his Marines face."

"Truthfully, I don't think you can do it," Hobison said. "All his
people are top caliber, or they wouldn't be on this ship--and one of
them, Ranger Medart's bodyguard, is a Sandeman warrior."

"Any selected for this vessel's Marine contingent would be formidable,