lf in the Command
chair and turned to face the pair. "He talked you into it, did he,
Ranger Losinj?" The words were neutral, but the tone was warm.
"Knowing Rangers, I suppose he's put you in charge of this mission."

"Yes, Captain, to both. I would like to tell you my plans as soon as
you have the time."

"I've got it now, Ranger. Here or in the briefing room?"

"It might as well be here. The whole crew will need to know." Corina
braced herself mentally. This was real; she was giving orders to the
Captain of an Imperial Battle Cruiser, certain they would be obeyed.
"When we arrive in the Terran system, take station in the asteroid
belt. Then call Defense Satellite Five and have them inform us of any
Irschschan ship landing near the Palace. When you receive that word,
start for Terra and call me. As soon as you have Chang in orbit,
Ranger Medart and I, along with any crew members who have mind shields
and are willing to volunteer, will take a lander down and attempt to
take Thark in the act of invading the Palace."

"After your demonstration," Hobison said, "I can understand why you
want people with mind shields, but everyone aboard this ship is already
a volunteer. You don't need to ask them again."

"I realize that, Captain, but in this case I would prefer to. Defsat
Five has orders to blast the Palace and its immediate surroundings
unless I can defeat Thark within an hour of our landing. As I told
Ranger Medart, the assault team will have at best a twenty percent
chance of survival."

Hobison nodded. "Right. Am I shielded?"

"Yes."

"Then you have one volunteer. Anyone else in the Command Crew
eligible?"

"There is Colonel Greggson. Only one of the others I have scanned so
far has a usable shield, and I plan to speak to him shortly. That is
why the whole crew must be informed of those facts. Ranger Medart and
I will have to check everyone. Be sure to emphasize, please, that we
will be checking only for shields; their private lives will remain
their own."

"Jim?" Hobison looked startled. "What's this all about? You mean
you've got Talent like hers?"

"Uh-huh." Medart was purposely informal, trying to ease Hobison's
obvious shock. "You'd already left when I told His Majesty. There's
no sense in trying to keep it a secret; she's trained me to be as good
a telepath as she is, and she's teaching me darlas. I'll need
volunteers, too, to practice on. They'll be in no danger, since