have only
limited Talent, as a rule just telepathy and shields, so they use and
are quite familiar with distance weapons. Some have considerable
skill, and those are the ones likeliest to be in Thark's group."

Greggson frowned. "No unTalented at all? I'd hoped we could
supplement our few shielded people with a trained Security team, at
least."

"I do not believe he would take that chance," Corina said. "This is
far too important to him; his attack force will include only his best
people. A Security team would have little chance against even a
Sanctioner's simple telepathy; no action can be taken without at least
a fraction of a second's forethought."

"Damn." Greggson's voice was flat. "That's out, then."

"Hold on," Hobison said. "Emperor Chang?"

"Yes, Captain Hobison?"

"Identify Prowler, Irschchan registry, and give crew/passenger
capacity."

"Prowler, Irschchan registry One-Alpha. Kanchatka-class courier
refitted as a yacht, crew of nine plus pilot. Maximum passenger
capacity thirty humans. Further data?"

"Not required." Hobison turned his attention back to the others in the
room. "Thirty human passengers, so call it about forty-five
Irschchans. And there are twelve of us . . . not very good odds at
all." He paused, frowned. "Worse, if the crew's Talented."

"They are not," Corina said. "They are all Navy veterans; until
myself, Talented went into the Order instead as a matter of course.
However, since Prowler must be destroyed to prevent the use of its
weapons, I do not expect them to be a problem."

"Forty-five effectives, then," Hobison said. "I've faced better odds;
looks like things could get interesting."

"We had best plan on forty-six," Corina corrected. "Thark seldom uses
his assigned pilot; he prefers to do his own flying." She laid her
ears back. "There will be much death because of his Crusade; I would
prefer that we cause as little of it as possible. Set your weapons for
a two-hour stun. Under the circumstances, that should be quite
sufficient; by the end of that time, either Thark will be defeated, the
stunned ones still able to stand trial, or we will all be dead. Are
there any questions?"

"I have one," Greggson said. "You can sense shields at a distance, so
the Seniors can, too. What's to stop them from killing us with darlas
as soon as they sense us?"

"Thark is the only one in the Prime Chapter, to the best of my
knowledge, who is able to use darlas e