overwhelm him.

He had acted immediately on the impulse, whatever its source, putting
the fleet on standby combat readiness, and jumping light-speed toward
the target with five destroyers and two hundred of their combined
army's best troops. No other Canton outpost lay within that vector.
The closest neighboring system, Centaurus, was bleak and uninhabited.
The rest of the fleet would come behind, arriving roughly forty-eight
hours later. Then, if they had been able to subdue and take control of
the mines, together they would prepare to meet the Armada.

*

"You have grown, Simin-that-was."

Returned to the land of his birth, he stood alone by the Carrier Stone
with the aging queen who had given him life. A gentle wind sighed in
the valley. Nothing else moved.

"I am Simin."

She considered this, listening to his unspoken thoughts.

"Yes, you are Simin. What will you do now?"

"I must go." It was not necessary, but still he signaled the words to
her with a touching of the antennae. For he loved her. The queen
bowed her head.

"The human's death was not wasted. That pleases me, for his spirit was
great. Go now with all our thoughts."

Simin took his leave of her, flying slowly and circumspectly up out of
the Gorge. These emotions were his alone. He flew to Shannon's ship,
and entered it. Working the controls with melancholy ease, he left
forever the place of his birth.

* * *

The Canton Fleet Marshall walked openly toward the three broad cave
entrances held by the Laurians, tucked in and overhung with shadow at
the base of a dry, tawny ridge several thousand feet high, crowned with
foliage. The precious diamond mines lay beyond.

Marshall Bota had not bothered with a signal of truce, or an
escort---his hovering vehicle stood empty behind him. No doubt the
mercenaries would be tempted to shoot; but he had no time for these
games. Shin's move had been a clever aggravation, nothing more.
Looking up at the wind-veined rock, the Canton told himself with mild
amusement that he should drop it on their heads. The hostages meant
nothing to him, and the mines could be re-dug..... But some of his
soldiers might not understand. Wait until later in the war, once
they'd had a taste of it.

Shin watched the approaching general through the glasses, searching for
any sign of personal weakness. It was indeed their only hope.
Recognizing hi