en n'liu!" a newly-assigned Ship-Captain exclaimed.

"They are quite competent," Arjen said drily, "and they will take time
to be accurate. I think that estimate, if anything, is conservative.
You have seen little action against the Terrans?"

"None, Fleet-Captain." The officer sounded reluctant to admit that,
but went on. "My ship and I are normally on colony patrol. This will
be our first battle."

Arjen hid his brief amusement at the young Ship-Captain's obvious
anticipation; he had felt that way himself, early in the war. "Not if
things go well. In this engagement, it is most desirable that Ranger
Tarlac come willingly--or as willingly as possible under the
circumstances. To simplify the decision for him, we are insuring that
his ship will out-transition in the center of a battle-ready fleet.
All ships will therefore go onto secondary alert status immediately,
and will maintain that status until the Terrans appear. It will
probably be two or three tenth-days before that happens. When they do,
you will go to primary alert status without waiting for my orders. I
want all weapons ready to fire, but no one is to do so without my
express orders. Are there any questions?"

There were none, so Arjen dismissed the captains and went to his cabin,
regretting, not for the first time, that senior commanders had to have
private quarters--but too-close personal contact with his subordinates
would be bad for discipline.

Still, he thought as he unrolled his sleeping mat and settled down in
an attempt to relax, at least he would get some personal benefit from
this mission; whether it succeeded or failed, he was to deliver his
report to the Supreme himself. That meant a short leave, which he
could and would spend at D'gameh clanhome. Arjen closed his eyes with
a smile, anticipating the reunion with his clanmates, especially his
two sons. Lazno, the elder, was due a leave, and Reja said Mahas was
starting to talk. It would be good to see them all again, and
Homeworld's still-peaceful countryside. There was the bed of star-shaped
hermnaen flowers that gave his ship its name, in the clanhome's
garden...

Arjen rested, satisfied for the moment with his life.

Ranger Esteban Tarlac was on the bridge of the Imperial Battle Cruiser
Empress Lindner when the ultrawave body-retrieval signal came in. He
looked up, abandoning his study of the Damage Control board, and went
to stand beside Captain Jean Willis. In the fe