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〃We hope on Bandon； and not on this island；〃 Heris put in； tapping the map again。
〃Yes。 We must assume he is； and that he's up to no good。〃 His focus shifted to her； pletely。 〃You were formerly an officer in the Regular Space Service； isn't that right； Captain Serrano？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃Then please give me the advantage of your professional assessment。 What are we facing here； and what is your remendation？〃
Heris felt like a junior officer caught out at an admiralty briefing。 〃We are presently lacking important information；〃 she began。 〃We know； or rather strongly suspect； that Admiral Lepescu is on Bandon。 The shuttlecraft that landed him could have held as many as fifty individuals； but since it came from a chartered yacht； it is reasonable to suppose that it did not。 That it was configured for luxury work； with a maximum of perhaps ten。 We do not know how many such shuttle flights have been made to and from Bandon； or the number of people on each。 However； it's reasonable to assume that an actual invasion force is unlikely。〃
〃Why； Captain？〃
〃Both practical reasons and the character of Admiral Lepescu； sir。
Practically； invading an inhabited planet is difficult； and one like this would require plicity of too many of your employees。 You have four orbiting Stations； additional navigation and munications satellites； and a high…tech population scattered around the planet。 An invader would have to gain control of munications to prevent an alarm being sent。 Your own militia would have to be suborned or defeated in battle； and from what I've heard of your militia； they're loyal and tough； and very well equipped。 Right now； you have thousands of legitimate guests； and their crews and servants … and it might be easier to sneak onplanet in the confusion； but it certainly would not be easier to deal with so many。。。〃 She struggled for a word that expressed what she meant without rudeness。
〃Difficult individuals？〃 suggested Lord Thornbuckle； with a smile。
〃Yes； sir。 And as well as practicality； there's the matter of Lepescu。 He's not a man to involve himself in something that blatant； his tastes run otherwise。〃
〃Ummm。 You said he cost you your mission？〃
〃Yes； he did。〃 When Lord Thornbuckle's expression did not change； Heris realized she was going to have to say more。 Anger roughened her voice。
〃He considers war a noble sport； sir。 He considers that putting troops in impossible situations is sporting； his expression is 'see what they're made of。' Until recently； the only way he could do this was by risking his own ship； but two years ago he attained flag rank and was given mand of a battle group。 You are no doubt aware of the Cavinatto action。 In that conflict； he ordered my ship； and the ground forces under my mand； to make a frontal attack on a strongly defended lunar plex。 The defense could have been breached another way … in fact； several other ways； which I and other captains presented as alternatives。 But he insisted that it must be done the one way likely to fail … even the battleps said so … and certain to cost the most lives。〃
〃Is that legal？〃 asked Lord Thornbuckle。
〃Perfectly；〃 Heris said。 〃An admiral's fitness for mand is judged afterwards； by results。 He is not obliged to take advice from anyone but his own mander； and our group was operating far from anyone more senior。 It was something Lepescu had worked towards for years。〃
〃Did his order to you risk the whole operation？〃
〃No。 Most of the group would attack the main objective； and while his orders for that were not what I'd have given； they weren't as reckless。 Our diversionary action was important； but it need not have been suicidal。〃
〃Did this admiral have a grudge against you before？ It seems he must have。。。。〃
〃I'm not sure。〃 In her own mind she was sure； but she would not condemn even Lepescu on the basis of her personal belief。 〃I had not anticipated anything like this。 But the point is； that in the event I did not obey his very plain orders。 My ship and forces attacked the lunar plex； and gained control of it； but I didn't do it his way。〃 At the change in his expression； Heris nodded grimly。 〃That's right。 I deliberately disobeyed the order of a lawful superior； in bat status。 Grounds for court…martial； in fact； that's what I expected。 I knew exactly how serious it was； my family's been Service for generations； after all。 I had evidence； I thought； that would protect my crew at least； and that seemed better to me than losing several thousand of them because Admiral Lepescu enjoyed 'a good fight。' There was even a chance that a court might see it my way … small； but there it was。〃
〃And then what？〃
〃Then I was offered the chance to resign my mission； in exchange for immunity for my officers and crew； or a court…martial for all。 The scan data had disappeared； accidents happen in bat。 I had some junior officers whose careers would be cut short forever by a court…martial now； even if they won。。。
the stigma never really goes away。 And some hotheads in the crew would； I knew； convict themselves if they got before a court； there are always people who can't keep quiet even to save themselves。 So I resigned。〃
〃You didn't tell me all that；〃 Cecelia said。 〃Not about what he wanted you to do。〃
〃It didn't seem relevant；〃 Heris said。 The rest of it boiled up in her mind … what Lepescu had said to her and about her： Coward。 Stupid bitch。 Typical woman； only good to lay and lie。 And more； that she would never tell anyone。
Who could understand？
〃So I judge from your report；〃 Lord Thornbuckle said； 〃that Admiral Lepescu is more likely to put someone else in danger than to risk his own hide？〃
Heris struggled to be fair。 〃He's not a coward； sir； he had a name for boldness when he manded his own ship。 But he's also ambitious in politics and society。 He would enjoy hunting here under your nose； but he would not chance making such a powerful enemy by attempting open invasion。〃
〃What about taking hostages？〃
〃Possibly。 Especially if he found himself in a trap。〃
〃Do you think he's the head of whatever is going on？〃
〃I don't know。 He has other hunting friends … 〃 Quickly； she told him about the club she'd heard of； and the rumors about it。
〃And you would remend？〃
〃Taking in enough force to make resistance futile … and there's the problem of surprise and collusion。 If they find out you're ing in； they might get the shuttle off； and the yacht …〃
〃Not if their crew's in the Bay；〃 Lord Thornbuckle said。 〃That'll be easy enough to find out； it's on a routine report。〃 All this time； he had been tapping out orders on his personal unit。 〃There's a Crown Minister here … Pathin Divisti … but I hate to involve the Crown if we can avoid it。 And he's here for hunting； he brought no staff。〃
Heris hoped her face didn't reveal her reaction。 She thought of Crown Ministers as a particularly bloated form of bureaucratic inpetence； whose internal struggles for power resulted in unexpected budget changes for the Services。
The door chimed； a servant Heris had hardly noticed opened it to a militia squad； uniformed and armed。 Lord Thornbuckle smiled at Heris。
〃Captain Serrano； if you'd brief my Captain Sigind while I g