`I don't think the Hive psyche has evolved sufficiently to recognize kindness,' Jeff said gently to Flavia.

`They've sure shown none,' Rojer said, remembering the destruction of the queen pods by their own species at Xh-33.

`Isn't it a good thing that she's active?' Thian said to Flavia.

`Better for her.

`Samples of what's in those food containers have been sent to the Heinlein labs for analysis, haven't they?' Jeff asked.

`Sure did,' Rojer said. `There were more than enough containers with the same markings to allow us to `port one each to every biology and xeno group active in Hiver study. That didn't even make a noticeable dent in the amount still in store in the cargo holds. `Good thinking,' Jeff said, nodding approvingly.

`Wasn't me, sir. Roddie suggested it. He thought her own sort of food might contain basic elements she isn't getting in the diet they've provided her.' Thian grinned broadly. `Now wouldn't the right food cause the queen to activate?' Jeff s grin was just as broad, with just the slightest hint of malicious delight about it. `I think that will certainly be the official position and supported by the resident xenobs.' `Granddad,' Rojer began, `backtrack a bit, would you? You mentioned M-5 type planets where the Hivers didn't make colonies work?' `Ah yes, you wouldn't be up to date on that, would you?' Jeff said, tossing his napkin to the table before pushing his chair away. Cocking his knee against the edge of the table, he leaned back. `We'd a T-2, Kincaid dano. Name's not familiar? No matter. It was fortunate that he was with Squadron C. I'd only just initiated the programme of Talents on long-cruise missions. When the Hive ship C was chasing didn't investigate any of the M-5 systems they were passing, the High Council asked me if probes similar to the ones Rojer used couldn't be deployed to investigate. Clearly those two Spheres were looking for a place to colonize so why did they keep passing likely systems by. We shipped dano probes. He'd enough other low Talents on board to help him `port them on a parabolic course. In and out. Rather interesting details emerged. Of the four planets investigated, two had obviously been colonized by Hivers because there were the ruins of the sort of installations the Xh-33 has.' `Ruins?' Thian asked.

`Ruins. Hive ruins. Including the same sort of space garbage around Xh-33 and, in one case, an orbiting sphere ship. Another planet is ecologically on the point of ruin, presumably because the Hiver extermination policy eliminated something vital to its ecosystem. The point is that there are more M-5 type worlds out there that the Hivers never bothered with. Why? is one of the questions asked. Do they have records of all the systems their species have colonized? Another question is, obviously, can one of the Alliance species use any of these abandoned worlds? And there're more out there - as we've always known there were - to be investigated. C Squadron is being recalled.

While the expanded Squadron A picks up where they left off, Squadron B will do evaluations of the abandoned colony worlds `And knock out the inhabited one the way we did the Xh-33?' asked Thian with a certain eagerness in his voice.

Jeff gave him a long look. `I've no specific directions as yet.

I'd rather one of us didn't start another battle.

The navy feels that that's its prerogative.' Then he grinned.

`Even if certain Talents do seem to lend a helping hand when least expected. However, I've had my wrists slapped by the High Council so orders are to be followed this time.

Each one felt him gently prod their minds.

`Granddad,' and Thian waggled a finger at Earth Prime.

`Sorry,' Jeff said, lifting his hands in a gesture of compliance, `force of habit.' His grin had not a vestige of apology in it.

`That means, sir, that the squadrons will continue to hunt down the remaining Hive hips?' Flavia asked.

`I repeat, that's the current,' and he lightly emphasized the word, `plan. These chasings off into unexplored regions of space keep lasting longer than anyone anticipated - - -` `A lot that's happened couldn't be anticipated,' Thian said, thinking of the Great Sphere and the dead star that had once shone on the Hive home world.

`You can say that again,' Rojer murmured, remembering the unexpected events in which he had taken part. `Where are your `Dinis, Thian?' he asked suddenly.

Thian shot him a glance, adding a mental touch blended of compassion, affection, pride and relief that the question had been asked. `Hibernation. They should be out in another week.

`Oh!`Mur and Dip would like a chance to see you, if that's all right with you, Roj.' Thian turned to the Earth Prime. `That is, if Granddad hasn't shipped us off to the different ends of the galaxy.' `Not in the next two weeks,' Jeff said affably. `Your parents have expressed a wish for your company,' and his eyes twinkled as his mobile face suggested he couldn't understand why they would, `and you all require leave after running those naval hazards.' He turned to Flavia.

`My wife and I would be delighted to have you stay with us at Callisto, Flavia. Damia has also extended an invitation to you to return to Aurigae with the boys if you'd prefer.' `Old home week's fine on Aurigae,' Rojer said. `Do you ride? We've great ponies and good hunting.' At that prospect, Flavia brightened. `I haven't had a decent hunt in ever so long. What sort of game do you go after? I'm afraid that I don't know much about Iota Aurigae.' `Any chance of Laria getting home leave, too?' Thian asked his grandfather.

Jeff smiled and nodded before he folded his hands behind his head, leaning back in his chair at an almost dangerous angle. Relaxing with his young relatives around him was a good way to get perspective on completely different problems.

`Give a think to the various assignments, Squadrons A and B, or a dirtside assignment, or one of the shorter exploratories. Talents don't have to ship out from a dock.' He grinned. `Those who want you will welcome you all the more when you do get wherever you choose to go.' He set his chair back down on all four legs. `I may have to make the final decisions but your preferences will be taken into consideration. I owe you that much, Talents.' Thian and Rojer exchanged surprised glances at his deference.

In line with that generosity, Jeff Raven persuaded in a manner as near to coercion as he ever came, to get the Raven-Lyons all home at the same time. He got David of Betelgeuse to release his T-1 son, Perry, to take charge of Clarf Tower, borrowing Yoshuk from the Sef Tower until Perry became comfortable with the peculiarities of the planet.

Perry has'n't dealt with enough Mrdini yet and he'll need to, Jeff told the Betelgeuse T-1. You won't let him have your damned tower until you're mouldy so he might as well have some variety in his hfr.

Jeff then made extravagant use of pressure to get Clancy Sparrow and Rhodri Eagles leaves of absence and had Damia invite them to Aurigae. He also suggested to his daughter that Asia Eagles could use some Tower engineering work experience with Xexo and wasn't it time for Zara to get a break from her arduous training under the T-1 Healer Elizara? Damia was so eager to have all her children home again at once, especially Rojer, that she would have struck a deal with a Hiver.

You're matchmaking again, Jeff Raven, his wife accused him.

How can you say that when all these young people will be `polling off to distant star systems and not see each other for years?

Tkat doesn't matter ri they are only a thought away from each other, does it, Jeff Raven!

Jeff grinned and firmed up all the private arrangements before he called in his administrative assistant, Gollee Gren, to see exactly which Talents suited which of the many other assignments he had to fill. At least, he thought gratefully, he had more available options than Peter Reidinger, his predecessor, had ever had, with all the new generation of kith and kin growing splendidly and strongly into their Talents. Now, if the High Council would get its joint act together, he'd know where he needed the heavyweights of his corps.

Once again he thanked the ghosts of all the Earth Primes who had managed to keep Federated Telepaths and Teleports autonomous and apolitical.

A-what? asked a laughing voice and Gollee Gren, his dark, close-cropped hair showing a sprinkling of silver, entered the spacious office.

`I always do what's best for my Talents,' Jeff said in a gruff voice, mimicking his predecessor, Peter Reidinger, so perfectly that Gollee grinned even more broadly.

`So what's best for whom this time, Jeff?' Jeff steepled his fingers briefly, pressing them against his lips. Neither mimicry nor laughter was present when he answered. `I hope we'll see that they've been able to make the proper choices.

By the time Damia had settled all her guests, she almost wished that they could have come singly, with a good day between arrivals, so she could fully savour each return. She'd worried most of all about Rojer, returning without Gil and Kat to a house full of `Dinis. The moment the capsule arrived with the brothers and Flavia, she `reached out' for Rojer. He was steeling himself but foremost in his mind was an eagerness to be home. No sooner was that carrier down, than Laria, Tip, Huf and Kincaid dano arrived. The dust in the Tower yard hadn't settled when Zara with Pal and Dis `ported in.

Morag, Kaltia, Ewain and Petra, plus their `Dinis, were dancing up and down with the excitement of having their `famous' brothers and sisters back on Aurigae. Xexo and Keylarion were trying to keep order but the Tower yard was in minor chaos as the younger children kept running from one to the other older sibling, `Dinis dizzy from following.

Like a hard knock on a painful bruise, Damia felt Rojer respond to energetic greetings from Kaltia's and Ewain's `Dinis. They were so caught up in the general elation that none of them remembered to give Rojer the time or space to initiate contact. Damia was all set to abandon protocol and `port down to intervene when she felt the sudden shift of emotion in his mind. Then he was lifting Petra up in his arms - Rojer had got taller all of a sudden and muscled up, Damia noted, testing the strength of him - while Big and Sil affectionately flapped against legs which surely had got longer. Any reluctance or hesitation dissolved in the warmth of affectionate kisses and pats showered on him by his totally unselfconscious youngest sister and her friends.

`He'll be fine, Damia,' Afra said gently. `This was perhaps the best way to get over that hump.' He held her briefly in his arms, kissed her tenderly and released her. He peered out the Tower window and a fatuous grin spread across his face. `A bit overwhelming even if they are all ours.' `Mostly ours,' Damia corrected him as she noticed that Flavia and Kincaid dano were being introduced and as warmly welcomed. She hurried down the stairs to add hers.

Parental embraces were perhaps more restrained but just as heartfelt. Damia tried not to hug Rojer any harder or longer than she did Thian, Laria and Zara but she had to know.

I am all right, Mother, he said on a very thin line to her.

Really, coming home is going to work out. `GOOD TO SEE TRP AND FLK ONCE MORE.' And Rojer bowed to his parents' `Dinis.

Surprising everyone, Trp and FIk bowed very low to Rojer, their poll eyes almost touching the ground. Then each held out one upper limb to him which he obediently grasped. Silently, as they began to lead him towards the path to the house, all the other `Dinis, even ùPetra's, fell into step behind.

ùI'm still all right, Mother, Rojer said so she turned to speak with Flavia and Kincaid, and introduce them to Xexo and Keylarion.

`Shall we all move up to the house then?' Damia said.

`Don't hang on your brother, Ewain. Yes, Petra, Zara can certainly see how much you've grown. C'mon now, all of you, we'll adjourn to the house.

`Noisy lot. No manners whatever,' Afra said, staring hard at Kaltia and Morag who were determined to monopolize their oldest sister.

Then he turned to Kincaid. `Earth Prime told me that there were some ùunusual aspects to your recent tour of duty with Squadron C.' `Even if you had help from other Talents, it was asking a great deal too much,' Damia said, having deafly assessed the young man's fatigue.

`The navy treats Talents far too off-handedly. We are not stevedores,' she ùadded with some heat.

Mother! Laria said on a very thin line. Let Father handle him.

As T-2 to T-2. what Kincaid doesn't need is another brain-browsing TùOh? Were you a little clumsy, dear? asked her father.

`No,' Laria continued aloud, `but we're suckers when someone asks us if Talents can do this or that, in just that tone of voice that forces us to prove we can.

Frankly, the labels "performing bear" or "packmule" are becoming more appropriate than ``stevedore''.' `Laria!' Damia exclaimed, halilaughing, half astounded by the comment. Then she frowned, glancing ahead at Rojer, being ù `herded', the term came to her mind, towards the house. And . . . She had a compelling urge to run forward, to be with Rojer. Then Zara caught her by the arm.

I feel it, too, Mother, Zara said. But it is not for us to be present what are you two talking about? Afra asked.

I'm not at all sure, Damia replied, trying to rationalize the `Dinis' odd actions with the growing sense that some extraordinary event was about to happen. This morning when I told Fok that everyone was coming, it asked if I meant Rojer also. Then it muttered about suitable reparation and an apology for the length of time it had taken.

Laria strode up beside her mother and Zara, her face twisted with concern, one hand absently rubbing her diaphragm as if to relieve a tension there. `Mother, I've the oddest sensation `I, too,' Flavia said, equally puzzled.

`Well, Fok and Tip have been cooking up something, Mom,' Morag said. `They've been acting funny and I can't get why out of Fip and Kim. But all the `Dinis're almighty pleased with themselves, whatever it is they're doing.' Every one of the Talented family by now was touched, and wondering, about the strange imminence.

From the puzzled, almost wary expressions of Flavia and Kincaid, the atmosphere was affecting them.

`There are moments when I wish I had a touch of prescience,' Damia said, lengthening her strides just short of a run.

`And what the hell do you think this is, then?' Thian asked, grinning at his mother.

She shot him a reproving look. `It's too nebulous to be useful!' They were in sight of the front terrace of the house, Rojer already halfiway up the steps, surrounded by various sizes of `Dinis. Then he halted.

A blast of totally unshielded astonished emotion stopped everyone midstep, but this was followed by such joy that everyone also broke into vicarious smiles, until Damia, Laria, Zara and Morag began to cry.

The four of them ran forward so that they could see what prompted such a cascade of feelings, followed by the remainder of the family and its guests.

The `Dinis had ranged themselves on the top step, their colours bright with their own joy. On the porch Rojer was on his knees, his arms about two `Dinis, clasping first one, then the other tightly to him, caressing each before snagging them together against him.

It's Gil and Kat come back to me! Mother! Dad! Everyone.

I've got my `Dinis back. Young still but they are GrI and Ktg!

They are!

It took time to sort it all out even with the full cooperation of Trp and FIk, the elder `Dinis of the household, and occasional comments from Tip, Huf, Mur and Dip. No human had ever been allowed into a hibernatory. Although it was understood that this was where Mrdini procreation occurred, the process of gestation was not understood.

`I'm not confident that I do even now,' Damia said when Trp and FIk had done their best to explain.

`Like the amoeba, splitting apart, Mother,' Zara said.

`Or, like a human placenta splitting in two to form fraternal twins in utero. Not quite like .

`Thank you, Zara,' Damia said, but she patted her daughter's hand to apologize for stemming a xenobiological lecture. Zara didn't take offence.

The `time' problem had been taken up ;by the necessity of checking back through hibernatory records to discover which pairings had originally produced Grl and Ktg. They were not from the same `split' for a `split' only produced one new Mrdini. So that both sets of original parents had had to be contacted and brought to the Aurigaean hibernatory at the appropriate time and a new `split' of the same elements as the original Grl and Ktg had to be `programmed' which, FIk said, was an intense form of meditation to `urge similar traits' to occur in the new form. With this sort of procreation, no worthwhile `persons' were totally lost, but could be retrieved by encouraging a `split' by the same two Mrdini which had produced the original. Those who had gone on the line to preserve their elders on long voyages were therefore not `lost' but their living deferred.

`Oh!' Laria said at one point during the explanations.

`So that was why Prtglm was... So nothing of it would come back into the procreative cycle. Wow! What a punishment!

`That also explains why the Mrdini grieved so when ships were lost to the Hivers,' Thian said.

`NO, THN,' Flk said, `THOSE ON THE SUIDICE SHIPS WERE SPECIALLY CHOSEN BECAUSE THEIR COMPONENTS WERE AVAILABLE FOR RE-CREATION.

MRDINI ARE NOT WASTEFUL.' `THEN THAT ALSO EXPLAINS WHY MRDINI CAN BE BRAVER THAN HUMANS AND MAKE THE SACRIFICE OF DEATH,' Thian added, nodding with relief at his comprehension of this facet. `MRDINIS DO NOT REALLY DIE. THEY CAN BE REPLICATED.

`NOT REPLICATED,' Flk said firmly. `NOT THE SAME PROCESS. MRDINI LIVES ARE NOT REPLICATED. THEY ARE REPRODUCED.

`WHATEVER!' Damia said with a shaky laugh. `BUT COULD NOT YOU HAVE TOLD RJR THAT HE HAD NOT LOST GRL AND KTG. HE HAS MOURNED THEM.

THAT, TOO, IS NECESSARY,' Tri said without apology. `MRDINI MAKE A SPECIAL DISPENSATION FOR RJR. HONOUR REQUIRED IT. AND TIME. WHAT HAS BEEN SAID REMAINS WITHIN THIS FAMILY.

`OF COURSE,' Afra answered, inclining his whole body forward in acceptance of that requirement. `A SIGNAL HONOUR FOR US ALL. TRULY AN INESTIMABLE HONOUR.

`Speaking as a healer,' Zara said, `it certainly does clear up a lot of crazy theories.' Then she sighed. `Well, I know and, while it is privileged knowledge, it is a privilege for me to know it.' She stroked her `Dinis, Pal and Dis, who were wedged in on either side of her.

`JUST SEE THAT IT DOESN'T HAPPEN TO YOU TWO!' NOT LIKELY TO,' replied Pal, waving its forearms and wriggling its digits.

`This whole family is high!' Damia said with some asperity but her grin broke out again and, once more, she had to brush tears of joy from her eyes. Just seeing the radiant look on Rojer's face was enough to set her off again. `Now, let us all try for some decorum.' Afra rose with an air of renewed vigour. `And resort to a few practical matters.

Hunters are needed to fill the pots for tonight's feast. Who'll go out?' They were all willing so Damia showed the guests to their rooms while her children found their own much as they had left them and changed into riding gear.

When all reassembled, Afra told them off into smaller groups, excusing Rojer so he could spend uninterrupted time with his `Dinis.

Thian chose Flavia to come with him, Ewain and Kaltia. Afra and Damia took Morag and Petra who proudly informed Kincaid that she was a crack shot with her sling-shot. That left Laria, Zara and Kincaid.

`Ever ridden?' Laria asked Kincaid.

`Ridden what?' Kincaid replied uncertainly.

`Ponies, small horses.' `Oh, animal riding. Yes, somewhat,' he said and Laria beckoned him to follow her to the stables.

`Can I join you two?' Zara asked.

`Sure,' Laria said without hesitation. Saki's mine! she roared after her siblings who were already in the stable.

who'd dare take her with you around?

Laria thought that muffled response came from Rojer for it had the ring of an elated personality.

Is he yours, sister? Zara asked on a thin line.

Kincaid? He's not for either of us, dear. And you a healer to miss it! And carul, Zara, `cause I know you can't resist a healering `look'. He was as near burned-out emotionally as I've ever touched.

what does the navy do to the empathic?

Emotional burn-out? Zara asked sharply, her healer's instinct alert Plus considerable strain on a T-2's abilities. I think he's healing but ri you could, at your deftest, slip in and check, I'd be relieved, Zar, Laria said gratefully. I'm speaking as Kincaid's Prime.

Zara nodded as she slipped the headpiece over her pony's ears while Laria found a saddle suitable for Kincaid's size. She found it very good indeed to be surrounded by ponies; grateful to see that the oldest were still vigorous and whinnied anxiously against being left behind. The entire complement was needed to mount the hunters, with three spares taken on lead ropes in high hopes of bringing back much game.

Kincaid eschewed sling-shot and bow and arrow, choosing a small-bore rifle and ammunition for it as if he knew what he was about.

Laria was rather surprised to see Flavia take bow and arrow. She also saw the grin on Thian's face.

As each hunting party was armed and mounted, they moved off in preferred directions. Laria decided on an eastern route, to the foothills. With only her parents, the four younger kids and the `Dinis, there wouldn't have been much call to go too far from home for scurriers, rabbits and the small plump-breasted avians that nested nearer by. Although Laria had thoughtfully chosen a steady mount for him, Kincaid's `somewhat' was near enough to the level of her own abilities that her respect for him went up another notch. She raised her arm, signalling a faster gait, and kneed Saki into the ground-covering canter, a rocking gait that required little more than balance for a rider. She heard the other two ponies pick up to the same gait. A second, surreptitious glance showed her Kincaid, easily sitting into the canter and grinning with pleasure.

He was also a good shot, as he proved when their approach flushed a covey of avians from their hedges.

He got two brace of them, each neatly shot through the head. Zara had also chosen a rifle but she went after the scurriers, which broke cover when Kincaid's shots startled them. Laria got three rabbits, two scurriers and even one avian hen in that first stop.

`No-one's been hunting this way in a long while,' she said to her sister as they bagged their catch.

`When was the last time you were home?' asked Zara with a bit of a snort. `This always was the route you preferred.' `Yes, but you'd think someone would have tried to keep the game down all over the hills.' `Do you always hunt for your table?' Kincaid asked, handing over the birds he had retrieved.

`Uhuh!' the sisters said in unison and all three laughed.

`When we were younger, we used to take our `Dinis with us . . .` Zara began.

`They were small enough to ride pillion then Laria continued.

- ù And didn't consider it beneath their dignity to grab a stirrup leather to get up the hills.' `Ah - - `Kincaid began tentatively, `what did happen to your brother's original `Dinis? I've only caught snatches and I'd rather not misinterpret.

Laria and Zara exchanged glances and begged his pardon.

`Apologies, Kincaid,' Laria said, taking the initiative.

She related the incident quickly, trying not to let her emotions colour the facts. Neither sister expected his bitter reaction.

`Bad enough to try that sort of coercion on someone of full age and your own species, but to subject a kid He flushed, thinking he might have belittled their brother's abilities. `I admit that I like Clarf far more than I thought I would, even in the short time I've been at your Tower, Laria, but I haven't changed my mind about naval practices at all.' He looked down at the ground, at the pattern he was scuffing in the thick moss.

`You'll never know how grateful I was to be transferred back to the company of civilians!' Zara touched Laria's wrist, where the riding glove left her hand bare, and Laria `heard' the message: This bears investigation. The problem `s festering. I'll do it when he sleeps.

`Grateful, are you?' Laria said with a light laugh. `I haven't half worked you yet, Kincaid. You may wish to transfer back to the navy.' He looked her squarely in the eyes, his jaw set at an obstinate angle. `No, I wouldn't. Not ever.' He turned and, with a respectable vault, was astride his pony. `Have we got a large enough bag?' `Only if you're feeling the saddle,' Laria said with a challenging grin.

The hunt's good for him, Zara said tightly.

`I'll feel the saddle tomorrow,' Kincaid said with a rueful grin as he kneed his pony forward to follow the nearly overgrown path, `but let's get on with the hunt.

The hunt had been so enthusiastically pursued by all participants that Damia decided, as the `Dinis helped them dress down the results, that they probably wouldn't need to hunt for the rest of the week. She sent Zara out with Petra and their `Dinis to pull vegetables to go with the evening meal and set Rojer and Ewain and their `Dinis to dig tubers. With her friends, Laria began to make a dessert while Flavia watched in fascination as Tip and Huf measured ingredients, set out appropriate pots and pans. Thian took ùKincaid with Nil and Plus back to the stable to feed and secure the stableyard creatures. Kincaid enjoyed the chore, having missed working with tamed creatures while on his naval assignment.

-There turned out to be time enough for a quick swim before dinner and there was more aquatic rough stuff than energetic laps of the large pool.

By dinner, Rojer's joy had settled to a glow and the new Gil and Kat had acquired enough orientation, between his efforts and those of the other `Dinis, to appear quite comfortable at the large table. If, at first, they were clumsy with unfamiliar utensils, they learned with amazing speed and obviously enjoyed the meal.

Leaving children and guests to clear the table and cleanse the dishes, Damia and Afra settled in the lounge, to have a quiet liqueur, watch the sun set over the sea, and get a few words with their `Dinis.

`TELL US PLEASE, Damia asked Trp and FIk, `HOW MATURE ARE THE NEW KTG AND GRL?' `OLDER THAN THE FIRST BECAUSE THE IMMATURE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ACCOMPANY RJR USEFULLY `CAN YOU TELL US HOW THIS WAS ACCOMPLISHED? WE DO NOT PRY Damia left the thought hanging.

FIk resettled itself right next to Damia, laying one upper hand on her arm, stroking its head against her shoulder.

`DM IS TOO GOOD A FRIEND TO PRY. IT WAS PART OF MEDiTATION THAT THESE BE MORE MATURE.

THIS REQUIRES VERY CAREFUL ATTENTION TO DETAILS NOT USUALLY REFINED SO EARLY. HALF GROWN KTG AND GRL ARE BUT NOT MORE GROWN THAN CAN ABSORB NECESSARY DATA NOW THAT RJR IS OLDER TOO.

`DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH THIS MEANS TO US AS WELL AS RJR?' Damia said and, although she knew perfectly well there wasn't an ounce of telempathy in Mrdinis, she exuded gratitude and knew that Afra was, too.

`WE KNOW. ALL MRDINI KNOW. THE REGRET IS THAT TIME HAD TO GO SO SLOWLY FOR RJR.

SUCCESS HAD TO BE ACHIEVED OR DISAPPOINTMENT WOULD MAR RJR FOR ALL TIME.' `YES,' Afra said slowly, `TO HAVE RAISED HIS HOPES PREMATURELY WOULD HAVE CAUSED MUCH MORE PAIN. YOU WERE WISE.

YES, WE WERE VERY WISE,' Trp said with such a smug tone in its voice that both Damia and Afra burst out laughing at its uncharacteristic arrogance.

Then the chores were finished and Damia and Afra were joined by children, guests and `Dinis. It made for rather a full room, but a very happy one.

The next day, to shake out of the kinks caused by riding after a long absence from the sport, Thian, Laria, Zara and the two guests took an easy hack to another part of the foothills. Rojer grinned at their stiffhess for he'd been riding regularly on Deneb and he had other plans for his day. Afterwards, Thian and Laria gave Flavia and Kincaid a tour of Aurigae City, the `Dini village where they caught a fleeting glimpse of Rojer, Kat and Gil making a formal call on the inhabitants.

WILL RJR KNOW WHO . . .` Laria couldn't resist asking Tip.

NEVER KNOW. WE DON T. WE KNOW IT WAS DONE. THAT IS ENOUGH.

Well, you would ask, Thian said when he saw the chagrined look on his sister's face from the brusque reply.

There was no harm in asking, she said with a sniff Otherwise how would I know that there is a limit to the knowledge they have of the process? They aren't offended.

No, they're not. They know us too well for that.

Thank goodness. Sometimes . and Laria halted, closing off her thought.

Thian nudged her. Hey, it's me, your brother.

Laria gave him a sideways look. If I could analogize the nebulous, I would, but I can't. when I can figure out the question I need to ask, I'll bring it to you, and Zara. There was a sad and perplexed tone to Laria's mental voice that Thian had never heard before from his practical, sensible sister.

Not Mother or Dad?

Laria gave a little laugh. when I know enough to ask, I might.

But I think you and Zara might know better.

I'm highly complimented. Thian tousled his sister's hair.

She was tall but he had centimetres on her.

`Hey, what gives you the right to mess me up?' she demanded in mock outrage. Their mental exchange had taken so little time their guests could not have been aware of discourtesy or such a tightly private colloquy.

`Hey, I'm bigger'n you now, sis. I got the right!' Thian said, grinning back. He noticed Flavia and Kincaid exchanging amused glances. `Where to now?

A view of the open mines? A fascinating scenic tour of the river?

Ah, I know. Breakfast was a long time ago and there's a great place where they've fresh crustaceans I'll bet neither of our guests have ever had a chance to eat!' `Gotcha!' `I'd rather you didn't use that word around me, sis,' Thian said, having had to catch his breath at the shaft of remembered fear and terror the innocent vernacular phrase produced in him.

`Ooops, sorry, Thi,' and Laria was full of remorse.

Once again they inadvertently excluded their guests and smiled apologies.

`Maybe if you spoke of it to us who will understand as others can't ?` Flavia asked, peering up into Thian's pale face.

Thian knew himself to be tempted by Flavia's obvious concern but he also caught the wariness in Kincaid, a rigid seizing of muscles in the man's body that made -`him loath to add to whatever burden Kincaid already coped with. For Thian was as perceptive as Zara about the T-2.

So he made himself grin.

`You would understand, Flavia,' he said, lightly and briefly touching her shoulder, `and so would dano, but at another time. Laria just caught me unawares.

They ate fish of all kinds as well as the fresh crustaceans and Laria put in an order for ten kilos of frozen shellfish to be sent on to Clarf.

`I'd forgot how much I liked `em,' she said as they turned back towards the Tower. She took a meandering course, turning the sled just beyond the main mining complexes and into the next level of hills.

`You wouldn't know there was a highly industrialized city just a hill away,' Flavia said, as Laria slowed the sled so they could all enjoy the panorama.

It was late summer on Aurigae and the ground vines were beginning to turn colour, rivalling what flowering shrubs and plants still bloomed.

`This is a pretty time of year, too,' Laria said with a sigh.

She was now accustomed to Clarfs heat but the crisp air of Iota Aurigae IV and the softness of us primary's distant light were subtly soothing, relaxing. But then this was home and all that the term implied: familiar, safe, comforting, pleasant. Even Kincaid seemed easier in himself his attitude languid. Flavia, on the other hand, was eagerly absorbing all the views, glancing all around her, or peering down as they passed over some particularly lovely setting. Thian had a droll smile on his face as he watched the Altairian.

She is lovely, Laria said on a thin line.

No question of that, Thian replied easily and his smile broadened a trifle.

Grandfather?

I'd hate to surrender easily to his manipulations.

Is that fair on Flavia?

I don't know. She's pretty cool. I can't get past her public mind.

Have you tried?

Ethics are involved, Lar.

In love and war, all `s fair, isn't it?

This is neither love nor war sister dear. Speaking of which, how come Kincaid dano got posted to Clarf?

As to that, I couldn't get on with that wretched Clarissia.

She was even worse than Stierlman and proved `Diniphobic to the point of acute embarrassment for the Tower. I can't keep breaking up Yoshuk and Nesrun They are a pairing, then?

Far's I know.

How's Kincaid working out?

As well as could be expected with someone as mentally fatigued as he is. But he's improving.

Laria had been skimming quite low and had set the sled's speed at almost a walking pace so that Flavia could enjoy the landscape. She was ascending a shrub-covered hill when all of a sudden a large flock of avians sprang up in front of the sled. In an effort to avoid unnecessary slaughter, Laria hauled the sled sideways but, in doing so, unbalanced her passengers so they slid to the portside. What with the sled's slow forward speed and the proximity of the hill, the imbalance tilted the sled out of control. The humans grabbed at the lighter `Dinis to keep them from tumbling overboard but they were, in turn, over-balanced and fell over the side. Laria caught Tip's arm, saw that Kincaid had fell, and had to leave Thian and Flavia to manage his `Dinis. They all `ported safely away as the sled ploughed its nose into the hillside.

Setting Tip down on its feet, Laria regarded the sled, its motor still running, with stunned surprise.

`I didn't think I was that out of practice,' she said, shaking her head. `After all, I do a great deal of sledding about on Clarf and Vanteer prefers me to drive him.' The motor cut suddenly, with a loud discharge from its exhaust tubes which blew back a noxious smell.

`Hoooo,' and Thian waved the reek off `Everyone's OK?' Laria asked, looking about her.

`I must say you lay on unusual entertainments for guests, Kincaid said.

Laria flushed. `I probably did overcompensate for the flock but they make such a mess if they get sucked into the intake.

Kincaid laughed. `Don't get me wrong, Laria. I'm not objecting.

A relief to know that emergency reflexes are in working order.' Thian, followed by his `Dinis, walked over to the tilted sled, peering at the underside.

`How bad's the damage, Thi?' Laria asked, not quite sure of Kincaid's jest.

`You did a lot worse when you were learning to fly `thian Lyon, I never put a single Thian laughed and suddenly the sled backed out of the trench it had dug in the shrubs and soil and settled on as even a keel as the rough ground permitted. Flavia and Kincaid joined him so that Laria broke out of her outraged pose and sprinted the few metres to join them.

`Shouldn't've overbalanced like that,' Thian said.

`No, this model isn't supposed to, is it?' Kincaid said

her mother generally kept them in, beside the tool

and opened the access panel.

`D'you think it'll restart?' Laria asked.

`Probably,' Kincaid said, `but I think there's something wrong with the d lines or there wouldn't have been that backfire.' `I'll check the intakes,' Thian said and levered himself down for a good look at the hooded opening on the starboard side of the sled.

`Good heavens, Thian, why not just "look"?' Flavia asked.

`More fun to tinker when I have the chance,' Thian said, his voice muffled by his position. `Yeah, flight pinions clogging this one.

Check the other, will you?

Laria? Flavia?' Flavia made a sound of disgust, totally out of character to her elegant exterior. She deposited a bloodied clump beside the mess Thian had extracted.

`Couldn't we just `port back to the Tower?' she asked.

`What?' Laria asked, `and admit that we came a cropper?' `Any tools on board?' Kincaid asked, holding up a very greasy-looking object.

`I doubt it,' Laria said. `This sled's only used for short hops.

The big sled has a full kit, of course.' `No-one's using it today, are they?' Thian asked.

`I don't think so.' Laria concentrated, `found' the mass of the big sled in its garage, `located' the tool kit, and `ported it to a spot by Kincaid's feet.

`Thanks,' he said and, opening the metal locker, began to search for the tool he needed. `No rags?' he asked querulously.

`Here!' Laria dumped a pile, scavenged from the bin kit.

Flavia watched another moment and then, turning, leisurely began to venture from the scene of the crash to examine the clumps of little blooms.

`Any toxic plants I should be aware of?' she asked Laria.

`None,' Laria replied absently, more interested in Kincaid, the mechanic, for he went about cleaning the component with a competent air.

Thian cleared all the intake openings.

`That's done, but I don't think that was the whole problem. Xexo usually keeps this serviced,' he said with a frown.

`Xexo usually does but we don't know when he did it last and Mother said Morag's allowed to drive now.

`Hey, that's not fair,' Thian cried with mock indignation. `We were at least fifteen before we were allowed and she's only thirteen!

Laria grinned at her brother. `I suspect they may miss us and have had to revise a few directives now they're down on staff Besides, Morag's capable.' `I think we have to get to the filel injection and clear the line,' Kincaid said.

`That's underneath,' Laria said, pointing to the bottom of the sled.

`No problem!' The two men said it simultaneously, grinned at each other, and the sled slowly rose to a suitable height to allow them to work easily on its underside.

She could see Flavia off in the distance, picking wild flowers, occasionally holding a bloom up for inspection and smelling it for scent. Not many had any aroma but none that Laria could see in the immediate area were the stinkweeds which had a reek that could linger in nasal passages for days.

`I'll hold the sled up if that'll free you up to do the nitty-gritty,' she offered, leaning comfortably against a boulder.

`Vanteer says that helps him no end.

`Oh, well,' Thian said in reply to her offer, `if you want to feel part of the team She took over the `lift' and the men `removed' the bolts holding the panel, slipping it to one side where it hovered as a receptacle for the pieces they began to remove to get at the line.

`Can't you just "see" into it, Thian?' Laria asked.

`You've spent the last couple of weeks "looking" inside pipes and conduits, haven't you?' `Not quite the same thing, Laria,' Thian said with an obvious exercise of patience. `This is hands-on stuff' `Ah!' Kincaid had given a moderate tug to a hose and it had not only come away in his hand but disintegrated.

`I didn't pull that hard!' he said in surprise, looking at the mess and the fuel that spilled down his hand.

`But that's the faulty part,' Thian said. `Completely perished.

Where does Xexo keep his spares, Laria? Can you remember?' `I couldn't but Roj would know.

Thian grimaced. `I'd hate to interrupt him .

`Well, it's that or admit to Xexo we crashed,' Laria said.

`What's wrong with that?' asked Flavia, returning.

Then she began to laugh. `Xexo's a T-8. You could be in and out of his mind before he knew you were there.' Laria and Thian exchanged thoughtful looks and then began to grin at each other. Thian chuckled and scratched his cheek with a dirty finger. `Old habits suffice when you least expect them.

`You're not that old, Thian,' Flavia remarked, thoroughly amused.

Holding the damaged hoseline by each end, Thian could be seen to concentrate on it briefly. Then a second length of similar but brand-new hose appeared.

Laria cheered, then said ruefully, `I suppose it'll be my job to tell Xexo who messed up his inventory.' `Leave him a docket. That keeps everything in order.' The sled was quickly repaired. Kincaid even straightened the ding in the prow. `While we're about general repairs.' They were all in good spirits on the way back, Laria giving Thian the drive since she wanted to name the blooms in Flavia's bouquet of wild flowers.

The first week passed very quickly in all kinds of leisure pursuits that the Talented enjoyed as ordinary people. Laria and Kincaid went to the mixed school the younger Lyons attended to speak to both human and Mrdini students about working on Clarf Although Kincaid begged off Thian and Rojer were also in demand in secondary-level classes, describing their adventures with the two squadrons. With his `Dinis back, Rojer had no trouble taking part, with discreet evasions.

Afterwards they told the dinner table that they might have made the service seem a bit too adventurous for some of the young people.

`Navy is actively recruiting,' Afra said. `It's a good career if they don't fancy staying on here.

Damia smiled fatuously at her mate, knowing the experiences with his own family which had generated such tolerance. What he did not ask his sons was if they had decided which duty they would take on their return to work.

Flavia was included in an evening appearance when the exploration of the Hive ship was discussed with miners and engineers of both species, eager to have first-hand information on the matter. They also wanted to know if the great new long-cruise Nebula-class ship had been completed. Thian wasn't sure but said he suspected it would soon be launched. Its bulk had been noticeable in the working orbit it maintained about the Phobos Moon Base. No launch date had been mentioned and the disappointment of the men who had supplied the metals to build it was palpable.

`Is it because this planet is so new,' Flavia asked Damia on the way back to the Lyon home, `that everyone seems so so relaxed with their Talents?' Damia had to think about her answer. `Well, the Tower is perhaps more important to Aurigaeans since it's still mainly a mining planet, and so much is imported. Also, even when I was here by myself before my marriage to Afra, I was always accessible.

Our children have grown up with their children mine always ran wild on their ponies - their `Dinis with ours.' She gave a sigh. `I'll be sorry to see Aurigae spreading out and losing the closeness we've so enjoyed!' `I'm lucky I've had a chance to see it,' Flavia said, her tone envious.

Damia laid a light finger on Flavia 5 arm. You would be welcome here any time.' `That is very kind of you.' Flavia ducked her head so that her expression was obscured.

Don't! Afra said sternly to his wife.

Really, Afra! As ri I'd ignore protocol with someone we barely know.

Someone I think you `d like to know better.

She could hear the teasing in his mental tone. Kincaid has shown more interest in her than Thian.

Kincaid is not interested in women, Damia. Or hadn't you caught that?

Damia managed not to gasp in surprise. She was rarely caught out.

And jaria She tried that the day he arrived but she likes him very much. That friendship already means a lot to him.

I must say the choice astonishes me. Surely Dad knew that about him Or' course he did, but Kincaid's worth salvaging and jaria `5

so stable that she'd do that and give him a breathing space.

Kincaid has more need of a real friend than a lover and she'd have the support personality she needs.

She also needs a man of her own. Damia's tone was adamant.

She's only twenty-two, dear heart.

I'd had her and Thian by her age.

She has an entirely different personality, darling, and Afra's tone was teasing again, and your needs do not match. Now our Zara, who has also tagged Kincaid quite accurately, says he was in the midst of a destructive three sided relationship that added more stress to a dificult enough assignment. He can relax at CThi", and heal - all the injured parts. laria has her own soothing effect on people which is why Jeff tried such dificult ones as Stierlman and Clarissia at Clarf Tried? Damia shot a flash of anger at her father's manipulative ploys.

Afra laughed. I think your father understands and appreciates laria far more than even we do.

That remark both annoyed and mollified Damia. So how long must jaria wait to forfil herself. she asked with some traces of indignation.

I have a suspicion that jaria only needs to look a little closer to those she already knows.

Yoshuk?

Vanteer.

Really?

I'm guessing but you'll have noticed how often his name came up.

Damia thought about that on and off during the evening. She hadn't met the Clarf Tower engineer, although she would have preferred a higher Talent than 6 for Laria. But that hadn't, apparently, all that much to do with inheriting the genes that produced T-is in totally unexpected families. Like Flavia like the Rowan and Jeff Raven for that matter.

The second week, T-2 Clancy Sparrow, Lieutenant Senior Grade Rhodri Eagles, and his youngest sister, Asia, the recently graduated honours engineer, arrived.

None of them had been as far out as Iota Aurigae, even though they laughingly claimed Deneb IV was almost as remote in its quadrant of the inhabited galaxy.

Roddie, once the bane of the young Raven-Lyons' adolescence, had improved beyond belief Clancy, having so recently worked with Thian, Rojer and Flavia, eased himself into the household and asked permission to do some hunting if that was all right. Instantly he had Morag, Kaltia and Ewain begging their parents to be his guide. Permission was granted and the three younger Raven-Lyons swept their cousin to the stables.

Despite all the efforts of Damia, Laria and Afra to welcome and reassure Asia, she was stiff with uncertainty and so afraid to say or do something `wrong'.

She didn't even complain when half the household slithers decided to investigate her slender body where she sat, rigid on the stool on which she had seated herself eschewing a large number of more comfortable, empty chairs.

Petra regarded Asia for a moment and then briskly walked up to her and unwound all the slithers.

`Next time say that you don't like winding things crawling all over you,' Petra said, rather disgusted that anyone would put up with such inconvenience. She ignored Asia's deep crimson blushing and, cocking her head, added: `D'you mind cats?' `Oh no,' Asia hastily said.

`That's a relief What about darbuls?' Asia gulped. `What are darbuls?' she asked in such a low, meek voice that Petra gawked at her for a moment before summoning one of the canine-like creatures.

`Oh, they're not bad either,' Asia said hastily, apparently trying to redeem herself in Petra's eyes for being so silly about the slithers.

`I'll tell the coonies they're to watch out for you, Petra said with all the brash authority of a confident six-year-old. As she went off to do just that, she said to her parents: Someone here ought to do something positive about this Asia girl. She doesn't know how to complain properly. The first Talent I've ever met with that problem.

Petra's right. That one needs some major sorting out, Zara said to her mother, though her mental tone dripped with disgust for such abject self-effacement. why on earth didn't she peel the slithers off ri their clinging was so abhorrent to her?

And why didn't we notice her distress before Petra did?

Damia responded, annoyed with herself that she had misinterpreted Asia's quietness for courtesy.

She's used to being ignored, isn't she? Zara said after a moment's thought.

Being the tenth of a big and noisy family that could produce Roddie would result in that posture, Damia said. And sighed. None of you allowed yourselves to be ignored for any length of time. Asia might be soothing company.

Zara gave her mother an odd glance to see if Damia was teasing, or serious.

A bit of both, dear.

She's pretty, too, Zara remarked, if you look at the bones of her, though that outfit is not the best style for someone with bones to show off. ù ù well, that'follow the personality problem. However, she'd do a little something with herself You're right, she is pretty, though I doubt she's as delicate as she appears. The Eagles are a physically strong family. Afra, we must do what we can with this child, Damia told her husband. She's got some Talent but she's even locked that up as tight as hot weather seed pod in snow.

Before any of them could step in, Rojer walked up to Asia, took her by the hand and hauled her shrinking self up from the stool.

`I want you to meet my Dinis. I got the new improved models when I got home. Since you're here to learn a few things from Xexo, I'll just take you along and do the introductions. You'll like Xexo,' Rojer said as he hauled his reluctant victim beside him. `C'mon, now, Asia.

I don't want to hear a single moan of "oh, I can't do this" out of you, d'you hear me?' Stay out of this, Zara, Asia's mine! And, as he left the room with the girl, he shot a stern warning at his sister over Asia's head. And a second one at his mother. I know you two ladies too well! You keep away.

Berated from such an unusual source, Zara and Damia exchanged bemused glances and grinned as they `heard' Rojer telling Asia all about the puzzle and how many pieces he had part credit for fitting together when all the engineers on Alliance worlds were trying to reconstruct the Great Sphere.

`Of course, that was before we all snitched Refugee out from under the Hivers' noses. `Is our Rojer smitten?' Afra asked quietly of his womenfolk.

`I'm not quite sure . . .` Damia replied.

`Well on the way to it, if you ask me, Zara said with a knowing sniff. `Deciding to protect someone who appears defenceless can lead to a meaningful relationship. Provided, of course, it doesn't lead to an unsuitable over-protectiveness that inhibits the less confident party.

Damia grinned at her suddenly authoritative young daughter who was only just in control of her own hormones and burgeoning womanliness.

And don't even think like that about me, Mother, Zara said with some asperity. I've learned a great deal, a very great deal, from Elizara and Isthia in the past three years. I'm qualified on first-level psychotherapy and Asia's problem is not that complex.

leave Asia alone. She doesn't need two more mothers!

came Rojer's acid rejoinder.

Do as he says, Afra suggested, casting a mildly stern glance at wife and daughter.

Rhodri had changed into a very elegant leisure suit, remarking that it- was a relief to be out of uniform as he passed his host and hostess. He took Zara by the arm and insinuated them both neatly into the group comprised of Flavia, Laria, Thian, and Keylarion, the Tower expediter.

Later it was he who suggested they roll up the rugs and dance. If he danced more with Flavia than the Lyon girls, he also danced three times with Damia, two slow dances with Asia, one each with Morag and Kaltia and a boisterous polka with Petra, a dance which he insisted was well within the scope of the `Dinis and shortly had them cavorting as wildly as he and Petra.

And he's Asia's older brother? was Zara's enigmatic comment.

People come in all shapes and forms, Afra said, even mentally breathless from his exertions with Damia as his polka partner. Then he smiled broadly at Petra's prim curtsey when Rojer took her hand for a waltz, the next dance on the tape of assorted musics.

Was or was not Petra `porting half the time Rhodri was flinging her about? Damia asked, mopping her perspiring face with one hand while she worked a fan with the other.

I doubt it. She's as agile as a slither anyhow. Afra sank to one of the chairs pulled to the side of the large room and `ported himself a long cool drink of water.

There were all kinds of wines, beers and assorted spirits set out on the refreshment table. While a medium strong, cold Aurigaean beer would have been appropriate, Afra was already charged with the heady ambience in which young, high spirits devoted themselves to fine dancing.

Asia was not allowed to sit by herself. Either Rojer or Xexo, who had suddenly presented himself for the family evening - he was more often involved with ailing mechanical objects - sat or danced with her.

Apparently she didn't like the more exuberant dances and that preference was catered to. But, if she sat a dance out, Rojer, Xexo and one of the coonies - to keep the slithers away, so Petra had informed him - were with her.

Afra would have been delighted to dance with her for he, too, deplored her lack of self-esteem and confidence. He also had the thought that the rambunctiousness of his family might be too overpowering for her, being similar to what she contended with in her own home. He would have danced with her, as he had with Flavia, Damia and each of his daughters, but she reacted so negatively to his approach that he pretended to be winded and sat down beside her, emanating as much reassurance and kindliness as he could without her awareness. But she was closed down too tightly even for his gentle persuasions.

The next morning, he and Damia attended to their Tower duties, though Keylarion moved carefully and admitted to aching muscles from so much dancing.

Xexo was all businesslike, announcing that Rojer and Asia were with him, learning more about Tower requirements. Teleportations and telepathic messages were both light so that the Tower could be put `on call' and its resident Talents returned to the house to find a sleepy Clancy being fed by Morag and her `Dinis.

Roddie had `asked' for a bucket of coffee which Petra had insisted she was able to bring him with her `Dinis carrying cup, sweetener and milk. Denebians were known to drink quantities of milk even in their mature years.

Clancy, Damia began on a tight line to the T-2, are you awake enough to talk about Asia?

Clancy gave his hostess a quick and not at all sleepy look before resuming that pose. There have been times when I've suspected that our Asia puts on an act . .

That's no act, Clancy No, it's been borne in on me that it's for real. And how could I let such a thing happen to my sweetest cousin?

Clancy sighed, took another sip of coffee and smiled gratefully at Morag who presented him with a cooked breakfast of gargantuan proportions. It just happened. You know what Roddie `5 like - well, there were thirteen others in the house, too, and I suspect Aunt Alicia was relieved to have even one who was quiet and content to do things on her own, and responsible enough not to need much supervision. Asia's always been responsible, and quiet, and self effidng. It's only after not seeing her for a while - and hearing how Roj has been going on about `negligence' and `deprivation' - that I realized that she was deprived and neglected. Only what's to do now? She's smart as she can be, got enough Talent to get along most places. She used to repair all the machinery at our place as well as Aunt Alicia's. We kids used to tease her that she'd rather play with machinery than play with us.

He grimaced.

`Doesn't it taste good, Clancy?' Morag asked anxiously.

`Breakfast tastes real good, Morag m'darling. It's my feet are killing me from all the dancing last night.' His grin reassured Morag.

`Are you really my cousin?' she demanded, half of him and half of her parents.

`Second or third cousin, I believe,' Clancy said, ploughing his way through the eggs, potatoes, beans, grilled tomatoes and flingi on his plate.

`And do you really have to report back to Blundell in just six more days?' Clancy, she's thirteen! Damia said on a tight line as she recognized the adolescent symptoms in her daughter.

Don't think I don't regret that, Damia. You've mothered a brood of heartbreakers, so you have, and it's not fair on poor mortals like us Denebian backwater boonies.

Backwater? Boonies? Then Damia burst out laughing, knowing that Clancy would handle Morag's crush gently, Don't ever let my father hear you say that!

It's your father I learned the words from, but I'd never have the gall to repeat them near your mother!

Roddie appeared next and it was his intention to swim off the exertions of the evening before and that seemed like such a good idea that the heated pool was crowded by the time the last Lyon arose.

`Thought you'd like to hear what else happened,' Roddie said to Rojer, Thian and Flavia after brunch when they found themselves more or less alone in the lounge area.

`Like what?' Thian asked.

Roddie grinned. `Our queen's hatched up a lot more speciality creatures and, while I don't know for sure, I'd say she was assembling a crew to help her fly Refugee out of her vile durance.' He paused, waited a beat, and then went on. `She's a lot more active, too, and sends the scurriers out on all kinds of errands. Some of the new hatchings are the kind that would go down the conduits and pipe lines I understand connect the Refugee. And she's got a couple of big bruisers we couldn't quite figure out a need for. They're not true males so it isn't a mating she's after. She's also started planting . . . of all things - the seeds and pips she's saved from her food. Used her own dung to plant `em in. Got herself a trio to take care of the garden, too.

`What sort of things is she growing?' Flavia asked.

`Broad-leaf plants,' said Roddie with a significant wink and nod.

`That's going to be one disappointed female,' Thian said with a thin smile.

`Counting on hatched eggs isn't wise,' Rojer said.

`No, no, you mean don't count on eggs until they're hatched,' Thian said.

`Uhuh,' Roddie put in, waggling an index finger.

`You've both got it wrong. It's putting all your eggs in one basket.' `What are you talking about?' Laria asked, joining them.

Each one answered simultaneously. `Eggs!' `Chickens!' `Expectations!' Rojer looked about him, concerned. `Where'd Asia get to?' When no-one knew, he went to the kitchen.

`Mother, you seen Asia?' `Xexo has her,' Damia said and added to Rojer's disappearing form, `she is here to learn Tower engineering, you know.

The last day of their holiday Rojer, Thian and Flavia were asked to attend the Tower for a conference with Earth Prime.

Thian wondered if Rojer felt as odd as he did, to be sitting on their own, on their parents' couches. The generator silence, too, was unusual but then a link between Primes did not require the use of the gestalt.

That fact gave Thian a certain glow of satisfaction probably about to be blasted by whatever his grandfather had in mind for him.

thian Lyon, Rojer Lyon, Flavia Bastianmajani, Jeff Raven said, stating the official nature of the interview, I know I offered you choice in your next assignments but there have been some unusual developments. I heard that groan, Thian.

Yes, sir, so what's happened? They've cancelled the pursuit, and Thian felt a wave of almost prescient dread that that was what Jeff Raven would say and he knew that to discontinue the search right now could only have serious repercussions in future generations when the Hive imperative sent yet more Sphere ships forth from their colonial fastnesses, looking for more M-5 worlds to colonize.

The Washington The who? Thian thought he was familiar with the names of all the major Alliance ships. Rojer raised eyebrows and shoulders, puzzled, too.

The Washington is the Nebula class battle-wagon that the Alliance has built, mainly from Aungaeon metals, I might add, Jeff replied with a droll tone to his voice, and that's not yet to be public knowledge.

As I was saying, The Washington has been assigned as flagship, with an escort of six Galaxy class and four destroyers, all armed with the new Hive hull-piercing missiles. There're two more spheres to be tracked down. Jeff paused, allowing his listeners to absorb that.

Then there's a second expedition, equally as important to the High Council, by the way, as the Washington's mission, to explore and evaluate the M-5 class worlds which the Hivers by-passed and any more that are identified.

Squadron B's got a five-year mission and has been assigned an additional lightweight destroyer craft. The Genessee `5 got a new captain; there's a completely new complement on the AS KTTS, and Captain Brikowski of the Peking, plus whoever's sitting in the captain's chairs of the smaller craft.

Wow! Rojer said.

Sir, I'm ready to go to the Washington, ri they'll have me, Thian said with quiet reserve.

HAVE YOU, Thian lad? You're top of the list. Ashiant's been bumped up to command the Washington. Told that paper asshole of a base commandant that Ashiant had asked particularly for you.

He did? Thian could not restrain his elation and had a foolish grin of utter delight on his face.

Captain Spktm also implied that it would not budge the KLTL out of orbit unless you're on the Washington as Prime.

Wow! Rojer repeated, amusement at his brother's reaction turning to respect.

I hope you can think of saying something more than `wow', Rojer, when I inform you that you are also to be part of the Prime team on the Washington.

Me, sir? After That's better. Yes, you, sir. Your conduct during the KTTS incident met with approval in many `Dini quarters. And then there's the expertise you displayed during the debriefing of Operation Illuminate.

After that? Rojer's eyes went so wide that Flavia grinned at his astonishment.

`I told you you did well and you didn't believe me.

Quiet, Flavia, I'm getting to your appointment. Let me add here, Primes, that I never expected FT&T would have to supply naval ships with personnel. But the distances covered and the lengths of these current voyages as well as the need to maintain close contact require the services only Primes can offer the navy.

You will not be under naval authority and I have specified that a Prime on a navy ship has rank equal to the ship's captain.

We do? Rojer was delighted at that.

`Don't let it go to your head, Roj,' Thian said aloud.

I won't, but it's nice to know.

They all heard a chuckle from Earth Prime. I didn't get as much argument as I thought I might. AND I expect you lot to be cognizant of the fact that you ARE to conduct yourselves at all times with the same probity and discretion a captain uses.

Yes, sir. Even Flavia's reply was suitably ingratiating.

I'm assigning the Pursuit Squadron two Primes because I am never going to leave my people open to the problems that you boys both faced.

Bearing on that problem and preventing any sort of a repetition, I want you to give me the names of support personnel, Talents by prepreference, whom you would like to have, either overtly or covertly on your staff There is always the possibility that you might have to mobilize additional support.

Lieutenant-Commander Semirame Kloo, Thian said immediately.

Clancy Sparrow, Rojer said at the same time.

Lieutenant Alison-Anne Greevy from the Vadim, Thian added.

Good choices, all three. Especially Greevy, Thian, or had you heard that she's been taking extracurricular training in `Dini diseases and problems and she was to be transfered to the Washington in any case. The Washington will have a mixed crew.

Thian had had only the briefest note from Gravy, in which she had said she was `OK, and busy. Hoped he was, both.' He was inordinately pleased that she had the initiative to extend her abilities. He'd have to tell her that, while he had kept his promise, she'd out manoeuvred him. He looked forward even more now to being on the same ship with her again.

I may send along some others who would have various duties but they will make themselves known to you. Thian, as the elder, you are nominally in charge but I believe that you two brothers work well together anyhow so I anticipate . . . and Jeff paused just briefly to emphasize his point no discord.

Now, Flavia, I would like you to undertake the Thadership of Talents in the Exploration Squadron. I know you have been in several Towers so you might know the specialists you `d like to have with you.

I'll do my best to reassign them to you for this mission - ri they're willing. Tower experience would be helpful, but Talents in biology, engineering and sociological fields would augment the specialists already slated to join that expedition.

I'd like Zara, Asia and You'd like Zara and Asia?

Thian and Rojer managed to suppress their glee that Flavia had totally surprised their grandsire.

Yes, Earth Prime. Zara has first-level therapy qualifications which would be invaluable on a long cruise. She can undertake further medical education with whatever medical personnel is aboard. Asia took honours, you know, in mechanical engineering, just two points below Rojer. Travel would be invaluable to personal development and selftconfidence. She would be the responsibility of both Zara and myself I would also like Rhodri Eagles whose talents as a liaison officer are wasted on a queen who's going nowhere, and Morgelle of Betelgeuse because she's got archaeological credits.

I didn't know that, and there was still a slightly bemused tone to Jeff Raven's voice.

That doesn't surprise me, considering her situation, and Flavia's tone was terse.

Your selections are excellent, well thought out, Flavia, and I don't think those appointments will cause much trouble. His mental tone held more than a tinge of amusement and satisfaction. The newly appointed captain of the Vadim which is Squadron B's flagship, is one Vestapia Soligen and, while her crew is as usual mixed, she requested a female Prime ri that was possible.

There are also two men of my acquaintance who would be most helpful, a T-3 and a T-6, Flavia said in a bland tone.

But her eyes sparkled at Thian and Rojer who were grinning broad encouragement at her.

Their names?

The T-3 is my brother, Mallen, and the T-6 is my cousin, Jesper Ornigo, who has `Dinis and is keenly interested in alien civilizations, though it has been more hobby than practice Understandably ù Both are Altairians, and currently in positions which could be filled by anyone of the same Talent rating.

Never let it be said, Flavia, that I stood in the way of someone else's nepotism.

I beg your pardon, sir?

`Family joke, Thian and Rojer chorused while Jeff repeated it telepathically. That set them all laughing.

There is a serious aspect of this initial briefing, my young friends. I have laid down certain conditions on your assignments that must be upheld no matter what the circumstances: your duties are strictly outlined in the FT&T Charter and you are definitely aboard as civilian specialists and non-combatants.

With the possible exception of launching the sort of surveillance probes Rojer used on Xh-33, you may give no more assistance than that to any explorations or contact, no matter what the provocation, up to and including the saving of lives. Any `projects' beyond the ordinary despatch of your duties must be discussed with me and I will answer the commanders involved.

You may not like it, but you will preserve your own skins first, although, as Thian was once instructed, you will do your best to rescue whichever other essential personnel are designated by the captains.

The navy is supposed to be able to fend for itself.

Flavia, all you Talents are to be escorted at all times while on a planetary suce. Special suiting has been developed for Talents that might reduce the stingg-pzzt of proximity to Hiver artefacts and I hope the material proves effective.

A final caution - the launch of the Washington has already taken place and she is well outside our system at this moment.

They were afraid of demonstrations, sir? Thian asked.

Around the best holograph ever attempted, and Jeff's voice was both amused but with a grim edge. So common sense prevailed over ceremony and, should you hear that the Washington was blown up by isolationists, ignore it. You are, however, not to discuss your assignments with anyone, even your parents. Orders are being cut for the additional personnel requested. Rhodri and Clarence will receive ordinary Tower-hour communications as will Zara and Asia. And the others will be contacted through proper channels. You three will report for transport to your respective postings at 0800 Aungaeon time tomorrow. Enjoy your last day dirtside.

Before any of the three could even thank Jeff Raven, his contact was broken.

`That's just like him, too, Thian said with a grimace of chagrin.

`He plops exactly what you've dreamed of in your lap and bounces off before you can thank him.

`Maybe,' Rojer suggested with unusual ambivalence, we won't thank him in the long run. That damned Operation Illuminate ought to have been a snap and it turned out to be a hang-over from the Spanish Inquisition.

`The what?' asked Flavia.

`I thought you knew all about saints, Flavia,' Rojer replied, grinning. `And I want to thank you for wanting Zara and Asia along. I really didn't fancy them on a pursuit mission - - `I'll work their butts off;' Flavia said, being quite serious as she rose from her couch. Then she grinned.

`I thought it was worth a try, but I never believed Earth Prime would let me have them. And Mallen and Jes.

They're both in such stultifing jobs and I know they're capable of much more. And if that's nepotism, I really don't care!' She gave her head a sharp nod.

`Good on you, Flavia,' Thian said. `And now, let's assume slightly lugubrious expressions and try hard to enjoy these last hours before the booms of hard work and long separation fall on our innocent heads.' Rojer made a derisive noise.

`It is going to be hard work at that,' Flavia said and started down the Tower steps.

The two brothers rolled their eyes at her pragmatism and, taking the steps three at a time, reached the ground level before she did.

Rojer opened the door while Thian in his easy fashion. `Done your lesson? Let's all go waved Flavia through it with an exaggerated flourish of hand, arm and leg.

`Great Stars above!' Rojer said, stopping so short that Flavia nearly bumped into him. `Whaddawe tell the parents?' `What's to tell?

Our leave of absence is over. Grandfather is having us report to Blundell Cube at 0800 tomorrow,' Thian said in an airy tone and started down the outer Tower steps. `Hi, Asia, has Xexo let you get your hands oily yet?' `Yes, he did,' the slender girl said with an air of startled delight on her face. `I greased and lubed one of the back-up turbines.

Xexo made me do it by myself. Though I had the manual open all the time!' `As you should when working with unfamiliar machinery,' Rojer said but grinned so proudly down at her that, for once, she didn't retreat into her usual shyness. `Which one? The 8-32-XR? Or the 184-QJ?' `The QJ,' she said equably. `It's not that great a model but Xexo says it's given very good service with a minimum of trouble.

`That's all to the good when you don't have easy access to spare parts.

`You know very well that you'd have to make spare parts for the QJ,' she said, tilting her head up to Rojer with a grin for his forge fulness.

`And have done, now you mention it.' Asia cocked her head at him, a smile wanting to appear on her lips. `Did you have good news?' `Yes,' and Rojer turned to both Thian and Flavia for support since her question took him a bit unawares, `I'd guess you'd say we have.' He heaved a resigned sigh.

`But vacation's over.' `Back to Blundell Cube in the morning,' Thian said swim!' If, occasionally, their parents regarded them oddly as departure preparations were undertaken, the newly gazetted trio managed to keep shields up and excitement down to an acceptable level.

There had been a bit of a flurry from Damia to know that Asia as well as Zara and Clancy were to report to Blundell. Rhodri was surprised but delighted to get orders from his superiors to report to the navy base for reassignment.

A last long ride at sunset brought what Afra jokingly called the `Raven-Lyon cavalry' back with appetites capable of dealing with the masses of food that had been prepared. Even Petra was allowed a sip of the sparkling wine that was served as a special accompaniment to the feast. The evening was so convivial that even Kincaid appeared totally relaxed and smiled more often. It was, of course, possible that Rojer filled Asia's glass more often than necessary but she, too, beamed happily about and laughed at every joke, even the ones she didn't quite understand which Rojer would then explain quietly in her ear.

During the week, her wish to relax the tight control she held over her mind had verified her T-4

status. Towards the end of the evening, though, as she realized this was the last night of such a marvellous holiday, she began to brood with such intensity that Rojer very privately told her that the best was yet to come and she'd have to be patient until tomorrow.

Between the unaccustomed wine and reassurance, Asia fell asleep, leaning against Rojer's shoulder before anyone, even he, noticed.

I'll take very good care of her for you, Rojer, Flavia said scope of the demonstration had proven the wisdom of when she noticed him sitting unnaturally still, so as not to disturb his sleeping companion.

Am I that obvious? Rojer asked.

Well, not obvious to her, at any rate, Flavia said with a ripple of laughter. Right now you're good for her - - And when she gets more confidence and finds' h&sell.

Rojer's tone held a cynical and sceptical note.

I know it's trite, but she'll only be a thought away. You certainly can reinforce your position. if the relationship is to grow, it will. And I personally think it will. She's already improved a hundred per cent since she came to Aungac.

As far as everyone was concerned, 0800 came earlier than usual to Iota Aurigae the next morning, but all the travellers were fed, packed and gathered at the personnel carriers minutes before the appointed time. And the generators were up to maximum.

Dad says he has something special in mind for you, Thian and Rojer, Damia said as her sons and Flavia made themselves comfortable in the carrier, the boys' `Dinis secure in their smaller slings.

He loves to have something special for us, Thian said with a resigned groan. if you're born into this family, you're likely to tour the galaxy.

You're only ever a thought away, Afra put in. Ready?

Steady! Go! Rojer couldn't resist saying, and heard his parents' laugh as his `go' was perfectly timed with th& `port.

Thian and Rojer were only allowed to help Flavia out of the capsule before Earth Prime announced they were to be sped to the Washington where it had already passed out of the Sol system. Jeff Raven, bringing them up to date on the so-called Washington riots, said that the all the precautions.

There had been numerous attempts to damage the `hologram' missiles exploding on target but doing the massive hull no damage `because of its unusual construction and tough design which proved that it was advanced enough to go against even a Hive Sphere.

Adherents, trying to protect that launch, had been as numerous as the protesters and nearly as cunning in their attempts to protect the great state-of-the-art ship.

We managed quite a show for all when the Washington was duly christened by Gktmglnt and Admiral Mekturian, down to the firing of thrusters to disengage from the building gantries and then the inner rockets to begin its majestic voyage of pursuit.

Grandfather, I didn't know you were poetic!

I'm quoting, Thian, replied Jeff.

who staged the effects? Rojer wanted to know.

Everyone got in the act, Jeff said, slightly smug. Haven't had that much fun since your grandmother and I took on the Hiver scouts over Deneb more than a quarter of a century ago.

You'll like the Washington. Once you learn your way around her.

Your first task, however, is to get her the hell out to the poor destroyer the Maine who was left behind by C Squadron to keep on the Hiver's trail. D Squadron left her behind because the two Hiver ships split up. You'll have to bring the other ships of Squadron A in one at a time over the next twenty four hours. Even with all the help the Prime merge can give you, that's going to be an exhausting task.

Flavia, Zara, Asia and every Prime in the family is ready to assist, so don't hang about. You'll enjoy your luxury quarters. The Washington's quite a beauty.

* * * Grandfather wasn't kidding, was he? Rojer said to Thian as they climbed out of their carrier into a hangar four times the size of any other one, - including the commodious one on the Refugee.

`Permission to come aboard, Captain,' Thian said, nudging Rojer sharply with his elbow, because he'd seen who was in the welcoming committee. Ashiant himself. Brother, are we getting the treatment!

`Permission to come aboard, Captain Ashiant,' Rojer blurted out.

`Permission granted, Primes, and very glad to have you two aboard,' Ashiant said, stepping forward as Thian and Rojer stood on the deck. He then helped the `Dinis scramble out. `The rest of your team is reported on its way so we can get The Washington and there was great satisfaction and pride in Ashiant's voice as he named his new command, `out to where she's supposed to be most effective.

GREAT PLEASURE TO SERVE WITH YOU AGAIN, CAPTAIN SPKTM,' both Rojer and Thian said to the large `Dini to whom their friends were making proper obeisance.

THIS ONE ASKED FOR YOU, THN, RJR. WITH YOUR HELP WE WILL OVERCOME,' Captain Spktm replied, bending its poll eye in a complimentarily flattering fashion.

`Prime Thian, you will notice a few friendly faces have followed me to the Washington, but we'll leave that until dinner, when we've made the initial push,' Ashiant went on.

He can't wait, can he? Rojer said in private amusement to his brother.

Nor can we, added Earth Prime. Work now, play later, boys.

Another carrier was deposited in the cradle beside theirs. Clancy Sparrow sprang out, repeating the traditional request to board.

Ashiant welcomed him and Clancy's `Dinis made their courtesies to Spktm.

As Captain Ashiant nodded to ratings standing near by to handle the duffies of the new arrivals, he gestured for the Talents to follow him and Captain Spktm, Clancy bringing up the rear.

`You'll want to learn the intricacies of the Washington's many decks and facilities, Primes - ` and he gave Thian a long look.

`I was afraid you'd hold that against me for ever, Captain Ashiant,' Thian said with a broad grin.

`Well, it made naval history,' and Ashiant turned to Rojer. `Has your brother ever told you how much protocol he shattered the first hour he was aboard my old command?' `Sir, you should have heard what Dad had to say about it, and he's not even navy,' Rojer said mendaciously but with a broad smile.

`It's good to know you will not try to outdo him.

`Me, sir, no, sir. That's not what I do best.' `And what do you do best, Prime Rojer?' `Classified, sir.' Ashiant regarded Rojer with the same cynical look he had once levelled at Thian.

`I see that this trip is going to be instructive - - - for all of us,' and there was warning in that mild remark.

There was only the one short walk to a turbo-lift and then another dog-leg down a carpeted corridor clearly in officer territory before Ashiant stopped at a double door, guarded by two marines who immediately braced to attention.

`These accommodations were specifically designed for the use of Talents, Primes, so if you'll press the palms and Ashiant nodded to the security pad. Thian, Rojer and Clancy laid their hands on it.

`Sir, you will need access, too,' Thian said, `she's your ship.' Ashiant nodded and placed his palm on the pad as well. `I appreciate the courtesy.

Then Thian pressed once again and the double doors slid apart.

With considerably more poise than they were inwardly feeling, the young men walked into a large lounge, the captains following.

`This is sinfully luxurious,' Thian said, glancing around at the appointments of the room. Doors, slightly ajar on either side of the lounge, showed sleeping accommodations but there were two doors in front of them that were not open, and one set cater-cornered on the left-hand side.

Now Ashiant strode across the lounge. `This, - and he opened it with a palm pressed to the door's pad, `is your Washington Tower, if you will, and this,' he opened the second room, `a ready room, while that,' and now he pointed to the cater-cornered one, `is the access corridor to the bridge. So you're right on top of everything.' `This is all much more than we had any right to expect, Captain,' Thian said, making a bow of appreciation.

`Earth Prime's orders,' Ashiant replied with an expressionless face which altered to a smiling one. `No more than you deserve for the services you supply an entire fleet. If you'll assemble the rest of the team you have aboard immediately,' and he gestured to the intercom system in the Tower room, `we can get going.' `Right, sir,' Thian said.

`Just leave those duffles there, lads,' Clancy said as the ratings arrived with their luggage.

`If you'll proceed to the bridge, sir,' Thian added, opening that door, `we'll organize the advance. Oh, sir, who's the Washington's engineering officer?' Ashiant regarded him with surprise. `Tikele, of course.' He pointed to the screen. `When you've the chance, check the roster. I brought as many of my officers with me as I could.' Captain Spktm followed Ashiant, murmuring that it would join its own ship when the Primes were free to `port it there.

`Rojer can oblige you right now, sir, as I imagine you'd prefer to be on the KLTL on her jump,' Thian said, giving his first order in his new position.

`Sure can, Captain, if you will be good enough to return to the hangar and your carrier,' Rojer said and strode to the Tower room.

Boy, have we landed in gravy, bra?

WHAT? And Thian `ported in beside Rojer, peering around the place.

Enough nonsense! said Earth Prime, his tone slightly peevish.

Rojer slid on to the couch beside him, which happened to have been made to his height so he settled comfortably in it. Clancy and Thian took two of the remaining six couches and settled themselves.

As soon as Rojer had `ported the Mrdini captain to its Constellation class ship, Thian took him into the merge, then Clancy, and announced the merge's readiness to proceed.

First came Jeff Raven, assuming the focus position while the Rowan slipped in right beside him. Sublimated in her mind Thian recognized Flavia, Zara, Asia, the indistinguishable current complement of both the Blundell Cube and Callisto Tower, then the familiar touches of his parents arrived, Laria and Kincaid, David of Betelgeuse, the T-2s of Altair, Capella and Procyon Primes, his Uncle Jeran and Aunt Cera and even the only faintly familiar touch of his Uncle Ezra on Vega and other Talents as the teleportation force gathered more strength than it had ever before had and launched the immense bulk of the Washington in a long-drawn breath to where the tiny mote of the Maine patiently followed the strong ion traces of a Hive sphere's course.

Then one by one the other vessels - two Constellation class, four of the Galaxy and four destroyers - were `ported fluently to take their assigned positions in the fleet. Despite the restrictions of the merge, Thian activated the forward screens in their Tower room and saw, no longer quite a mote, but decidedly small in comparison, the lean shape of the Maine. He wondered if her crew were aware of their mighty neighbours but he was too integral to the merge to enquire.

Abruptly, most of the merge, having acquitted their part of this gargantuan transportation, disengaged. Only the Earth-Callisto element remained.

Thian, you can tell the Maine now, that merge said, that they are relieved of their duty. The merge was amused.

Captain's name is Bremerton.

Still elated by the contact with so many energies, Thian had no trouble making the contact. Bremerton's mind was wide open with the relief he was experiencing at the arrival of his replacements.

Eleven ships at once? was Bremerton's half-stunned, half-exultant response. Thian had the distinct impression of sudden physical movement along with peripheral mental jolts of relief and joy. Oh, my God, you are. Fleet's here! Look lively. Fleet's here. Open a channel to the Washington, Sparks. We're about to be relieved!

Captain Bremerton, we can `port you back to base as soon as you're ready, Thian said. Though I hate to rush you, sir' the merge is on-line and waiting.

Clancy was nearest those controls so he cut on the bridge screen.

Despite a crisply neat shipsuit, the tired face of a relatively young captain was visible on the ùWashington's main comscreen, saluting smartly.

`Clark Bremerton, Captain Ashiant, and my respects.

ùHis face developed a broad smile comprised of respect, awe and amazement. `I'm sending my log over for your records but I can't say that anything unusual has happened, sir. No deviation is noted in the ion trail since the split-up three weeks ago and the Hiver we're ùfollowing hasn't altered speed.' `Good work, Captain. I won't keep you as I imagine both you, the crew and the Maine are looking forward to home.' ù`Indeed we are, sir,' was the heartfelt response.

ù`Your log's been transferred. On your way, Maine.

Ashiant saluted smartly and it was being returned by an obviously grateful Bremerton when his image on the ùforward screen faded.

`Your turn, Primes,' Ashiant said into the chair com.

And about time, Thian heard the unmistakable voice of his grandmother Rowan, all this naval pomp and ùcircumstance is time-consuming.

Thian felt the pressure of the merge in his mind and the Maine disappeared. So did the constriction of the merge. Beside him, Rojer gave an exaggerated sigh of relief while Clancy stretched until his sinews cracked.

`Do we know where we are?' Clancy asked.

`Since I'm the engineer,' Rojer began and slipped off the couch and over to the console. It was so shiningly new, not so much as a scratch on any surface, but it was also familiar and he had their main screen showing the vista before them: an expanse of stars of all variations in colour and pulsation.

`Far, far away from every star we know and recognize,' was Clancy's thoughtful comment.

All three were startled at a discreet rap on the door `Come in.' `Lieutenant Senior Grade Greevy reporting for duty, Primes, and I've taken the liberty of ordering peppers for you. Alison-Anne was appropriately solemn-faced as she advanced with the tray of tall drinks which she presented first to Thian, managing a sly wink before she served his brother and Clancy.

`Good thinking, Lieutenant, and congratulations,' Thian said formally, then grinned. `Alison's taken courses in `Dini health-care, Rojer, Clancy .

`Yes, while waiting for you to perform your first duties,' Gravy said, still very much in a dignified naval attitude, `I've had the chance to meet all your `Dinis.

So has Commander KIoo .

`Rome's here?' Rojer cried and, careful not to slop the drink from his glass, he made his way to the lounge where Semirame Kloo snapped him a salute before her face broke into a proud and grateful grin.

`I can't thank you guys enough. Del Falco turned piss ant with a vengeance when you skived off' she said, `which made him difficult enough until Clancy was yanked off too. When the Admiral discovered his destination, the shit really got recirculated. I was clenching my teeth in expectation of where he'd land next when I got my orders. I don't think anyone's ever cleared the navy base as fast as I did. And to the Washington, of all assignments! D'you guys have any idea how many people hate my guts now?' `And we don't bloody care,' Clancy said, swinging Semirame up and around before he put her down on her feet again.

Still grinning, she pulled her tunic straight because she was wearing the same formal uniform that the medic was.

`Then you've already been on the Washington a week?' Thian asked.

When she nodded, still grinning, he asked who else Ashiant had brought of his Vadim officers.

`I haven't met even half my own watch yet,' Rome said, `but I know for sure he brought his engineering officer, Yuri Tikele, Ailsah Vandermeer is first officer and Commander Fadh Ah Minas weapons, plus quite a few of the Vadim's chief petty officers, too.

`Not his number one? Commander Germys?' Rome grinned. `He got booted up to captain on the Genessee.

`Commander Exeter's here in sick bay,' Alison Greevy said, `and we've a Mrdini unit because this is a mixed crew and I'm liaison.' She added that with a grin of pride.

I always said you were cleverer than you knew, Gravy, Thian said.

And you kept your promise.

Only because you added an element that made it absolutely possible.

With due ceremony, Rome then handed a disk to Thian. `I'm told you're officially the head of the Talent facility, Prime Thian, and I personally received this from Earth Prime Raven with instructions to give it into your keeping. It's for you three only: a listing of all the Talents in this fleet. A handful are known to their superiors as possessing "some" Talent but mostly higher than the grade they're listed as. Some have come aboard in minor capacities with T-2 and T-3

qualifications. I respectfully suggest that you either `port them in this lounge privately or allow me or Lieutenant Greevy to make contact.

A code word for all Talents to open their minds to you has been set up throughout the Fleet. That's in the orders, too, and every one of us has been primed to response, though Earth Prime told me that we don't know what the word is.

`On an open frequency, the code word, "Saki", will alert us to be on guard, for you and whoever else is named after that code.' `Now,' and Alison took a step forward, `pepper not withstanding, Misters Prime, or is that Prime Misters, or what?' `I'm not a Prime, Clancy said with a grin.

`In here, we're informal, but if you've got to use titles, Prime'll do,' Thian said.

Alison cocked her head slightly. `I heard - scuttlebutt, mind you - that you got captain's rank.' `I,' Thian responded with a broad smirk, `was told that, humble civilian though all Talents are, T-is are considered as holding a rank similar to that of a ship's captain.' `But that doesn't mean we're captains,' Rojer said, finishing the explanation.

`So a T-2 like me would be equal to a lieutenant commander?' Clancy asked.

Thian shrugged. `Why not?' `You did well - Clarence,' Semirame Kloo said, arching her eyebrows.

`I've got the Talent, kid.' `What I started to say,' Alison began in a stern tone, `is that peppers notwithstanding, you Primes have a captains' dinner tonight, and that's captains plural plus all first officers, so that's a mess of people. So you Primes get some rest.

That was a big push you just made. Even Rome and I felt it, didn't we?' She looked towards the shorter commander for verification and got an answering grin.

`We're fine,' Rojer said negligently.

`That's because you've never been to a captain's captains' dinner, coz,' said Clancy and glanced around at the half-open doors. `Which is mine?' Rome shrugged. `Whichever - since you're informal here.' `Haven't you - - -` and Clancy stopped, gesturing vaguely at the room doors.

She shook her head. `I'm quartered near by but Alison's down in sick-bay. Now, you guys sack out!

C'mon or they'll never stop talking.' Gravy managed one more sly wink at Thian as the door slid shut behind her.

`Eeney, meeney, miney mo!' and Rojer's finger ended up pointing at the middle door on the portside of the lounge.

Thian grabbed his duffle and made for the top room on the other side as Clancy made for the nearest starboard one.

Thian noted with approval that this was a proper bedroom, though there were storage units under the double bed, and wardrobes, as well as private shower and toilet. He didn't feel fatigued at all until he had dutifully lain down. Almost as if there'd been a subliminal command, he fell instantly and deeply asleep.

The captain's captains' dinner was every bit as formal as Thian, Rojer and Clancy dreaded. Captain Ashiant made good use of their fluency and acquaintanceship with Mrdinis and each had a `Dini on either side.

Opposite them were humans and it was permissible to talk across the table from time to time.

Captain Ashiant sat at the head of the table, with Spktm, now Captain of `Dini Constellation LSTS, on his right and Thian on Spktm's right with the `Dini first officer, Mgl, from the Galaxy KLTL as his other partner.

Rojer was across from his brother with the `Dini Galaxy class Commander Ktpl of the KLTS on one side and AS LSTS's first officer, Tipi, on the other. All four -`Dinis were quite conversable so there was no problem for the brothers. They both `pathed messages of encouragement to Clancy who was seated at the bottom of the table between the `Dini destroyer captain and a Galaxy class number one. But Clancy was also seated across from one of the three women, a very attractive commander. The captain of the destroyer Athene was seated beyond Rojer and the third woman, another first officer, was beyond Thian by two places. Clancy quipped back that he was better off than they.

The food was good and each species treated to specialities designed to satify different palates. The wines were excellent and Spktm obviously relished the yellow beverage it was served, though the first officer, Tipi, drank only water.

The dinner went on and on, with numerous courses, and much conversational time between each. Then Thian began to appreciate the ulterior motive of such a lengthy and seemingly formal affair. By the end of it, every one of the top ranking officers had had a chance to assess each other, and the Primes, either by direct conversation or by observation.

When the final course of savouries had been finished, and after-dinner beverages had been replenished, the stewards withdrew, the double doors swooshing shut and Captain Ashiant rose.

`Captains, Primes and commanders, while we are still far enough away from the Hiver's objective, wherever that may be,' Ashiant began and received a few chuckles, `I suggest that you take advantage of the lull to inspect the new facilities aboard the Washington personally. I know that the two Constellation class ships have had the new weapons systems installed and so has the Solidarity but we must all be aware of how these missiles can be effectively used. if we need to employ them.' WHY HAVE THEM IF NOT TO USE THEM?' Ktpl asked bluntly.

Ashiant levelled a glance at Ktpl. `OUR ORDERS ARE WRITTEN SO THERE IS ONLY ONE MEANING, CAPTAIN KTPL.' He glanced around to be sure that all the humans had understood his `Dini reply. While Thian noted that Ashiant's command of the `Dini language had improved in accent and fluency, he wasn't surprised when the captain continued in slow and well enunciated Basic. `The Alliance High Council has spoken in these orders and guides us all in the performance of the objectives of this mission. We have the greatest fleet ever to set out across this galaxy. We will accomplish its aim: to be sure the remaining Hive spheres do not destroy life-forms, do not begin two new colonies. When that is done, as you all know, this fleet is to separate and investigate other G-type star systems with M-5 planets that have been by-passed. And establish their condition. Five years have been allotted to these tasks. Let us drink to success, captains, Primes and commanders.' Solemnly all rose and the toast was repeated by human and `Dini alike.

Thian rather hoped that this ended the evening but the diners left the long table and congregated in smaller groups: some officers renewing acquaintances while others solemnly discussed details.

`Don't turn,' said a low voice behind him and, recognizing Ashiant's tone, Thian complied. `Would you be good enough to `port me to your quarters for breakfast tomorrow morning, Thian? Raven said you'd know me well enough to find me wherever I am on a ship, even the size of this one.' Thian bent his head, appearing to smooth down his hair as he murmured his reply. `I can if you really require such security, sir.' `This once, I do.' Ashiant immediately drifted away, raising his voice to address Captain Cheseman of the Solidarity.

Thian was still puzzling over that request when Clancy wandered up to him to say that they could politely leave any time now that two of the captains had bid Ashiant a polite farewell.

Thian `told' Clancy about Ashiant's request. `Why should a captain, a fleet admiral, have to resort to such tactics, Clancy?' Thian asked, uneasy about subwrfiige.

`Doubtless he'll tell us tomorrow morning at breakfast,' Clancy said, not at all perturbed. `And that's going to come soon enough,' he added, glancing at the digital which flashed 0235 at them. `At 0645.

`I'll just secure this door,' Rojer said, waving his hand across the inner door pad. `I never knew a dinner could last this long and everyone - well, neady everyone still be stone cold sober.' Having set his internal alarm, Thian was awake at precisely 0630, showered and dressed by 0642. He found Clancy in the lounge ahead of him with a table for four loaded with covered dishes.

`Thanks!' `Know my way about a ship's galley better'n you would.' `Nonsense, - said Rojer, yawning as he joined them, his short hair still wet and soaking the neck of his fresh shipsuit. `You took a good few peeks into those stewards' minds last night so you'd know the exact layout and when not to freak `em out of their minds, porting stuff up here.

Clancy dismissed that accusation with a wave of his hand. `Thian, time!' Clancy said as the digital went from 0644 to 0645.

Thian easily located Captain Ashiant,whose quarters were on the same deck and not far away, but the man had had no warning to set down the cup he'd been drinking from when Thian transported him. He glanced quickly to be sure the liquid hadn't spilled from the cup and seemed mildly astonished that it showed no ripple of its recent transplantation.

`Damned smooth, Thian lad, damned smooth,' he said and then gestured for Clancy to stand down from attention. `In these quarters, Sparrow, Talents don't stand on ceremony.

`Thank you, sir,' Clancy said with one of his irrepressible grins, `have some more breakfast, Captain?' Simultaneously, a chair was pulled back from the table and covers whisked off the hot food they had concealed.

`Humph,' Ashiant remarked with a wry smile for each of the young men, `breakfast in here could get to be a pleasant habit.' `Any time, sir,' Thian and Rojer chorused.

Ashiant laughed. `I doubt you mean that, lads, so I'll give advance notice.

They were all seated when Ashiant handed Thian a slender disk four centimetres square.

`From Jeff Raven. It's his authorization for you lads to keep your minds' ears on general - and I do mean, general - morale.' Trying to hide his distaste for that aspect of a Talent's ability, Thian carefully placed the square in his breast pocket.

`You don't like it, lad, and Ashiant included Rojer and Clancy in his quick glance round the table, `and I don't like to have to ask you to do it, but you know the trouble we had with the Washington launch.

If it hadn't been a hologram, some of those missiles would have inflicted sufficient damage to keep her from being launched.' Thian hadn't known that but Clancy nodded complete understanding.

`There are dissidents aboard then?' Thian asked, beginning to appreciate the need for Talented surveillance.

Ashiant gave him a sardonic grin. `We know who most of them are.

It's the ones we didn't or couldn't identi - the sleepers - and we have to assume that there are some. You wouldn't have had any reason to know that the subversive elements have tried to sabotage the Washington from the moment her keel plate was laid - as much as you can lay anything in space. She was built in sections, you know, as if she were four smaller ships of a revolutionary new design.' Ashiant grinned.

`By the time we had those sections connected, we could then mount the sort of security so that her outfitting could be completed without too much risk of implanted remotes.

`Now, I'm not asking you lads to "spy" in the old-fashioned melodramatic way. I'm certainly not asking you to delve into anyone 5

private mind - unless you have bloody good reason to do so or my specific orders for such an action,' and Ashiant swung a thick forefinger to include all three, `but I am asking you to liaise with all the Talents available on all human ships and have them keep on the alert for any anomalies, strange behaviours, oddities and report them to you. If your `Dinis can legitimately mix with the crews of the five `Dini ships, that would help, too.

`You're expecting trouble from our Allies?' Thian asked, since the `Dinis were the last ones he'd expect to sabotage the expedition.

Ashiant nodded once, not looking at Rojer. `We don't want a repetition of the Xh-33 either, Prime.' `No, sir, Captain Ashiant,' Rojer said with more vehemence than he intended, `we don't!' `I don't expect any problems immediately. This is likely to be a long, long journey. That's why I felt that now was the most appropriate time for me to make you aware of this aspect of your duties. Even in this, you are non-combatants and, as your boss'll tell you, it is compatible, in this instance, with Talent ethics. I'll have more of that toast, if you please, Sparrow.' As he buttered it, he added, `The more often you're seen beginning today - in all parts of the Washington, and on the other ships, either singly or as a group, the sooner that sort of habit will become so established no-one will find it odd. Rojer, you'll find immense puzzles on one ùor another cargo deck on the six human ships. We're having intership contests of all sorts, including VR endurance rides,' and he grinned briefly at their surprise.

`The other excuse Jeff Raven concocted was that every ùcrewman or woman has the right to send a private message home.' When Rojer rolled his eyes, Ashiant chuckled. `I know we've six thousand crew on the Washington alone but there're a lot of families aboard so that drastically cuts the number who might use the ùprivilege. Nevertheless some'll be too shy to deliver them here,' and he jerked his head towards the doors, `but that'll be one excuse for you to circulate frequently.' He glanced up at the digital. `Any questions?

I've to be back in my quarters, finishing my breakfast, by 0710.' `Yes, Captain,' Thian said, `who are the priority personnel we must rescue in the unlikely event of an emergency?' `Me,' Ashiapt said with an amused snort. `Contrary ùto naval history, the captains of every vessel, especially and including the `Dinis, plus as many first officers as possible, any Talents 5 and above, your `Dinis, Commander Tikele and Commander Yngocelen ù`Where's he?' Rojer interrupted, remembering Yngie with affection.

`On the Genessee and he'll be delighted to see you, Lyon. So, as one of your first duties, figure out which each of you'll be responsible for. As you know, the Washington carries six scouts `But there're only three of us,' Rojer said in some consternation.

`There are also three other T-2s whom you've yet to meet, Primes, so count them in your calculations.

Scouts can accommodate fifteen easily, twenty cramped.

Most of the Washington pods are built for fifty persons each: for one hundred on the family decks. Constellation pods thirty `We'll take care of the disposition, sir,' Thian said, noting the time on the digital.

`We'll have the usual drills,' Ashiant said, rising then.

`You can practise then.' He nodded to Thian.

`Sir?' and Rojer solemnly handed him the cup he had come with.

`Good lad!' Cup in hand, a friendly and amused grin on his face, Ashiant was `ported back to his own quarters.

`Talk about security ù ù -, Clancy said, dramatically wiping his face with his napkin.

`Actually, it's a sound idea,' Rojer replied.

The door chime sounded, almost imperiously.

`Whoops,' Clancy said and hastened to disable the inside lock, allowing the door to slide open to admit a puzzled Semirame KIoo. She regarded her palm.

`I thought I was keyed in to that pad.

`Rojer, I told you we didn't need to enable an inner lock on the Washington,' Thian said with a hint of pique in his voice.

`Sorry about that, Rome. Coffee?' the culprit asked, holding up the thermal pot.

Thus began the first of many long days on the way to their distant and unknown goals.

Flavia, with her team - Asia, Zara, Mallen and Jes arrived at Clarf Tower for a conference with Kincaid.

Flavia had checked with Laria whether or not Kincaid (1) would object or (2) could expand on his initial report.

He certainly doesn't object, Flavia, was Laria's reply, and I don't know whether he doesn't want to expand on the reports or it's the time when he wrote those reports that bothers him.

We don't have to No, and Laria's negative came out as a slow mental drawl, I think it might do him the world of good to have to speak of those days. He's much easier in himself now, you know.

That's good to hear. He's a very likeable person.

I know. Laria's brief comment had echoes that set Flavia wondering about Laria's feelings about Kincaid.

I caught that, Flavia Bastianmajani, and I'm his friend. I really like him.

He's lucky then.

I'm the one who's lucky. I'll catch you tomorrow then at 1400 your time. That `11 put you here in the cool, cool dawn of Clas autumnal day.

Laria's facetiousness made Flavia even more thoughtful but that exchange she could keep to herself and did.

Zara's enthusiasm for practising her qualifications could well extend to her oldest sister and that, in Flavia's mind, would be totally improper. Flavia's opinion of Laria was quite high and, whatever her relationship was with Kincaid, it was a very private matter. As all such matters should be.

* * * `This is cool?' Flavia asked Lionasha, her forehead beaded with sweat from the short walk up to Clarf Tower in the crepuscular dawn light. Behind her, Zara, Asia, Jes and Mallen were also finding the closeness of the sultry air uncomfortable.

`Yes, rather,' Lionasha said with the cheerfulness of someone thoroughly accustomed to the vagaries of the local climate. `When are you joining your expedition?' `More or less as soon as we've had a chance to confirm details with Kincaid.' Lionasha nodded. `He really enjoyed himself at Aurigae,' the tawny woman said.

`We all had a great time,' Zara said, ending in a sigh.

`It'll be months, years maybe, before we'll get back.' `Homesick already?' Mallen Bastianmajani asked in a teasing `elder brother' tone.

`I've never been homesick in my life,' Zara replied smartly, `but I miss the things I can do there that you don't have anywhere else in the Alliance.' `That's part of homesickness,' Mallen said, shooting a glance at his older sister to see if he was laying it on a bit thick.

He enjoyed teasing Zara Raven-Lyon: she gave back as good as she got.

Jesper's long legs carried him to the door into the Tower first and it opened for him, a whoosh of cooler air warring out.

`Oh, my word! What a relief!' `For now!' Lionasha said with a meflil smile, `but we have to turn the temperature up in here if anyone's going outside or they'd have a relapse.

`Hmmm, yes, or heat stroke - Laria, with Kincaid at her heels, came down from the Tower room and there were wide and happy grins, renewing the acquaintances established on Aurigae while Flavia introduced Mallen and Jesper.

`This way,' Laria said, taking charge and, with a nod for Lionasha to assume the Tower watch, led her guests into the living quarters.

Refreshments awaited them there and the `Dinis served them cooling drinks and finger foods before they settled into the comfortable chairs and couches.

`I don't know if you're aware that this scientifically based expedition does not have full support of the Council,' Flavia said.

`That may be luckier than you know, Laria replied.

`There is great curiosity here on Clarf, especially if some of the planets can be cleared for our colonization.' She grinned. `Any disruptive problems?' `Not for us,' Zara said crisply and wrinkling her nose with disgust. `But some crew members got mauled when the list of ships in Squadron B was posted' Asia sort of squinched herself down in the couch corner she had chosen and stopped eating her snack.

`So we began our duties,' Flavia said with a rueful grin, `by `porting sailors out ofbrawls and safely aboard.' `Their families had to be sent to protected enclaves, Asia added.

As that was the first information Asia had ever volunteered in her presence, Laria paid close attention and sent a strong reassurance to the girl. Though Zara was younger by several years, Asia `seemed' the junior.

`Rather silly, isn't it, though?' Laria said. `As if the families had anything to do with the orders. And why the fuss over Squadron B's goals? It's scientific, not combative.' `Well, there had been quite an organization formed,' Mallen began, `to prevent the Washington from being formally launched. So there was a lot of undissipated anger and resentment which was then turned on perfectly innocent targets: the nearest being crews of the second squadron. The dissenters got bilked out of blowing up the Washington,' Mallen said with a grimace for such folly.

`And even that was only a hologram,' Zara added.

`Biggest one ever attempted.' `So's the Washington. Ship, that is,' said Mallen who'd been impressed by the cover operation as well as the immensity of the newest Fleet addition.

`So, what can I do to help your. . . ah. . .scientific venture?' Kincaid said with a wry smile, looking from one expedition member to the next, his glance sliding quickly away from the shy Asia. `I'd've thought the probe files would be sufficient.' `They show what you saw, Kincaid,' Flavia said slowly. `But everything we see we interpret from our own experience. As you're telempathic, did you have further reactions that wouldn't have been taped?' Kincaid regarded her for a moment with a very blank expression, but then tension left his long frame and he smiled rueftilly.

`There isn't any empathy possible between humans and the Hivers, and little between humans and `Dinis, no matter how close we are to our `Dini friends.' His Nil and Plus were busy talking to the visiting `Dinis, their low voices an almost melodic descant to the human conversations.

Zara smiled at him. `Tell us what we don't know, Kincaid.' `Zara!' Flavia called her to order. `What were your impressions, your reactions to what you saw, particularly on the deserted planets.

`I deplored the waste of valuable colonial property,' Kincaid said, slightly flippant. Then leaned forward.

`The first one `Marengo `Is that what they ended up naming it?

Ah, well, it had once been reasonably successful. Agriculture not quite as extensive as I understand it was on Xh-33, and I think I was surprised that there wasn't more He paused and regarded Flavia. `Is this what you mean?' `Yes, yes, exactly.' `Why?' `I don't know,' she answered honestly. `It just seems sensible to gather as much information as possible from available sources.

`You're it,' Zara said, grinning.

`I wasn't the only Talent in the merge that searched,' Kincaid said in a voice gone suddenly harsh.

`But you're down as the only T-2 and the merge focus ù ù Zara began. `Surely `I can only give you my impressions,' Kincaid interrupted her.

Leave it, Zara, Laria said on a tight line to her sister as she spoke aloud. `Even those would give some insights . . . For instance, you've never mentioned any any detritus in the buildings you scanned.' `Detritus?' Kincaid gave a snort. `You mean bodies?

Not on Marengo. Too old.' `That's another fact I needed to know,' Flavia said, grinning with relief `So many people assume - and that's a major problem with the dissenters who are sure our interference" is going to make them the next victims - that ALL Hive colonies have been successful, ipso facto.' `We have to find out why those that failed, failed,' Zara said. `And why Hive Central didn't know? Or didn't care? Or what? I mean, you said the second one looked-' `Waterloo ` Flavia supplied.

`Thanks, the Waterloo planet looked as if it had started out OK and was then abandoned. So what happened?' Kincaid frowned slightly.

`Yes, I wondered about that one since the Hive colony ship was still in orbit. Even with the plastic probes, I approached both ship and planet very carefully. Spatially, the Waterloo system wasn't far from Marengo. Had the Marengo group merely switched to the Waterloo planet?' `We don't have all that much substantiating detail,' Mallen said, `but the `Dini do maintain that the Hivers haven't changed their modus operandi in centuries.

Comparing the installations on Xh-33 with those on Marengo and Waterloo show that they use the same general structures and agricultural schemes - at least on those three planets.' `And on the other two I probed,' Kincaid said, relaxed enough now to lean forward, elbows on his knees, hands clasped together. `They pick sites well inland, as if they don't like, or maybe are even afraid of large bodies of water.

`They irrigate fields ù Zara put in.

`I want to see what sort of hydra pumping units they have ` Asia put in. `Did you see any?' Kincaid smiled at her. `Asia, I wouldn't know a pump unless it had a big sign written all over it - Pump!

But where agricultural activity had been started, there were irrigation ditches which I can recognize. On the ecologically poor planet, the third one, Talavera, these were just straight gutters of some material, fiall of leaves or dirt and sand. Very sad to see.

Very desolate.' `But nothing to show why the planet was ecologically slain?' Kincaid shook his head. `If the Hivers fiamigate every planet they want to colonize, they may not restore the necessary ecological balance. If it can be saved, it'd be a lovely place,' and his face took on a wistful expression.

`We'll damn well try!' Zara said and made a face at him when she saw Jesper regarding her with a slightly supercilious expression. `You just wait and see.' `Are you going there first?' Kincaid asked with a hint of eagerness in his voice.

`That's the plan,' Flavia said.

He leaned forward more urgently. `But that system's very close to the one the Hivers are active on.' `Don't worry, Kincaid,' Flavia replied with a confident smile, sending him a mental reassurance as well.

With an impatient gesture, he waved that off `That planet's dangerous. They've a ship. And you'd be in range of their scouts.

`Squadron B's armed with the new missiles, Kincaid,' Mallen said, though he did not dismiss Kincaid's obvious alarm. `And the complement includes one of the fast `Dini destroyers.

`What bothered you so about that planet, Kincaid?' Laria asked in a conversational tone.

He glanced over at her, took a long breath and expelled it.

Flavia was empathic enough to pick up his rising anxiety, and to know that Laria was deffly calming him and carefully shielding his reaction. A quick touch at Zara and Flavia realized that the highly empathic young therapist had been diverted. Zara would mean no harm, but Kincaid had not completely recovered from whatever had depleted both mental and physical resources.

`The frantic activity, the almost desperate urgency with which the Hive creatures pursued what, for any other culture, would be done with . . . energy . . . but not such frenetic turmoil.' `Was it the spring of the planet's year?' Jes asked.

`No. I would have understood that!' Kincaid shook his head and began twisting his hands together.

`I know what bothered you,' Zara exclaimed, bouncing on her chair.

`The stingg-pzzt!' `The what?' Kincaid stared at her and then, almost accusingly, at Laria when she began to laugh.

`No-one would have known to tell you, dear friend, Laria said, briefly laying her hand on his shoulder, `but all Talents get a curious reaction from proximity to Hivers and especially Hive metals and artefacts. We named it "stingg-pzzt" because that's the way it echoes in our heads. It leaves a nasty, an unmistakably metallic taste in the back of the throat and tends to make Talents very irritable!' To everyone's surprise, Laria then tousled his hair, laughing with relief `Going through all those Hive buildings and ending up on an active Hive world, you had a massive overdose of it. `Stingg-pzzt?' Apparently oblivious to the hairmussing, Kincaid repeated the term in a witless fashion, obviously trying to relate it to his experiences. `The taste I had ruined anything I ate, which was bad enough to start with . . .

and I was certainly - irritable - - -` `And a good bit beyond mere "irritable", I'd say,' Laria remarked. `What a stupid I've been not to have seen what's been bothering you. You must have thought you were going mad with the reactions.' `Yes,' and both Kincaid's expression and his tone echoed his amazement, `yes, I did think I was going insane.' He looked at the other Talents. `And you've all experienced the same reactions?' `Not me,' said Jes and Mallen shook his head, but both Zara and Asia emphatically reassured him.

`We summered on Deneb, you know,' Zara said, `and even if our parents and aunts and uncles and cousins had already found most of the Hive metals from the original two scout ships that got strewn -over the planet, we'd occasionally smell out a piece or two.

Kincaid turned to Flavia. `But you were at the base going through the Refugee - -` `Not inside it, Kincaid,' she said, smiling. `We've been supplied with some protective clothing that's supposed to reduce the stingg-pzzt effect on Talents. We'll tell you how well it works.' `I could just kick myself,' Laria was saying, wallowing in remorse about such an oversight on her part. `Small wonder you had such a miserable time of it, Kincaid.' Don't overdo it, sis, Zara said on a thin line to her older sister. But it's sure taking the angst out of him. A deep one is your Kincaid.

He's not my Kincaid, Zara, and never likely to be.

More's the pity, sis. He's got a real nice aura. But Vanteer, for all he's a rover, is more your style.

Vanteer? Zara Raven-Lyon, you stop therapizing me, right this instant! D'you understand me?

Before Zara realized how angry she had made her sister, she found herself out in the dawn heat by the multiple carrier.

I can take a hint, she said apologetically. Laria? I'm sorry.

Really I am. And I'm going to be gone for ages.

&ad, was the unequivocal reply. Oh, all right. Iforgive you but don't try that sort of stunt around me again.

Understand?

Yes.

You don't do meekness well. The others are coming.

The complex doors slid apart and the rest of Zara's team moved quickly through the warming air to the capsule, eager to be away before Clarf's sun rose to give them a more intense sample of its power.

Zara's natural buoyancy sustained her during the awkward moment when the others joined her inside the capsule.

Good luck - all of you! Keep in touch! said Laria.

Granddad says I'm to put you aboard the Columbia.

Thanks, Zara, Kincaid added.

Then the capsule was `ported to join the Second Expeditionary Force and Squadron B which hurtled on its way to Talavera, third planet of the Tau Ceti VI system.

When the generators wound down from thrusting the large carrier to the point where David of Betelgeuse and his son, Perry, could `port it the rest of the way, Kincaid sat up and slid his feet to the floor.

Keenly aware that Zara's revelation about the stingg-pzzt had been a breakthrough point for her Tower partner, Laria pushed herself upright and faced him.

`There should have been some sort of announcement about such a reaction to Hiver stuff, shouldn't there, Laria?' he asked in a reasonable tone of voice.

Behind that, Laria could almost hear his mind shouting with relief a boiling anger that he hadn't been briefed on that one very important detail and a roiling of other ancillary regrets and recriminations he might never vocalize.

`The stingg-pzzt Mild words to describe the effect the damned stuff has on the unsuspecting! His mental tone was savage.

Shut up and listen, `Kincaid,' and Laria ended up speaking aloud in the tone of a teacher whose pupil continually interrupts. Kincaid gritted his teeth and glared at her. ` has been until very recently limited to Deneb which is the only human planet to have received Hiver attentions. Probably the only one that ever fought back successfully.

True, all the Primes involved were aware of it when my grandparents focused the two merges that destroyed the Hive ship.

But over the ensuing decades, no-one has, thankfully, had much contact with Hivers.

`You,' and she pointed her finger at him, `were by way of being an experiment in FT&T communication possibilities when your squadron was diverted to follow one of the outbound spheres. It wasn't anticipated that you would be asked to probe Hiver-occupied planets and the Fleet still doesn't half-believe stingg-pzzt is valid. Then there was so much going on what with the Great Sphere being found, then the queen pod - when, it is true . . .` She held up her hand when he had a cogent interruption to make. ` more people became aware of this reaction but not anyone directly in touch with Squadron C. Granted?' He nodded, his anger slowly subsiding, but not, Laria noticed, some of his other conflised and roiling emotions. `Then the Xh-33

happened and the focus was off Squadron C until Earth Prime reassigned you here.

`When you arrived, you were in no condition for any debriefing, so it never occurred to me you didn't know, hadn't taken into consideration, the good al' stingg-pzzt that gives every Talent the willies.' `I thought I was going crazy as well as everything else,' he said, holding their eye contact.

`I'm not just your Tower chirr, Kincaid. I'm your friend. So are Lionasha and Vanteer because we're already a team. Much more so than we were with those two misfits my grandfather thought I'd be able to work with.' Laria give an indignant hufE `I'm not a misfit?' Kincaid asked drolly.

`You can be as gay as Dick's hat-band in your private life, but you fit so much better with me, Lio and Van that we've done everything we can to ease you in `Even to taking me to Aurigae?' Laria caught the thread of indignant suspicion and made a face at him.

`You needed a change and were well enough to enjoy a vacation. It was Granddad's idea, not mine. And he was trying not to be too obvious with his matchmaking.' Kincaid sat straight up in protest. `He knows I'm homo?' Laria laughed. `Sure he does. We all do, but he wanted Flavia paired with Thian and I could have told him she was far more interested in Jesper Ornigo.

Wry humour caught the edges of Kincaid's thin lips.

`I figured she already had calculated on someone other than Thian.' `Flavia's calculating?' Kincaid grinned at her surprise. `In a nice quiet way, Flavia Bastianmajani knows exactly what she wants and she'll find the best way to achieve it. But you'd want that in a `I need it in my T-2, Kincaid dano. Do I have it?

Will you give me the friendly support I need to do my job on this stinking hot planet amid aliens I mostly admire and sometimes fear, because sometimes their alienness overwhelms the human in me? Will you grab me and shake me out of doing something stupid? Will you be my good friend?' Kincaid rose to his feet, held out his hands to her and lifted her to her feet. As he looked down at her, Laria saw flickering emotions, incredulity, surprise, gratitude and something less definable but which made her feel grateful and quite humble.

`I can be your friend, Laria,' he said, oddly sad, `and I could wish there was more to share with you.' Surprising her even fiarther on a day of many unusual events, he embraced her, one hand pulling her head to rest against his cheek. Then she knew the fiall story of what had happened to him during the voyage, how he had been emotionally abused in a contest of two very strong-willed men who had thought more of denying the other of his company than how their passion battle was wracking him who admired them both.

She tightened one arm about his shoulders and, with the other, pressed his head into her cheek. She doubted even Elizara, for all her skill, could completely heal Kincaid's wounded and tormented psyche.

But she was here and he was wide open so she could try! And did.

They released each other by degrees for the rapport had been a complete sharing.

`Vanteer may be a rover, Laria, and love many women fervently, but not for ever. But he would come back to you time and again because you would never hold him. Now, if humans could do a `Dini split and produce a male you, it would be the best of all conclusions,' Kincaid went on, finally slipping his fingers out of hers, `but we haven't even figured out how to clone so I will continue to admire, respect, and love you as my very good friend.

The generators began to spin, recalling them to the day's duties.

`Damned stingg-pzzt!' Kincaid muttered as he stretched out again on the couch.

`It really is the most appalling nuisance,' Laria idly agreed, aware of the new tranquillity in her partner and much relieved to know that he was finding balance.

One Constellation, two Galaxy and two speedy destroyers now comprised Squadron B for Backtrack.

Captain Vestapia Soligen was squadron commander and captained the Columbia; Hyner Steverice, the Va lpara iso; Ll Hsiang, the destroyer Valiant; while Captain Hptrnl had the KMTM and an unusual bronzecoloured Mrdini, KimI, the `Dini destroyer-equivalent, the KVS.

Captain Soligen, her science officer and two more of the specialists welcomed the Talent contingent aboard with proper ceremony.

The Columbia's captain was not what Flavia had half-expected, considering her request for female Primes. Flavia told herself to find out why at some convenient moment. Now she found herself instantly liking the woman: Soligen's face was unlined and pleasant though certainly not a pretty one. She had wide-spaced light eyes which seemed to alter between blue or green, under sharply arched dark brows.

Her figure in the ubiquitous shipsuit was trim and athletic without losing essential femininity. Flavia recognized behind the `pleasant' expression a strong personality and a shrewd mind. She grinned, without showing her teeth, as she acknowledged the introductions to Asia and Zara, Rhodri Eagles, Mallen Bastianmajani and Jesper Ornigo.

`Glad to have you aboard, ladies, gentlemen, Lieutenant. Let me introduce my science officer, Mr Wayla Gegarian: she's also my official `Dini interpreter. I've never been able to advance from garble to greeting - `Captain,' Zara said instantly, her hands on the sloping shoulders of Pal and Dis, `my `Dinis are topnotch tutors. There's nothing they like better than a real challenge to their abilities.' `We teach you - Pal began.

`You understand all you need to hear - - -, Dis put in.

`More important, all you need to say,' Pal finished.

Her science officer smothered a cough and the captain raised her eyebrows, her light eyes sparkling bluely.

`I like . . - personages who accept challenges,' she replied.

`And,' she pointed a finger at Dis and Pal who wiggled with pleasure, `I warn you, I'll be a challenge.

But I'm determined to try. There's' Flavia caught her about to say something else and veto it.

There's plenty of time, despite the almighty push we got out this far, for me to learn a few phrases and understand more.' Then the tall lean man who had been rocking Iimpatiently from side to side shoved a hand at Flavia, which she gracefully ignored by dropping her carisak which he graciously retrieved from the deck and handed to a yeoman, obviously on hand to manage impedimenta.

`I'm Dr Tru Blairik, team biologist. This is my assistant who's the team archivist as well, Mialla Evshenk.' I keep telling Tru that Talents don't make casual physical contacts, Mialla said as she smiled and bowed slightly from the waist to acknowledge the introduction.

`There are more of us, but you'll have plenty of time to get to know which is who. We're delighted to have Talents to help. `Not that I'm likely to be much but I thought I'd see :f you can hear me. I'm not strong.

Strong enough, and greetings, Mialla, Flavia responded.