“Well,” said Alak, “your government hasn’t been exactly friendly toward us, you know. We’re just taking precautions.”

“This is an ultimatum,” said Sevulan. “If the subspace radio would reach so far, we would call the League secretariat directly, to give it. As it is, I am delivering it to you. If you do not evacuate Garvish at once, Ulugan will consider your aggression a cause for war.”

“Now look—” began Alak.

“A task force is on its way to force your evacuation, if you will not go peacefully,” said Sevulan. “Take your choice.”

Weakness flitted across Alak’s well-trained features. “I…I am really not given such responsibility,” he said slowly. “You must allow me time to communicate with my government—”

“No!”

“Well—”

“You have my message,” said Sevulan. The screen blanked.

Alak stood up, hugged his aide, and danced around the shack.

* * *

Hurulta the Arkazhik leaned over his desk as if he meant to attack Sevulan. Then, slowly, his great fists unclenched and he sat back.

“They were gone, you say?” he repeated.

“Yes, lord,” said the general. “When our task force landed, the planet—the whole system—was abandoned. Obviously they took fright when they realized our determination.”

“But where did they go?”

Sevulan permitted himself a shrug. “A light-year is too big to imagine,” he said. “They could be anywhere, lord. My best guess is, though, that they are running home with their tails between their legs.”

“Still—to abandon a base which must have cost an enormous effort and sum to start—”

“Yes, lord, it was astonishingly far advanced. They must have employed some life-form adapted to Garvish II conditions as workers. They do have that advantage: among their citizens, they can always find a species which is at home on any possible world.” Sevulan smiled. “I suggest, lord, that we complete the base ourselves and use it, since they were obliging enough to do all the real labor.”

Hurulta stroked his massive chin. “We have no choice,” he said thinly. “If we don’t hold that system, they may come back any time—and it is dangerously close to our home, and as you say their men can function better there than ours.” He muttered an oath. “It’s a nuisance. We need most of our forces to complete the conquest of Tukatan in a swift and orderly manner. But there’s no help for it.”

“We were going to take Garvish eventually, lord,” said Sevulan respectfully.

“Yes, yes, of course. Take this whole cluster—and after that, who knows how much more? Still—” Being a realist, Hurulta dismissed his own annoyance. “As you say, this will save us time and money in the long run.”

“I—”

Sevulan was interrupted by the buzzing of the official telescreen. Hurulta switched it on. “Yes?” he growled.

“General Ulanho of Central Intelligence reporting, lord.”

“I know who you are. “What is it?”

“Scout just came in, lord. The Patrol is on Shang V. Apparently they’re building another base.”

“Shang V—”

“Twelve-point-three light-years from here, lord.”