“You see,” Lludrow was explaining, “it’s not what craft I have available—even with what losses we’ve just suffered, my Blue Patrol counts over seventy ships of the first class, alone. It’s what ships I can trust to you on a job where at least the officers and probably the men as well will realize that it’s a mission that should be completely volunteer and that’s being sneaked off when Staff’s back is turned. The captains of these ships are all strongly loyal to me, personally, or I couldn’t have picked them.” He looked at Donal. “All right,” he said. “I know it’s impossible. Just agree with me and we can forget the matter.”

“Can I count on obedience?” asked Donal.

“That,” said Lludrow, “is the one thing I can guarantee you.”

“I’ll have to improvise,” said Donal. “I’ll go in with them, look at the situation, and see what can be done.”

“Fair enough. It’s decided then.”

“It’s decided,” said Donal.

“Then come along.” Lludrow turned and led him out of the office and through corridors to a lock. They passed through the lock to a small courier ship, empty and waiting for them there; and took it to a ship of the first class, some fifteen minutes off.

Ushered into this ship’s large and complex main control room, Donal found five senior captains waiting for him. Lludrow accepted a salute from a gray-haired powerful-looking man, who by saluting revealed himself as captain of this particular ship.

“Captain Bannerman,” said Lludrow, introducing him to Donal, “Captain Graeme.” Donal concealed a start well. In the general process of his thinking, he had forgotten that a promotion for himself would be necessary. You could hardly put a Staff Liaison with a field rank of commandant over men captaining ships of the first class.

“Gentlemen,” said Lludrow, turning to the other executive officers. “I’ve been forced to form your five ships rather hastily into a new Sub-Patrol unit. Captain Graeme will be your new chief. You’ll form a reconnaissance outfit to do certain work near the very center of the enemy space area; and I want to emphasize the point that Captain Graeme’s command is absolute. You will obey any and all of his orders without question. Now, are there any questions any of you would like to ask before he assumes command?”

The five captains were silent.

“Fine, then.” Lludrow led Donal down the line. “Captain Graeme, this is Captain Aseini.”

“Honored,” said Donal, shaking hands.

“Captain Cole.”

“Honored.”

“Captain Sukaya-Mendez.”

“At your service, captain.”

“Captain el Man.”

“Honored,” said Donal. A scarred Dorsai face in its mid-thirties looked at him. “I believe I know your family name, captain. South Continent near Tamlin, isn’t it?”

“Sir, near Bridgevort,” answered el Man. “I’ve heard of the Graemes.” Donal moved on.

“And Captain Ruoul.”

“Honored.”