Lanyan spread the reports on the table, though he could have simply displayed them as electronic files. The commander of the Earth Defense Forces was old-fashioned in some ways. “In light of recent events, I felt it important to reassess the EDF in preparation for a possible major mobilization.”

“If ever we find a target,” Admiral Stromo interjected.

“I have documented the transports, ordnance, and combattrained personnel at our base on Earth’s moon, and stepped up operational exercises across our territory on Mars. Since we are thus far unaware of the nature of our adversary, I deemed it prudent to prepare for any eventuality.” He frowned at his documents, then brushed them aside with a sweep of his hand. He lowered his voice as if confessing something. “Unfortunately, until this point I had always assumed that any realistic war scenario would involve planetside operations wherein we would be forced to take over and secure civilized areas, such as an unusually rebellious Hansa world.”

“It was only common sense,” Admiral Stromo agreed. “A space-based fleet has the potential for outright obliteration of inhabited areas … but what good is a victory if you have to vaporize colony worlds in order to win a battle?”

“Gives a whole new meaning to ‘scorched Earth’ tactics,” Frederick mumbled, but Basil ignored him. So did everyone else.

Basil opaqued the windows that looked out upon the arboretum and the nearby Whisper Palace. The glass transformed into a solid image projector that now showed views of large Roamer skymines, huge factories that cruised in the clouds on gas-giant worlds. Then, in silence, he played a recording of the fading signals sent from Oncier that Lanyan had captured. The spherical alien ships methodically annihilated moon after moon, then closed in on the helpless observation platform.

“This is what we face… whatever it is,” Lanyan said. “We have been confronted by an entirely different kind of enemy and a completely new kind of war. My suggestion is a simple one, Mr. Chairman. Increase funding for weapons, ships, and material available to the EDF. Convert our industries, activate all shipyards, and begin producing as many vessels as our facilities can manage. Juggernauts, Mantas, Thunderheads, and Remoras. These enemies seem to have a preference for unannounced strikes of total destruction. It is folly to move slowly.”

Basil agreed with a long, dry sigh. The operation would require a vast expenditure of Hansa resources. Profits would decline and so would the standard of living on some colony worlds. More important, though, he could not let humanity appear weak.

Throughout its existence, the Terran Hanseatic League had promised peace and protection for its colony worlds, and now those colonists would have to tighten their belts and join in. “King Frederick, you have an important duty in recruiting even more new soldiers, announcing austerity measures, rallying industries and workers. Issue yet another full-fledged plea to fire up all populations. They will make sacrifices, if you ask them to.”