"We should be willing to give up something that we can do without, if the Peacekeepers agree to leave," Doug said.

"But what do we have that we can give up?" Cardenas asked. "We can't give up the nanomachines, and that's what Faure's after, isn't it?"

"No," said Doug. "From what he told you, Mom, he wants Moonbase to continue using nanomachines—under Yamagata's control."

Joanna scowled with the memory. "That's right. Faure may think he's running the U.N., but Yamagata's running him."

Leaning back in the little wheeled chair far enough to make it squeak, Doug said, "So we need someone who can negotiate with Faure—and with Yamagata, behind Faure."

"And who might that person be?" Brudnoy asked, needlessly.

Everyone in the little group turned to Joanna.

TOUCHDOWN PLUS 1 HOUR 45 MINUTES

"We can't stay out here forever.' Edith heard the Norwegian's words in her helmet earphones. He sounded uptight, tense.

It had been nearly a half-hour since he'd sent his report Earthside. No orders had come up from Peacekeeper headquarters.

They were standing off to one side of the open airlock hatch, in the shadow of the mountain's glassy-smooth flank. The troopers were spread around the crater floor, silent, waiting like obedient oxen, ashamed of their panicked flight from the garage. Edith wondered if they blamed themselves for Munasinghe's death. Apparently the harsh sunlight bathing the crater floor actually did stop the nanomachines from damaging their suits further.

"If we had missile launchers with us we could blow those inside hatches from here," Lieutenant Hansen said, "and then run through the garage and inside the base before the nanomachines could do any real damage."

"But we don't have missile launchers," Edith said. "Do you?"

Edith could sense the Norwegian shaking his head inside his helmet. "Well, we can't remain out here forever. We must do something."

Then Edith heard Stavenger's calm, almost pleasant voice again. "I'd like to speak to whoever's in charge of your operation, please."

For some seconds no one replied. Finally, "I am Lieutenant Hansen."

"I want you to know," Stavenger said,'that we regret very deeply the death of your captain."

Hansen replied, That's good of you."

"We seem to have an awkward situation on our hands," Stavenger said evenly. "I suggest we try to negotiate some way to solve it."

"You could surrender to us," Hansen suggested mildly.

But Stavenger merely responded, "That isn't negotiating, sir. That is demanding."

I'm awaiting orders from Peacekeeper headquarters."

"I'm afraid those orders won't reflect the actual situation here. The real question is, what can you accomplish? We don't want you to have to retreat back Earthside with nothing at all to show for your mission."

"Except a dead captain," Hansen said.

For a long moment there was no response. Then Stavanger answered, "Yes, except for that."

Hansen seemed to draw himself up straighter. "What do you suggest?"

Edith listened, fascinated, as Stavenger slowly, gently led Hansen to the possibilities of salvaging something from his captain's failure to capture Moonbase.