“The fact that they haven’t put any CLACs into service is another indicator. We certainly showed them what the new LACs could accomplish, so, logically, they must have been working all out in an effort to duplicate those capabilities. Obviously, they’ve so far failed to do so. If they’d succeeded, Theisman would have announced that, as well. But many of the technologies required to produce Ghost Rider also have applications in the production of the new LACs. So if they don’t have the one, it seems reasonable to assume they don’t have the other.”

He shrugged.

“I’m not certain how best to go about making the point to the man in the street, but it’s becoming increasingly apparent to those of us at Admiralty House that to a large extent, this ‘new navy’ of theirs is a paper hexapuma.”

“You’re confident of that?” Descroix asked, and her voice was no longer acrimonious. Instead, she regarded Janacek narrowly, her eyes alight with interest.

“Obviously I can’t make any promises, Elaine. As I said, without the opportunity to actually examine the physical hardware involved, all we can do is draw inferences and ask what we believe are significant questions. With that proviso, though, yes. I’m confident that Secretary Theisman has substantially overstated—or, rather, drawn certain so-called naval experts of our own into overstating—the actual combat power of the Republican Navy.”

“I see.” Descroix propped an elbow on the left arm of her chair and rested her chin on an upraised left hand. She sat like that for several seconds, thinking hard, then shrugged.

“I see,” she repeated. “And I also see what you mean about the difficulty of getting that sophisticated analysis across to the average voter. Especially when someone like White Haven is busy beating the panic drum at the same time.”

“Exactly,” Janacek said sourly. “The public still thinks that sanctimonious son-of-a-bitch walks on water. No one’s interested in listening to mere logic or something as unimportant as evidence when he shouts that the end is near every time he opens his overrated mouth!”

Sir Edward Janacek might not be the most disinterested observer where Hamish Alexander was concerned, High Ridge reflected. But that didn’t mean he hadn’t put his finger on exactly what White Haven had been doing to them ever since Theisman’s announcement became public knowledge in the Star Kingdom.

“I’m afraid you’re right,” Descroix said, and this time her voice was almost completely back to normal and her expression was thoughtful, no longer angry. “But if we’re not going to be able to get that across, anyway, perhaps we shouldn’t waste the effort trying to.”

“What do you mean?” High Ridge asked her.

“I mean we should certainly go on trying to calm public opinion by emphasizing the naval precautions we’ve taken,” she replied. “By all means, let’s keep reminding them of the ships we’ve authorized the yards to resume construction on. And while I’m not sure it would be a good idea to openly denigrate the Havenites’ technological capabilities—that might sound too self-serving—I think it would be entirely appropriate for us to emphasize our own capabilities. Let’s remind the voters that we’ve held the technological edge from the beginning. If we do that with sufficient confidence, at least some of them are going to draw the proper inference.