Robert Craon's voice buzzed into his neurohelmet. "Why didn't you tell him, Captain?"

Andrew shrugged even though Craon could not see. "No reason. He made an honorable and intelligent choice. I can respect that—he chose the life of his people over honor. I can't see the value in pointing out that we fooled him, can you?"

Craon's voice, drained of mischievous enthusiasm, answered slowly. "I guess not, sir."

"Good, Robert. Remember that." Andrew chuckled evilly. "And, Leftenant, would you be so kind as to stick around and supervise the Borderers' sappers when they come out to recover those other four mines. Waste not, want not. . ."

45

ComStar First Circuit Compound

Hilton Head Island, North America, Terra

15 November 3028

Myndo Waterly took pleasure in the way Primus Julian Tiepolo grimaced as she made her motion. She also noted the shocked look on Precentor Tharkad's face and the sour look stealing over the Precentor of New Avalon's features. No allies here, but no serious competition, either.She shot a covert glance at Villius Tejh's closed face. Is Precentor Sian with me or not?

The Primus folded his hands into the broad sleeves of his tan robe. "You have heard the motion made by Precentor Dieron. She moves that we place House Davion, its allies, vassals, and agents under a complete and total Interdiction." The Primus's head came up like a vulture scanning the area where it has been feeding on a carcass. "Precentor Tharkad."

Ulthan Everson balled his fists. "Primus, fellow Precentors, this motion is clearly without basis in fact. We have no reason to cut off House Davion. They have done nothing against ComStar directly that would justify our interdicting services to them. I would also add that doing so would destroy our ability to listen in on Davion's orders and plans."

Myndo laughed aloud. "Forgive me Primus, but Precentor Tharkad's logic is grossly flawed. He argues that we should not strangle the wolf at our door because then we would no longer be able to locate him by his howls. What good is it to monitor Davion's messages piecemeal when his intent is so clearly obvious? He means to conquer the whole of the Successor States!"

Julian Tiepolo shook his head. "That is clear and utter nonsense, Precentor Dieron. He has neither the resources nor the mandate to carry on a sustained war of that sort."

Myndo lifted her head, which flashed with gold highlights. "Oh, and I am to believe your predictions, Primus? Not six years ago, did you not tell me, in your private audience chamber, while Hanse Davion and Katrina Steiner signed their treaty, that we would see no change in the Davion-Liao border in our lifetimes?" Myndo pointed to the holographic projection of the Capellan Confederation on the room's rear wall. "Davion's first wave severed Tikonov from the Confederation's body, and his second strike enlarged the cut. As a fortuneteller, Primus, you lack true sight."

Precentor Sian nodded to Myndo with respect, but opposed her with his remarks. "It may well be true that the Primus misjudged the Fox, but I feel you now misjudge the situation. If we pass your motion, information will no longer flow from Michael Hasek-Davion to the Maskirovka. This would place House Liao in very great difficulties."

Myndo frowned at him. "Duke Michael's information has hardly helped them so far. Better yet, my bill would prevent Alexi Malenkov from sending more information out about Liao's operations to his superiors in Davion's Ministry of Intelligence, Information, and Operations. How is it that months ago, when I thought we should have voted interdiction to punish House Liao, you said it would lead to Liao's military collapse, but you do not see the same thing happening now?"

Huthrin Vandel, Precentor of New Avalon, smiled like a crocodile. "Had you, Precentor Dieron, spent as much time as Precentor Sian and I pouring over the communications going to and from New Avalon to the troops, you would realize that very few orders are going out." Vandel smiled and smoothed back his greasy black hair with his right hand. "Apparently Prince Hanse realizes how costly the war could become in terms of ComStar fees, and he has issued orders that went out physically to all of his commands. Indeed, only Hanse's small circle of advisors knew for certain that he would actually send his troops into the Confederation. The invasion, once it started, was virtually self-contained. Such things had worked during the previous two Galahad exercises. Now it's for real."

Precentor Tharkad gave Myndo no time to reply. "You still have not stated why we should interdict House Davion. Forget that we have no substantive reason to oppose the Fox. What has he done that prompts you to ask so urgently for interdiction?"

Are you blind, or just too stupid to see?Myndo pointed at the map again. "Hanse Davion will conquer the Tikonov Commonality and add it to his Federated Suns. Once he controls its industrial worlds such as New Hessen, Aldebaran, and Tikonov, Davion will emerge as the most powerful of the five Successor Lords."

Myndo shook her head, her golden curls tumbling over the shoulders of her red robe. "Your own Lyran Commonwealth has been tricked into attacking the Draconis Combine. The war has stalemated there—with some gains for the Commonwealth, granted—but it serves only to drain resources from both states."

Vandel chuckled, and Precentor Tharkad indicated with a nod that he might speak. "Methinks the lady doth protest too much. You could not be upset that the Draconis Combine was blooded, could you?"

Myndo's nostrils flared. "You arrogant, insolent idiot! Were I only upset about a nation getting bloodied in this battle, I'd not be here. I would have resigned my position and would be helping with the war effort. But, you're wrong. Nationalism has nothing to do with this. You should remember that you belong to ComStar, not to the Davion court. The success of the Federated Suns is not our success. It is our doom!"

"How is it that, Precentor Dieron?" The Primus's question cut off any reply that Precentor New Avalon may have intended. "The Word of Blake predicts just these sorts of wars. The Combine fights on both fronts, as does the Federated Suns. The Lyran Commonwealth has hit the Combine and even struck at a couple of House Marik worlds." The Primus shrugged slightly. "House Marik, thanks to Davion's insurgents, still fights within itself, but this is not in opposition to the Word of Blake. Blake says that through such wars and destruction as this, ComStar will be able to fulfill its mission."

Myndo nodded wearily. "I know that, Primus, and I daresay that I understand the Word of Blake more deeply than any of my fellows in this room, with the possible exception of you. Yes, the Blessed Blake spoke of the wars that would fragment mankind. The key concept is fragment. I see no fragmentation occurring because of Davion's war."

Precentor Sian shook his head. "Precentor Dieron, I fear that it is the boldness of the Prince's plan and its initial success that daunt you. Consider, if you will, that this war is only into its fourth month. The logistics were planned very well for its start, but no one could plan against each and every eventuality that would crop up in the plan. Davion's troops are already on a tether, and it grows shorter each day."

Myndo narrowed her eyes. "He's winning the war, dammit. If there is a tether, I see no evidence of the slack being taken up. I see Hanse Davion spitting on Maximilian Liao's grave."