Justin smiled as Michael also bowed. The Duke's confidence seems to be fading. He was prepared for a violent tirade, not for the Chancellor to greet him calmly.

Maximilian Liao smiled and offered Michael his right hand while his left hand twisted the long thin strands of his mustache. "Your visit is unexpected, but is most welcome." Liao shook Michael's hand firmly and warmly. "I might add that it is also providential."

Michael's green eyes darted uncertainly over the faces of the assembly as he freed his hand from the Chancellor's grasp. "You have learned, of course, of the outcome of your Operation Riposte?"

The Chancellor spread his hands nonchalantly. "A minor setback. After all, we only lost forces that should have died earlier while defending their worlds." Liao smiled benignly as he remounted the steps to his throne. Standing before the symbolic carving that represented the universe, the Chancellor shrugged. "When I explained to those commanders that only through their service to me could they ever redeem their honor, they begged for assignments. They failed, their karmic burden becomes greater, and they pass to a new life. It is the way of the universe."

A look of relief washed over Duke Michaels face. "Yours is an interesting perspective on this matter, Chancellor." Maximilian accepted the compliment with a nod, and Michael smiled. He extended the map case toward Alexi. "I have some plans here, Excellency, that I worked up while in transit. I think you'll find that they offer the means for both of us to get what we most want."

Maximilian smiled broadly. "Splendid, my friend. Let us look at them now, and then we can refresh ourselves." The Chancellor nodded to Alexi. "Please stand over here where both the Duke and I can see the maps. Citizens Shang and Xiang, will you help the Duke? Citizen Shang, hold his portfolio of notes for him."

All three of the Maskirovka analysts moved solicitously to assist Duke Michael. Alexi unrolled the maps and laid them out on the floor. The Duke pointed to a tactical map of the area around Tikonov's largest 'Mech production facility, which Alexi held up first. Tsen Shang took up a position to the Duke's right and a little in front of him, holding the portfolio at an angle, resting it on his hands at the bottom and against his collarbone at the top. Justin stood between the Duke and Shang, ready to turn pages as needed.

Duke Michael, no longer nervous, began to explain the operation that the map depicted. "Hanse Davion has shifted his forces around so that only the Eighth Crucis Lancers RCT is left on Tikonov. He has designated the 'Mech factory complex there as the most important site on the world and has arranged his forces accordingly. What I propose is a joint operation between my Fifth Syrtis Fusiliers RCT and your Sung's Cuirassiers."

Michael pointed to the map. In addition to a detailed description of the terrain in and around the factory complex, it had dozens of arrows in different colors to point out routes of approach and precise military maneuvers. "Sung's Cuirassiers will swing in here through the south, drawing the Eighth Crucis toward them. My Syrtis Fusiliers will form up on the Lancers' eastern flank, then turn and crush them while your forces engage them from the front."

The Chancellor squinted at the map, then smoothed his mustache with thumb and forefinger of his right hand. "Would this be all three battalions of Sung's Cuirassiers, or just one battalion?"

"I should think it would take the full regiment, Chancellor," Michael said. "That would be the only way to draw the Lancers out."

Maximilian nodded thoughtfully. "True, true." He pointed a trembling finger at the map. "Now your troops would travel to Tikonov as Davion reinforcements, despite your flight?"

Michael nodded confidently. "Yes, in this case, they will. Hanse trusts their leader, though the man would kill his own wife and children willingly if I so commanded him." Michael waved his left hand at the other maps on the floor. "In many of the other cases, of course, my troops will travel through your territory in order to arrive at their targets surreptitiously. With coordinated allocation of JumpShips, I believe I could have all my troops in place to strike a telling blow by the first of April."

The Chancellor's head came up. "The first of April—All Fools' Day. You choose this as an omen for your strike?"

The Duke of New Syrtis nodded, rage flashing in his green eyes. "What better time to strike at an old enemy who believes you harmless?"

"Well put, Duke Michael. Well put." The Chancellor, a smile still on his face, glanced at Alexi. "Citizen, gather up those maps." Liao’s voice dropped to a sepulchral whisper. "Burn them. Burn them and scatter the ashes!"

"What!" Michael's hoarse cry of outrage echoed sharply from the room's teak walls. He took a step toward Alexi, but Justin grabbed his right arm. Michael swung back with his artificial left hand, but Justin ducked the roundhouse blow, then doubled Michael over with a short, metal-fisted punch to the ribs.

Pain lanced through Michael's words. "What? What is this? Those maps . . . those plans have taken weeks to prepare. This is outrageous!"

Maximilian Liao's laughter rang through the throne room. "We have an old saying, you traitorous idiot... 'Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me!' No one makes a fool of Maximilian Liao twice!" The Chancellor's face flushed purple as he finally released the rage he'd contained since Michael had first arrived.

Liao gestured broadly, taking in both the maps and Michael's notes. "You ask me to ship your troops to my worlds aboard my ships! You ask me to plant the dagger in my own back! You and your cursed brother-in-law will not find me so incredulous that you can expect to invade me with my own ships!"

Michael stared at him wide-eyed. "No! You mustn't think that. I . . . we. . . I . . . were both betrayed by Hanse Davion. He played me for a fool. He used me to get at you!"

"Ha!" The Chancellor crouched on his throne, thrusting his face forward to leer at the Duke. "How foolish do you believe I am? Do you believe me such an idiot that I would fall prey to such an obvious fabrication?" Liao gestured one hand toward Justin and Tsen Shang. "They've pointed out to me that the estimates of your own troop strengths were undervalued! How could you have made that mistake? How could you have let it slip past if you were being truly faithful to our agreement?"

Michael shook his head violently. He stabbed a finger at Justin. "He's lying! He's Quintus Allard's son! He's been planted here to deceive you!" Turning quickly, Michael lunged at Justin with hands outstretched, his fingers tensing to grab the analyst's throat.

Justin ducked, then buried his left fist in Michael's stomach. Michael grunted audibly as he fell back, then lay writhing and gasping for breath on the carpet. Still croaking weakly with unintelligible accusations, he pointed wildly at Justin.

Maximilian Liao, spittle collecting at the corners of his mouth, descended halfway down the steps of his throne. He snorted derisively, then looked up at Justin. "This man is no spy, you moron! Our Operation Riposte was not entirely a loss. Justin sent the Fourth Tau Ceti Rangers off on an expedition. They destroyed a damned NAIS training cadre and escaped with some supplies."

The Chancellor glared down at the Duke. "Do you realize what that means, you Judas? His attack ignored your reports, and it succeeded." Maximilian spat on the Duke of New Syrtis. "The man you accuse of being a traitor has again proven his loyalty to me."