A Matter of Honor

a lot of territory. Despite extensive use of the intraship shuttles, that meant a lot of walking. Normally that would have caused Corina no problems, but hard metal decks

particularly glad to see them, but he was polite, cl

hat's quite a wallop you pack-almost like getting hit by

their earlier meetings and his weak screen. "Yo

for a moment, then shrugged. "W

DarLeras told me you would not be sha

e, but that's no problem any more. I just reminded a couple of the more

but satisfying her curiosity wasn't a valid r

of your Talent; wh

le of his kidders. Either of the two, from their relative sizes, should have been able to defeat Dawson-but that wasn't the case. Using close-c

l admiration. "I should ge

in amazement. "I heard, b

ggson snapped. "That's how sh

n of Talent, the way it can be used against the unTalented, as Thark plans to do. I

d. "No oversized kitty is going to mak

Dawson said, "

of this, Major. Get back to your

," Dawson said with ic

you, too, Ensig

osed to-" Sun

outs

d, looked at Cor

. I will

er. "You don't give orders aboard this ship, Sir Corina," he said coldly. "Not e

nger. "Ranger Medart did assign her to me; from what I have read, that places her under

ly he would not strike her... but he was angry, and a Marine, and shielded- Her hand, seem

f a step with visible reluctance. "I won

ld not. It is your own. You ought to be pleased to have accurate knowledge of your enemy's abilities. Should I have let your men defeat me, merely t

t made him loathe her so? She was not human, granted, but that seemed too minor a reason for such disturbance. It was out of proportion for him to

more. He's awfully proud of his work-I think it's all he has-and it looks like he took your demonstration personal

reciate your concern, but I believe you worry too much. Co

said was, "You're probably right." Then Sunbeam glanced at her chro

d Sunbeam left while Corina entered. She was looking forward to t

creen that was normally used to display graphic aids. Chairs lined the curved edge, already occupied by the officers who had been at the earlier meeting. Greggson had somehow arrived before her, and was seated two places t

on the right, in civilian clothes, was Emperor Charles Davis. He looked rather tired, she thought

rince Rick Forrest. He didn't look quite as tired,

udience, so we'll skip the ceremony and get to work. Sir Corina, you have the Empire's thanks for your co

ing badly out of her depth. "Not with

ses?" For

tends, as he admits, to be somewhat impatient, and that will be even more true since his treason has been revealed before he was ready. Th

'd know better than that. It's much too heavily d

ing far different. She had no choice, though. "Its guards, however numerous, are humans and unTalented Irschchans, perhaps a few Traiti. They will be little or no defense against Thark and the Seniors of the Prime Chapter, even if some few hav

t. *Good going. He won't bite you. And don't thin

ack, though she was grateful fo

. *You're functionin

timating their abilities?"

hip's top five Security people, including a mind-shielded Sandeman warrior, I find it very easy to believe that a group, all of whom ha

em by comparison, Sir

. The Seniors have approximately my strength, but are better trained since they were raised in Orde

the Order," Davis said. "How would

cannot be defended from such an attack

,* Medart

stances, is that Your Majesty and Prince Forrest leave Terra in a ship crewed fully by humans, its dest

e conference table

Emperor said, "but I can't deny it's t

rk himself and the Prime Chapter af

t risk failure by using less than the

recommendation, sir. Your safety's a lot more important than the Palace Complex-and if he doe

. "We will leave on the Empress Lindner as soon as this conference is over, th

ace them at hazard, s

choice, and the Successor should not except in a critical emergency when no other Ranger is available, so Rick and I are expected to think of our own safety first. B

r Majesty. While it would be the sensible thing to do, it woul

staying. Ranger Medart, you look li

isn't very likely," he said quietly, "someone is going to have to face Thark and the Seniors. Sir Corina

completely alone. At his words, everyone exc

self from yowling by sheer force of w

Medart could persuade you, but he obvio

everything I can to help-I am doing

t of us to be a Ranger-maybe more so, as Ranger Medart told me, with that Talent of yours. None of us asked for this job,

ilent, overwhelme

y because your honor-the part of it we call loyalty-demanded it.

swer was almo

hance the Empire has?" That might be putting it a bit strongly, Medart

or what seemed like eons befor

e correct. I will face Thark. But

t the right word, but urge her into something she did not feel capable of. It was almost impossible for her to accept the

t isn't fair. And the reasoning may not be ob

ded, with a curious glance at Medart. "Even though the Empire tries to be fai

quick glance, so Davis continued. "It was a hard enough decision for us. She's already had to go through o

of relief. "Thank

n can't take it," ca

Chief's tone. So were others; everyone, from the

d coldly. "One more such outburst and you will be r

Please forgive me, Sir Corina." His tone was full of distaste, but it was an a

ch tests with what I'd class as xenophobia and paranoia, but he did, and he's one of the best Security Chiefs in the Fleet

o conclude the council as such, Captain Hobison. You and your people are dismissed; please return

mselves, and Davis motioned the two aboard Chang to do the same. Then he leaned forward, looking at them

t. *It's your field of expe

ed that Ranger Medart has a high degree of Talent, sire. I have begun training him in its use, and we

elepathy?" Davis asked,

or strong darlas, and another Talent aspe

able to help you agains

asiest and fastest part of Talent to train. I would estimate it will take at least eight to twelve days

ill that be enoug

Thark will be of help, Y

h," Forrest said. "You only give Thar

can," Davis said, then turned to Cori

t, from what I am learning from Ranger Medart, that most if not all Rangers do have such ability latent. There may be others as w

train any who do have it. For now, though, unless you have any more

led Corina and the two stood, bowing. The men on the

to pull on you, making you agree to face Thark the way

ed his surprise. "It should not have been necessary for you to point out

oing to be either easy or fun, and non

"Thark is quite powerful. It is entirel

re the

perhaps one chance in five of

ange things, though; I'd have done the same

, with little success. "Nor would I expect otherwise from one in your