"After all, that's why I'm commodore of our magnificent fleet, isn't it?" "Hush, Magda." Pieter grinned slowly.

"Now you're being maudlin! Drink your vodka and cheer up. Things could be worse." "What do you mean, going to Novaya Petrograd? Natasha Kazina put her hands on her hips and glared at hey husband. "Who do you think you are? Vladimir Lenin? You're maybe going to bore from within like a mole and topple the government?" "Fasha, you know why I'm going--me and Vlad Kosy-gin and Georgiwe need to be sure those people understand what they're doing to us." "ReallyThat" Her voice dripped sarcasm.

"And you think they don't already? Idiots! Firing on a Terran Fleet! Next thing you know, there'll be missiles on the cities, and there you'll be, playing Menshevik in the middle of it!" "Hush, *Fasha! You know I agree with you--but maybe they aren't all idiots, no? There are good people mixed up in this, our people. Let me go see them.

Let me try to convince them they're wrong." "Argue with the rain! It pays more attention!" "Natasha, I'm going, and that's an end to it.

Sure the Federation has problems, but this isn't the right answer! If INSVRR-RCO 137 I don't try'to tell the Kadets that, I won't be able to sleep nights." "Ahhh[ Men--comvou're aHave idiots!" Natasha exclaimed, throw- lng up her hand in disgust. "But go! Go! Leave me and the boys to see to the planting! Just don't come crying to me when they don't listen]" His "Thank You, I'asha," Fedor murmured, kissing her cheek gently. "I knew you'd understand." "Get out of my sight]" she told him, but her eves twinkled as he backed off the porch. "And don't forgestffbring home some new dress material!" she admonished in a parting shot as he climbed into Kosygin's chopper and it ehirruped aloft.

Ship after ship slid but of the Redwing warp point; three battle-cruisers, two heavv cruisers, five light cruisers, and.fifteen destrovers. God, it was an armada, she thought wearily, and tuned' her commu. nicator to Tsuchevskv's priority channel.

"Yes, Magda??Hiseveswerepuffv.

She'dwakedhim up, she thought. Waked him from a sund sleep to face a nightmare.

"They're coming, Pieter," she said sadly.

"How bad is it?" "If I order a shot fired, it will be as good as executing everv man and woman in mv fleet." "11 right, Magda," he said softly. "I understand. Patch me through to their commander, if you can.

I'll handle it from here." "I'm sorrv, Pieter Petrovich," she said very quietlv "You did our best, Magda. Time was agst'us, that's all.

"I know[" she said heavily, and turned to her eom otcer.

Pieter Tsuchevskv stared into the screen at Admiral Jason WaIdeck, TF. The admiral's cheek muscles were bunched, and Pieter shivered as he realized the man had wanted a ght.

"Admiral, I am Pieter Petrovich Tsuchevsky of the Provisional Gov--was "You, sir," Waldeck cut in coldly, "are a traitor, and that is all you are!" Pieter fell silent, staring at him, and the admiral went on implacably. "I understand the purpose of this communication is to arrange your surrender. Very well.

Ali ships in space will land immediately at Novaya Petrograd Spaceport. Any armed vessel incapable of atmospheric flight will lower its shields and await boarding by one of my prize crews. The same applies to what's to eft of Skywatch. Is that clear?" "Yes." It took all of Pieter's strength to get out the strangled word, and Waldeck made no effort to hide his own savage satisfaction.

"As for your so-called 'Provisional Government,"" he sneered, "you will surrender yourvs to me as soon as my ships planet. There will be no exceptions. Anyone who resists will be shot. Is that clear?" "Yes," Pieter managed once more.

"It had better be. I will see you aboard my flagship in three hours." Waldeck cut communications curtly, and Pieter stared at the blank screen for long seconds as he tasted the ashes of defeat.

"Look at thaff' Fedor Kazin gasped as this; chopper swooped past the spaceport after a ten-hour flight. The others turned and looked--and looked again. Novaya Petrograd Spaceport had never seen such a concentration of shipping. Fedor's index finger moved slowly from ship to ,eaship as he counted.

@u.. twenty-three.., twenty-four.., twenty-five... Twenty-five! And those big ones -comare they battle-crnisers, Georgi?" "Yes." Georgi Zelinsky grunted. "My God, it's all over! There wouldn't be any grounded battle-crnisers ff it weren't. They're about the biggest warship that can enter atmosphere at all, and they have to take it mighty easy when they do. No commander lands them any place he might have to get out of in a hurry." "Look!" Fodor said excitedly. "All the hatches are open--see? And over there! Look at all the pear' "Yeah," Vlad said, squinting into his teleview. "All in uniform, "too. Looks like they mst've stripped the crews off the ships." 'hey wouldn't do that," Georgi disagreed. "Not all of them. There has to be a'power room watch on board." "Yeah? Well look at 'em! They didn't leave many on board. His "You're right there." Georgi tapped his teeth, his mind going back over the decades to his own five-year hitch in the Navy. "Looks like they've mustered all hands for some reason. And over there-what's hat?" "That" was a long snake of civilians winding its way out from the city. Vlad swooped Iow over their heads. There were thousands of them.

"Damned ff I know," Fedor said slowly, "bu: I think better we should land and find out, no?" "I thnk yes," Vlad agreed.

The helicopter landed quieHy, and as the three farmers hurried over to the edge of the crowd something nibbled at Fedor's awareness. They were already merging into the front ranks of the long snake when he realized what it was. "Look--noto guns!" he whispered.

"Of course not," Georgi said after a minute.

"Fhey mst've declared martial to aw while we were in the air. Martial law means no civilian guns." "Well what about us?" Vffad whispered, tapping the heavy magnum automatic at his hip. It was a clumsy weapon, btt Vlad was old-fashioned; he preferred a big noisy gun that relied on mass and relatively Iow velocities.

"I recommend," Georgi said, unbuttoning his coat and shoving his laser pistol inside, "that we get them out of sight--fast!" Fedor tucked his own pistol (a three-millimeter Ruger needler with a ninety-round magazine) under his coat, then turned to the nearest townsman.

"What's happening, tovarich?" he asked softly.

"You don't know?" the townie looked at him with shock-hazed eyes.

"I just landed, tovarich. Came all the way from Novaya Siberia to talk to this Provisional Government." "Shhhhh! Want to get yourseff arrested, you fool?i"

"Arrested? For talking to someone?" Fedor blinked in astonishment.

"The whole bunch of 'em are under arrest," the city man said heavily. "We're occupied." "Well, what're you all doing out here, then?" "Orders," the townie shrugged. "I don't know.

They landed two hours ago and went on the city data channels. Somebody named Waldeck--he says he's the new military governor. He ordered the head of every household in the city to be out here by seventeen hundred... he didn't say why." "Every head of household?" Fedor blinked again at the thought.

"Right. So here we are." Fedor looked up as the long column shuffled to a halt and began to spread. Anxious-faced Marines in undress uniform, armed with autorifies and laser carbines, dressed the crowd, but something was wrong here. Those men looked worried, almost frightened--but they'd won!

"The Provisional Government!" someone whispered.

"All of them--and the defense force officers?

Fedor shook his head, trying to understand, and wiggled his way into the very front rank, staring over at the prisoners. He knew Magda well--he'd danced at her parents" wedding, too many years ago -comand it angered him to see her chained like an animal.