Color drained from Alexi's face. "My God, has the Fox been so stupid as to leave this world naked?"

Romano looked down at Alexi. "Would you have expected anything less arrogant from him? He imagines us broken and defeated. He will pay for that."

Tsen shot Romano a quick smile, then met Justin's hawk-gaze. "JumpShip circuits rotate troops out of Kathil on a regular basis, but a circuit got disrupted right after Ridzik's death. It will be another six weeks before troops arrive on Kathil."

Justin studied the readout again. "Can you get there in time?"

Romano usurped Tsen's answer. "We've shifted and extended the command circuit you used to return from Bethel. Our troops land during the first week in September."

Anticipating Justin's needs, Alexi hit a button that summoned the strategic map to the screen again. Justin mentally counted the number of jumps required for the trip. Seven jumps, with a week out of this system and a week heading to the target planet. It can be done.

Justin nodded. "You can use the House Imarra troops, if you wish. Their 'Mechs are all refitted."

Romano laughed aloud. "No. They will remain here. Our troops have already left."

Alexi looked at Justin. "That's why the Death Commandos aren't around."

Justin straightened up. "Just one battalion? Is that enough?"

Tsen shook his head. "The Death Commandos and the Fourth Tau Ceti Rangers headed out this morning at 2.5 Gs to the nadir jump point. That gives us two battalions to face the militia, or whatever rotates in, if the schedule is repaired somehow. Our people will travel in complete radio silence—not even ComStar will know of this mission until it is over. Davion's only ever had a battalion on station there anyway. Like you," Shang sneered, "he could never believe anyone would attack the world."

Tsen allowed himself a loud laugh. "Even if he knew of the assault—which is impossible because ComStar is not passing information from Davion spies—he doesn't have any troops in a position to do anything about it."

The Chancellor looked over at Justin. "Well, ShonsoXiang, are you surprised?"

Justin breathed in deeply, using the time to sort out his emotions. He smiled slowly, but let it widen into a grin. "Surprised, yes." He stabbed his right hand through the holographic map, offering it to Tsen Shang. "Your plan is flawless."

Taking Tsen's hand, Justin shook it heartily. "Yes, Tsen, with the success of your assault, we will finally be in a position to take back what Hanse Davion has stolen from us."

Justin looked up from his desk as Alexi Malenkov came through the door. "Good, Alexi. I'm glad you could get here so quickly."

The tall blond man smiled. "I came as soon as I heard you needed me." Concern knitted his pale brows together. "What is it?"

Justin waved Alexi to a chair, then walked around and sat on the front corner of his desk. "I want to ask your advice about something, and I want you to be perfectly honest with me." The smaller man shrugged uneasily. "Seeing Tsen's plan, and knowing how near the end is for Hanse Davion, it got me to thinking about a lot of things."

Justin smiled grimly. "As you know, I have suffered gross humiliation at the hands of Hanse Davion and my father. Hanse engineered a sham trial that stripped me of my rank, my name, and my honor. My father testified against me—his own flesh and blood—in that trial, then later assigned one of his spies to seduce me and watch me on Solaris. Then Hanse Davion offered a warrior a world and a 'Mech regiment of his own if he would kill me. And then the wedding . .." Justin shook his head. "He declared war on us at his own wedding, making us the laughingstock of the Successor States!"

Alexi jumped when Justin's steel fist slammed down onto the corner of his desk and snapped a triangle of wood off. "Easy, Justin," he said. "We'll have the Fox soon enough."

Justin's dark eyes smoldered. "Not soon enough for me." He forced his expression to lighten. "But then, I don't think there ever was a time that wouldhave been soon enough, if you follow me?"

Alexi nodded. "I understand some of what you feel. With Tikonov gone, I can never go home again." Alexi smiled ruefully. "Hanse Davion has orphaned us both."

"Yes. He's caused us much pain—pain I wish to return as soon as possible." Justin reached back and plucked an unsealed envelope from his blotter. "I have created a verigraphI want to send to my father. In it, I tell him much of what I've wanted to say since he betrayed me. In very indirect terms, it will let him know that his downfall, and that of his Prince, is in the offing. I imagine they will believe I am boasting about the information we stole from Bethel, but when the raid hits Kathil, they will realize what I really meant."

Alexi winced. "That's shoving the dagger in and twisting it— which is nothing less than they deserve." His eyebrows sunk into a frown. "I think it would be a great idea to send it, but ComStar won't carry it through to your father because of the Interdiction, will they?"

Justin shrugged. "I spoke with an aide to Villius Tejh, the Precentor here on Sian, and he said it might be possible. I transferred an ungodly amount of money from my Solaris accounts to ComStar, and he said that increased my chances. But he thought the First Circuit might have to discuss it first."

Justin looked Alexi straight in the eyes. "Do you think I should indulge myself in this personal bit of revenge?"

Alexi thought for half a second, then nodded. "Go ahead. Do it. I won't tell anyone if you don't."

"Deal." Justin extended the envelope to Alexi. "Can you take it to the ComStar station for me? I've told them I was sending it along in your custody. Candace is still upset about today, and she's flown out to the Summer Palace." Justin glanced at his chronometer. "I've promised to meet her there, and I'm already late."

Alexi took the envelope. "They know I'm coming with it?"

Justin nodded. "It has all been arranged." He crossed his fingers and held up his right hand. "With any luck at all, my revenge begins now."

31

ComStar First Circuit Compound

Hilton Head Island, North America, Terra

4 August 3029

Myndo Waterly's laughter echoed lightly through the First Circuit chamber. She shook her head slowly as she stared at the small, dark-haired Precentor from Sian. "Did you honestly expect us to allow that message to pass through here without a fight, Villius? Justin Xiang's request should be refused for no other reason than he has tried to send a message to someone in an Interdicted place." She waved Villius's request away like a queen shooing a beggar. "Give him back his money, and tell him no."

Precentor Sian spitted her with a hellish stare, then shook his head in disbelief. "I would have thought you would be the last to oppose me on this subject, Precentor Dieron. You have read the text of this message, and you know that Xiang is full of himself as a result of the successful strike into the heart of the Capellan March. This message is nothing more than bragging about the effort and a hint at future problems for the Federated Suns. This should cause Hanse Davion and Quintus Allard some discomfiture—something I thought you would welcome."