Like a long, slender balloon twisted into sausage-like segments, seven helium tanks surrounded the length of the Kearny-Fuchida drive. This discovery caused James a moment of annoyance because intelligence had reported that the Samayou Hitohad not been refitted with sequenced tanks but still had one long, all-encompassing helium system. As his mission called for him to blow the helium tanks—crippling the JumpShip without destroying the irreplaceable K-F drive—this refitting made things difficult.

Operating on the principle that people do not question those who know what they are doing, he kicked off the hull and floated directly toward and under the nearest helium tank. He located the welded seam running the length of the tank and pulled a lump of gray explosive from the tool pouch on his belt. Into the center of it, he pressed a titanium shoe. Taking special care that the hollowed bottom of the shoe was filled with plastique, he molded the whole packet of explosive to the tank's steel flesh. Then he drew a small digital triggering device from his left breast pocket and pressed it into the gray lump. He set the timer for a hour and locked it so it could only be overridden by the control module built into his belt buckle.

James completed the same operation with three more tanks before they found him. A guard demanded that he come out from beneath the tank and present his identification papers. In reply, James set the timer on the lump of explosive in his hand to eight seconds, wadded it all up into a ball, and bounced it off the hull toward the guard.

The explosion sent a sharp Shockwave through the zero-gravity atmosphere, slamming James down into the hull. Through the red haze and scraps of cloth that had been the guard, James saw two more security officers right themselves and dive toward him.

James smiled and slapped his belt buckle. Explosions filled the engine chamber with fire and whirling shards of hot metal. Thick gouts of white fog flooded the atmosphere as liquid helium gushed through the gaping holes in the tanks. The Kurita astechs and guards screamed as an icy wave swept over them and immortalized the terrors of their last moments.

James, whose frozen body fragmented when the wave carried it against the hull, could not have imagined dying happier, no matter whose face he wore.

* * *

Theodore Kurita lowered his sakebowl. "You know, Frederick, my only regret in this assault of yours is that it came after the Genyoshahad left the world. I'm sure you noticed their DropShips leaving the system as you burned in. I would have loved to see Yorinaga Kurita duel with you."

Frederick smiled slightly. "It would have not been much of a fight, and you know that as well as I do. From what I understand of reports concerning the January action on Northwind, Yorinaga Kurita has only one target in mind. I doubt you could have ordered him to fight against me, just as you could not order him to avoid combat with Morgan Kell."

Thinking of Morgan Kell, Frederick knew he had to respect the man, as much as he hated him for his steadfast support of Katrina. Something inside drives him and gives him an edge I will never know. On Mallory's World, he traded his life for the lives of his people, much as I have done here. The difference is that he survived. To willingly embrace death and survive gave him a strength I would have loved to touch just once in my life.

Theodore nodded as though agreeing with Frederick's comment, but the buzzing from the visiphone unit on the sideboard cut off further conversation. Theodore raised an earpiece to the side of his head and turned the phone so Frederick could not see the picture.

Even without hearing what the caller told the Prince, the questions Theodore barked and the rage turning his face scarlet told Frederick all he needed to know. Something had gone wrong, very wrong. Whatever it is, I'm glad I was here to see it,he thought.

Theodore swept the visiphone from the sideboard, sending it crashing to the floor amid sakebowls and crystal decanters of other potables. He whirled, his eyes molten with fury, stabbing his left index finger out toward the captive Lyran noble. "You bastard! How could you sit here and listen to me prattle on about honor and agree with me when you were planning such treachery?!"

Frederick stiffened as Theodore drew his pistol. "I have no idea what you are talking about," he said, meeting Theodore's stare defiantly.

Theodore watched him for a second, then nodded. "No, you would not have resorted to such trickery. Your cousin sent Loki agents to cripple the JumpShips of my fleet. Four have blown helium tanks. Two have had their solar recharging exchanges destroyed, and the last has lost its station-keeping engine. That vessel is currently falling toward the sixth planet, though other ships should be able to stabilize its orbit." Theodore snorted with disgust. "What you fail to do honorably in combat, she accomplishes by trickery."

Frederick's stare, like the barrel of the gun in Theodore's hand, never wavered. "Get used to it, Theodore. It is the way of things. Politicians will forever betray warriors because what we observe as the conventions of war they exploit as our weakness." Frederick smiled, a sense of completion filling him as Theodore's finger tightened on the trigger.

44

Sian

Sian Commonality, Capellan Confederation

19 October 3029

With his chopsticks, Justin Xiang plucked one last piece of kung pao beef from the platter and popped it into his mouth. The tidbit crunched between his molars as the thick sauce added its spice. I've stuffed myself, but this food is so good that my mouth hungers for more.

He looked over at Alexi Malenkov as the slender analyst finished off the last of the tangerine beef. Alexi closed his eyes and chewed slowly, a smile growing on his face. He swallowed, then chased the meat down with some green tea. He looked at both Justin and Candace Liao. "Thank you for inviting me to dine this evening. Not only is the food superior, but this is probably the first chance I've had to sit down for a meal in the last two months."

Candace, pleased that Alexi had enjoyed the meal, bowed her head in his direction. "Under normal circumstances, Alexi, you would not be able to get a seat here in the Szechuan Inn. With good reason, as you have discovered. It is the most popular restaurant in the capital." She looked around at the utterly empty dining room. "The necessities of security are sometimes a blessing."

Justin nodded, recalling making the reservation for their dinner. The owner only asked for an hour to clear out the customers, as if a visit by the heir to the Capellan throne was nothing out of the ordinary. When the sweeper team hit the building, the owner had his people feed all of them as well as us. If past practice remains true, he'll only bill us for what the three of us have eaten, and in return, I will tip generously.

Alexi stretched, plucking the napkin from his lap and setting it on the table. "I can understand your point of view, as it's nice to eat without having to listen to a howling child in the next booth or having somebody's cigar smoke ruin the meal. In some ways, though, I miss being able to watch people." Alexi smiled weakly. "I suppose it's because of the work I do, but I always like to imagine the secrets of the people around me."

A new voice injected itself into the conversation. Tsen Shang, flanked by two Maskirovka Security Officers, came around the corner from the kitchen and faced the open side of the horseshoe-shaped booth. Resplendent in a gold silk robe embroidered with red dragons, he folded his arms across his chest and hid his hands in the robe's voluminous sleeves. "It does not surprise me that you find secrets interesting, Citizen Malenkov."