charge； heat； and stench； and the cave that housed the orbs was fast being unworkable。 The Skull had arrived hours earlier； and by the time Vince and Jean Grant； Janice； Rem； Wolff； Burak； and the others stepped from the mobile base； the rest of the core Sentinels were well into Rick's impromptu briefing。 Several dozen orbs of varying size had already exited the cave； and were well on the way to their enigmatic deepspace destiny； but Veidt and Sarna had 〃persuaded〃 the stragglers to lag behind awhile longer。 Kami and Learna had reported the emergence of yet more spheres from the cavern's internal chimney。 Cabell speculated that it might be possible to widen the access some； and thereby increase the chances of additional creatures reaching the surface。
The plan called for the spheres to lift an Alpha with a crew of five clear through Praxis's suddenly albescent atmosphere。 Once in space and under its own power； the mecha would plete the rendezvous with the drive module。 When that was acplished； the crew would drop the module into a lower orbit while the spheres continued to raise five…person crews。 It was conceivable that the GMU would have to be abandoned； but at least the VTs and Hovertanks would survive。 Although it sounded crazy the plan was straightforward enough； there remained； however； several variables to deal with。 First； the Sentinels had no idea how many orbs might be required to lift a VT； or just how fast they would be able to raise it the requisite distance。 An incorrect guess could leave the mecha hanging in space waiting for the module to plete another orbit； or； worse still； missing the thing altogether。 Second； and equally problematic； the initial crew would have to be prised of personnel capable of piloting the module into a lower orbit； and possibly…should the orbs for some reason withdraw their support…through a spacefold to Karbarra； or equidistant Fantoma。 Third； someone was going to have to stay in touch with the orbs。
This last issue had been decided by the time the GMU contingent joined the others near the cave entrance。 Sarna was going to be in charge of mustering and instructing the creatures in their task。 Veidt had simply said； 〃Sarna will do it；〃 and no one argued the point。 Rick now had the module in mind。
Most of the XT aliens were out of the running for this slot； except Veidt…who was needed down below to mind…link with the spheres…and Lron。 Rick had doubts that the burly Karbarran could successfully pilot the ship through a jump； and although the module was Spherisian in design； neither Teal nor Baldan were qualified to handle it。 Vince was needed for the GMU。 That left only Lisa； unless。。。
〃Janice；〃 Rick said suddenly； 〃can you handle it？〃
Burak almost volunteered； but Tesla restrained him at the last moment； gesturing him silent while everyone's attention was focused on Minmei's former partner。
She nodded； without saying anything。 If it came down to a fold for Tirol； Lang would be delighted to find her aboard。 She sensed Lisa looking at her； and gave her a tight…lipped but understanding look。
〃Lisa？〃 Rick said； figuring he would be safer with a crowd around him。
〃I'm fine with your choice； mander；〃 she told him evenly。 〃But just who do you have in mind to pilot the Alpha？〃
Rick looked around unfortably。 〃Well； I think I'm the most qual…〃
Half…a…dozen voices interrupted him at once。
〃It's too risky；〃 Max said； speaking for all of them。 〃I'll go。〃
〃Your place is with the Skull；〃 Rick pointed out firmly； and everyone grumbled their agreement。 Several of Max's squadron volunteered； including Miriya； but Rick rejected all of them for one reason or another。 Then Jonathan Wolff stepped forward。
〃I'm the logical choice；〃 he said； addressing the circle。 〃With Vince and Max； we'll still have our air…and ground…based forces intact in the event of a follow…up attack。 One less tanker isn't going to influence things one way or another。〃
Rick had to smile at Wolff's attempt at humility； but Wolff's reasoning was sound。 〃All right；〃 he said at last； 〃you've got it。〃
Just then Tesla began to shoulder his way to the center of the circle。 〃mander； I； too； would like to volunteer my services。〃 He turned to the Sentinels； some of whom were already ridiculing him。
〃You've all seen how I can be made to cooperate。 But now I wish nothing more than to demonstrate my willingness to cooperate。 These four months have taught me a great deal about freedom and self…determination； and I would urge you all to begin to accept me as a member of your group； rather than a prisoner。 Should the Regent's troops appear in Praxis…space； I will be there to foil them； much as I did in Tracialle。〃
Rick looked up at the Invid； remembering what Lisa had told him of the Farrago's attack on the Karbarran city； and wondering whether Tesla was genuine or simply trying to save his own green skin。 Rick asked him if he wasn't growing tired of his role…whether he had any reservations about betraying the Invid cause。
〃It seems to be my lot in life；〃 Tesla said in a theatrical manner。 〃Besides； I want this mission to succeed as much as the rest of you do。〃
Rick exhaled a short laugh。 〃We appreciate that； Tesla。 But intentions aside； I think you might be too。。。uh； large for the mecha。〃
〃Too large！〃 Telsa said as though insulted。 〃Put me in the Beta's cargo section； then。〃 He sucked in his breath； as if to narrow his bulk； and waited； making an effort to will the right words into the Human's mind。
〃You think we can fit Burak and Tesla back there？〃 Rick asked Wolff hesitantly。
Wolff sized up the Invid and the horned Perytonian； who was looking a bit peaked。 〃Be a little tight； but I think we can manage them。〃
〃Then let's hop to it；〃 Rick said decisively。
Tesla and Burak lingered for a moment at the hub of the sudden activity。 The Invid turned partway toward his acplice and spoke in a hushed voice。
〃Make certain you bring plenty of fruit aboard； my young friend。 Destiny calls to us both。〃
On Tirol； too； things were off to a shaky start。 During the first session of the truce negotiations； the Regent had thrown a kind of temper tantrum； which only Edwards recognized as being as false as the Invid himself。 He had a perfect understanding of the imposter's aim； and so was hardly surprised to learn afterward that the XT had informed Dr。 Lang and the council he would henceforth meet with Edwards only。 The Regent had explained how difficult and alien it was for him to discuss terms with a body of representatives…especially when one of those twelve was a Zentraedi； with whom the Invid would never make peace。 Once again Lang had tried to set himself up as ombudsman； and once again the Regent had rejected him out of hand。 Edwards was the Human the Regent would talk to； and none other。 Lang let the council know that he was against any one…to…one arrangements and insisted that his arguments be added to the record。 But Edwards was delighted to hear that the council had overruled the scientist's objections and that Longchamps and the others were counting on him to see the talks through to their pletion。
Just now the simulagent and the traitor were seated across from one another in Edwards's spacious quarters aboard the SDF…3。 The two of them had already put on quite a show in the fortress amphitheater； but here they were safe from the prying eyes of the council and free to speak their minds。 Edwards had decided to play it close to the bone； and congratulated the Invid on his performance。
〃Why； whatever do you mean； General？〃 the false Regent said after a short silence。
There was just enough hesitation in the Invid's response to reassure Edwards that he was dealing with an imposter； but it benefited him to play along。 〃Your words for the council's scanners；〃 Edwards told him。 〃All that talk about how there's more than enough room in the Quadrant for both our races。〃
〃We are a reasonable people；〃 the false Regent returned； sipping at the green grog he had brought with him。
〃Yes； of course； you are。 I'm encouraged by the very fact that you've e to Tirol。 There are some who didn't believe you would。〃
〃And you？〃
〃Oh； I think you're capable of almost anything； Your Highness。〃
The Invid set aside his goblet and looked across the desk at Edwards。 〃You speak boldly for one your size； Human。 Are all those from your world so courageous？〃
Edwards sat back in his chair and grinned。 〃To a man。〃
〃And your weapons speak with equal power。。。But it intrigues me： how exactly did you e by your Protoculture systems？〃
〃We took them away from the Zentraedi；〃 Edwards said； leaning forward on the desk。 〃They were annoying us。〃
The simulagent studied his four…fingered hands。 〃And you came here in search of their Masters？〃
〃We came here to finish the job； if you want the truth。 Word had it that they were going to be showing up in our neighborhood； so we decided to take the fight to them instead。 Save our planet the inconvenience of a backyard war。〃
〃Yes； but you seemed to have missed them。〃
〃We'll catch up。〃 Edwards shrugged。 〃First we've got a little business here to take care of。〃
The Invid ignored the remark。 〃Just where is your 'neighborhood；' General？〃
Edwards touched his faceplate。 〃A long way from Tirol。〃
〃Yes； but where？〃
〃West of the Moon； east of the Sun。〃
〃You trifle with me；〃 the XT said menacingly。
Edwards shot to his feet and put both hands flat on the desk。 〃And you waste my time！ What are you after？〃
The Invid met his glare。 〃The return of the brain。〃
〃In exchange for what？〃
〃Your lives；〃 the Regent hissed。
Edwards laughed and walked away from the desk； only to whirl around and say； 〃You needed my help to eliminate a single Karbarran ship。 And I know that your fleet is spread so thin you can hardly protect the worlds you've conquered。 So what makes you think you can intimidate me now？〃
The Regent； too； was on his feet； filling one half of the room。 〃I thought for a moment we were on the same side； General。 But perhaps I was mistaken。〃
〃You've already been more help to me than you know；〃 Edwards told him。 〃But the brain stays until you've got something better to offer me than threats。〃
〃Your egotism will be the death of you；〃 the Re