Leaving a reserve and a small portion of its consciousness to protect its physical self, the Vern. reacted a microsecond later. It was not properly positioned for maximum response. It was, however, no longer a time for probes and feints.

A sledge-hammer force struck the Vom, smashing cells, burning out channels, screaming along- unprepared neural highways like sunfire. The vast heaviness recoiled, shook, recovered.

Struck back.

Within the Guardian Machine a few linkages were shut down, organic or inorganic. A few circuits burnt out, organic or inorganic. Overload. Repair procedures took over.

There was no time for subtlety.

Two pebbles on a shore contested for the same resting place in the sand. One thunderhead sought sky-domination over another. Now somewhere one saint ascended, only to be dragged back to earth; now the other. There was to be no instant resolution to the Old Contest. Both sides knew it, neither argued it.

There were-side effects. Energy was expended and brushed aside. It had to go somewhere. It did.

Things happened.

The smaller of Repler's two moons slowed, stopped, began to rotate counter-clockwise.

On Parkman's Peninsula there was a great field of Dowar flowers. In the space of a heartbeat, they turned brown and died.

In the small village of Goodnight a tiny herd refused to give milk. Seconds later a shoal of silverythrad beached themselves in a frenzied rush from the sea.

In Formantown, three things dissolved: half a pier, two crystal altarpieces and four marriages.

On the other side of the planet in the city of Gallagher, hundreds of cats broke into the peaceforcer station and killed a third of the local force before the alarmed cityfolk, the other peaceforcers, and the local veterinarians (there were three) could drive them out.

In Repler City, every inhabitant, from Orvenalix to the Governor to Porsupah, experienced several seconds of vertigo. This continued at irregular intervals. It had a disconcerting effect on the population.

In Haven, all fell into a deep sleep. All except a small monkey-like primate from Carson's World, name of Ev Taars. A mechanic, Taars continued to work for several minutes, unaware that his six-toed feet floated four millimeters off the ground.

On the other side of the universe, a tiny intelligence suddenly expired violently, screaming. Its companion observed and commenced thoughts that would change the destiny of a hundred worlds. The operator of the single interspace weapon on board the customs' korvette panicked and would have started shooting.

Fortunately, the tracker had enough presence of mind to cut power to the lethal laser. When the gunner saw what was following behind the ship he'd nearly taken a shot at, he fainted.

The AAnn battle fleet, sixty ships strong, moved with precision into synchronous orbit about Repler.

There were few commercial vessels floating in the section of space Baron Riidi WW selected. Those that were there elected to move rapidly elsewhere. The intruders made no hostile gestures. Yet it was apparent to experienced merchantmen that the AAnn warships were not there for pleasure. Formation told them that, formation and the fact that this many AAnn vessels had not been seen' together since the last humanx- AAnn conflict.

The special shuttle bearing the Baron and a select company of scientists and commandos entered atmosphere, dropping slowly towards the planet circling below. The inhospitableness of the globe was clearly illustrated by incredible bodies of water, thick masses of moist air; and tropical vegetation. The Baron felt unusual sympathy for the local commander. Under the best of circumstances this would not be a pleasant place to be stationed. Put conservatively, it was a hell-hole.

Yes, any questions of failure or incompetence here would have to take into account the horrible climatic conditions.

A Communicator Second entered the luxurious main cabin, saluted.

"Sir, the flagship gives word that the Governor of the humanx colony has attempted another communication."

"I believe I instructed Captain Elbraack to relay the standard message about indisposition of forces, technical difficulties, and the like."

"Your pardon, sir, but Captain Elbraack advises that he has been doing precisely that. He informs that the Governor declines to acknowledge all such attempts."

"Then what is he complaining about? We have a standoff. I told the Captain that I do not wish to be bothered until I have had time to evaluate the situation on .the ground. I suggested one method of doing this. Inform the Captain that if he feels he is incapable of handling the situation without running to the communicator like a newborn hatchling at every small difficulty, I will be happy to replace him with someone who feels otherwise."

"Yes, Baron." The communicator hastily backed out of the room, forgetting to salute.

Riidi did not call the nye back. On some ships in the Imperial Navy, forgetting to do proper obeisance to a personage of Baronial rank would result in a short session at the hands of the paingivers, or reduction in class. The Baron was notorious among his equals for disciplinary laxity. This and other idiosyncrasies should have seen him ridden out of the Navy long ago. There were, however, a number of ameliorating factors, not the least of which was the fact that the Baron was brilliant

Not particularly genius-brilliant, but natural-smart brilliant. He had the ability to absorb a great deal of information, reduce cogent facts to pithy solutions, examine and evaluate all alternatives, and do the Right Thing.

He was a good reptile to have in a tight spot. This made him valuable enough to survive most of the petty jealousies which some claimed had held the AAnn back more seriously than all the actions of enemy races.

The landing was made with practically no belt) from the ground, since the Enclave's survivors hadn't been able to scrounge much of the proper equipment from the wreckage. Despite intensive battle training, the pilot wasn't prepared for so much mist and moist fog. Moreover, the island was a tiny enough target in clear weather. The landing was thus predictably rough, but Riidi said nothing. He was content to have landed on dry land. Although on this planet, he reflected, there really wasn't any such.

The officer who greeted him had a haunted look about the eyes. But his bearing was still straight, his tattered uniform correctly aligned, and natural dignity subsituted for a lack of pomp and ceremony. He was flanked by two junior officers, each of whom had that same haunted, distant look. There was also a single elderly human.

Riidi was not surprised. The Commander had informed him via transceiver to expect the mammal

Parquit saluted smartly. "Glory to the Emperor's line. His servant awaits you." The Baron returned the salute, muttered, "Glory." His salute was sloppy and brief. Already his eyes were taking in what was left of the Enclave. Taking in the twisted metal, the shattered foundations, not missing even the pulped vegetation, massive treetrunks snapped off at the base.

"One creature did all this." It was not a question.

"One creature," said Parquit, staring at the Baron. The noble's gaze returned to the Commander.

"And you had nothing to stop it?"

"Baron, we tried everything, following the initial surprise. All our weaponry had no effect on it whatsoever. Nor did some small but powerful humans devices."

"Ali! The locals have had belligerent contact with it also, then?"

"On a small scale, as far as I know. Yes. The contact was brief." Parquit made an effort to change the subject. "How soon can the nye be taken off? There are some in need of extensive medical care. I could have submitted them to a humans: infirmary center, but such was unthinkable, of course. The wounded concurred."

"Of course. What of your personnel elsewhere on the planet at the time of the attack?"

"There were not many. Away from the Enclave they were forced often to experience the local weather.

A punishing duty for even a short while."

"I can well imagine." Riidi sniffed the moist, sticky air with distaste.

"The last returned this morning. They were recalled gradually, so as not to provoke awareness of anything unusual among the humanx populace. Such precautions are no longer necessary since you have arrived. The Consul himself, of course, will remain in the capital until the situation has been clarified."

Riidi noticed the human smiling at him, paused.

"And what of this grinning primate, who finds the occasion so amusing?"

"A local. A drugger and trafficker in many things. Bloodhype, for one."

"I am that," said Rose, feeling it was time he said something. "Got a goodly sample of my wares with me, too." He held up the lethal case.

"What interest have you," asked Riidi, "with such as this?"

"Ploy and counter-ploy, sir. With the result that he has my word of safe conduct off-planet to a point of his choosing. Like all vermin with a talent for survival, he is basely intelligent."

"I think I understand, Commander. I prefer thinking of the situation that way, rather than trying to envision you making a voluntary agreement with such. Where is this monster now?"