Blades! Corina thought nervously. How to contradict the Emperor? Not easily, not if you were a youngling with a strong desire to crawl under the table and hide! Being teased about arguing with him was one thing, actually having to do it something far different. She had no choice, though. "Its guards, however numerous, are humans and unTalented Irschchans, perhaps a few Traiti. They will be little or no defense against Thark and the Seniors of the Prime Chapter, even if some few have mind-screens or shields. Nor can you count on mechanical defenses; they are operated by your Palace Guard, which renders them as vulnerable as the guards themselves. If compelling a Guardswen is not possible, controls can be operated by TK." Davis frowned, while Medart sent her encouragement. *Good going. He won't bite you. And don't think about hiding under the table; you're doing fine.* *I think otherwise,* she sent back, though she was grateful for his support. *I am frightened!* *So?* Medart replied. *You're functioning just fine anyway.* "Aren't you perhaps overestimating their abilities?" the Emperor asked quietly. "No, sir, she's not," Medart answered for her. "You saw the tape of yesterday's demonstration; if a young student could take out this ship's top five Security people, including a mind-shielded Sandeman warrior, I find it very easy to believe that a group, all of whom have the degree of experienced Talent she describes, could take even the Palace. She says her Talent is above average, but so are theirs." "How would you rate them by comparison, Sir Corina?" Forrest asked. "Thark is stronger, of course; the High Adept, by definition, has the strongest Talent in the Order. The Seniors have approximately my strength, but are better trained since they were raised in Order schools and I was not. They also have far more experience than I do, as Ranger Medart pointed out." "You're the only expert we have on the Order," Davis said. "How would you recommend we defend the Palace?" "As it stands, Your Majesty, the Palace cannot be defended from such an attack." Corina hesitated, unwilling to go on. *Finish it,* Medart urged her. *They will not like it,* Corina thought nervously, but she said, "My recommendation, under these circumstances, is that Your Majesty and Prince Forrest leave Terra in a ship crewed fully by humans, its destination unknown to anyone not aboard, and remain there until Thark and the Order are no longer a threat." A murmur around the conference table was disapproving. "I don't like the idea of running," the Emperor said, "but I can't deny it's the logical thing to do. Ranger Medart?" "How sure are you that it'll be Thark himself and the Prime Chapter after the Palace?" Medart asked Corina. "I am positive," she said. "He will not risk failure by using less than the best against his most important target."