Ferdias said, "There's a big celebration coming up on Earth soon. The two-hundredth anniversary of the first space-flight from Earth. It means a lot to them. Their Council invited me to send an official delegation to represent Lyra Sector. So I'm sending you." Kirk stared. "Me--to Earth? But what can _I_ do if--" Ferdias interrupted. "The Fifth Squadron will go with you. To take part in the commemoration pageant, the fly-over." Now Kirk began to understand. "Then if Solleremos tries anything, the Fifth will be there waiting for him?" "Exactly." Ferdias spoke the word like a wolf-snap. "I know Solleremos' intentions. I know about when he plans his grab for Earth. Earth can't stop him, not with their small forces. But the Fifth can!" Kirk felt a bit stunned. Fighting the hidden border wars of the rival Governors was one thing. But a full-fledged struggle between Sectors, back there at old Earth, was quite another. It could rock the galaxy.... Ferdias went on matter-of-factly, "You'll take off five days from now. You may be there a while, so you'll take full supply auxiliaries and transports." Kirk looked up. Transports meant the families of all personnel would accompany the squadron--and that meant Lyllin would go with him. He was glad of that. "But when we get there," he said. "Besides taking part in that celebration, what do we _do_?" Ferdias said, "Go and look up your ancestral home." "My--what?" "Ancestral home. Place where the Kirks came from, on Earth. I had it hunted out, and it's still standing. It's in Orville, a place near the city New York. You go and look it up first thing." Kirk began to get it. "You'll send me orders there?" "You'll hear from me. And you'll get warning if Solleremos moves on Earth. But Kirk--one more thing." "Yes?" "You're not to talk of this to anyone. _Anyone._" * * * * * Kirk, as the air-car took him homeward across the city, hardly saw the brilliant Vegan capital flashing by beneath. He was badly worried. A deadly, secret galactic struggle was moving toward crisis, and he was not the man to combat conspiracies, he was no good at plots and plans. But--and his jaw set hard--if Solleremos _did_ try to grab Earth by force, there was one thing the Fifth was very good at, and that was fighting. He couldn't tell Lyllin about any of this, not against Ferdias' strict injunction. But at least she would be going with him this time, and that would be good news to her. He strode eagerly into the metalloy cottage that was home to him. Its familiar rooms were cool and silent. He found Lyllin waiting for him on the terrace.