"Does not act," finished the Commander. "You are entirely correct, Kina." He touched studs on the desk and reports slid through the viewer on the wall. He said quietly, "We have lost a score of ships--ships that we are sure the Beolins could tell us about. And yet the Command does not act." He looked reflectively at the slim, impassive man, and then spoke swiftly. "Kina, I want you to get me two more connections ... Sirius VII, and the Command Cruiser nearest to Beolin. Hurry! The cruiser first." * * * * * A minute or so later, Kina slipped a sheet of paper onto the desk, and touched a switch. The screen glittered into life, showing the face of a man who wore a captain's shoulder bars. Glancing at the paper, which gave the name of the officer and the ship, the Commander said, "Captain Stang, how far are you from Beolin?" "Roughly twenty light years, sir," was the immediate answer. "Do you think that you can make a speed of--say--five light-years per hour, or perhaps more?" The captain frowned slightly. "I'm not sure, Commander. Perhaps we can." "Good! Stand by, at your present position in space." Gray switched off. Kina spoke softly at his side. "That one cruiser, Commander, is more than a match for the entire Beolin fleet." He paused. "Here is your call to Sirius Headquarters, sir." [Illustration: "That one cruiser, Commander, is more than a match for the entire Beolin fleet."] The Commander turned back to the screen. "Over-Commissioner Branu, are you aware of the present stage of relations with Beolin?" The Over-Commissioner frowned at him. "Certainly! Why are you asking, Commander?" There was an imperious sharpness in his voice. "What are they?" Branu hesitated, said, "Relations are somewhat strained at present, of course, but not seriously. I--" "Suppose proof was given that Beolin was back of the recent disappearances of spacecraft?" "My dear Commander Gray! You--you must not say that! Such an intimation might _easily_ cost you your post! Why--" The Commissioner cut him off. "You see, Commander," said Kina, "the Command simply cannot think of such a thing." "Yes ... but they could be made--forced--to think of it." "There is only one way to do _that_," said Kina. "Only one way." "Yes." Commander Gray fell silent for a minute, and then said quietly, "Kina." "I am listening, sir." "The hands of one man," said the Commander, "were never meant to hold personal power such as this. We can do only the best we can ... and it will never be perfect. We must be prepared to--" he hesitated slightly before going on "--to set aside all personal things, and substitute the stars for them. Because only in that way can we approach perfection." Kina was silent and attentive, but his eyes flickered for a second across the one personal item in the office. "I am not a god, Kina. And yet I must be. Because there are men--such as Krraula--who think they are." He fell silent.