He said wearily, "If you knew how many times that suggestion has been made to me! No, Ada, there's no chance of that. Both the local commander and his subordinates are tested men. I am not giving the word, and they will not take it from anyone else." "You have to give it personally? Isn't that unusual?" "Decidedly unusual. But I'm taking no chances of betrayal. As I've repeated time and again, I want the surrender to go off smoothly." She nodded slowly. "That has become clear enough. You're working all night?" It was his turn to nod. "Try to rest for a while, darling. And have something to eat." "I won't starve, Ada. Good night." The screen became blank, and he turned to stare once more at the military visor, still exhibiting the arrival of the Hop occupation crew. From somewhere, far below, a sudden flash appeared, and a pair of Hop soldiers seemed to lose their grip on the air and toppled off the invisible ladder. The others froze in their places. [Illustration: Far below a sudden flash appeared, and a pair of Hop soldiers toppled off the invisible ladder....] But retribution against the unseen sharpshooter was rapid. Not the Hop ship, but a small Earth craft flashed into view from the side and swooped down, its guns blazing. A building shattered in the lower part of the screen. And the Hop troops resumed their descent. * * * * * A few hours later, Venus was the scene of a more serious incident. Here a whole garrison rose in revolt, armed with modern weapons, and well trained in their use. Everson turned aside from everything else to take personal part in the crushing of this revolt. The angry troops fought savagely, but had no chance from the beginning. The loyal forces were concentrated against them in overwhelming strength within an hour, and they threw in everything they had. Half a day of fierce fighting saw the collapse of the desperate gamble. Through these and other revolts that followed, thought Everson sardonically, no more than ten Hop soldiers were lost. Everson had suggested that System troops would be more effective in crushing a rebellion of their own people, and the Hop authorities had agreed.