Blades regarded him bleakly. "If the Essjays get away with this stunt, what kind of life will your family be leading, ten years from now? It's not simply that we'll be high-class peons in the Belt. But tied hand and foot to a shortsighted government, how much progress will we be able to make? Other countries have colonies out here too, remember, and some of them are already giving their people a freer hand than we've got. Do you want the Asians, or the Russians, or even the Europeans, to take over the asteroids?" "I can't make policy." "In other words, mama knows best. Believe, obey, anything put out by some bureaucrat who never set foot beyond Luna. Is that your idea of citizenship?" "You're putting a mighty fine gloss on bailing yourself out!" Janichevski flared. "Sure, I'm no idealist. But neither am I a slave," Blades hesitated. "We've been friends too long, Adam, for me to try bribing you. But if worst comes to worst, we'll cover for you ... somehow ... and if contrariwise we win, then we'll soon be hiring captains for our own ships and you'll get the best offer any spaceman ever got." "No. Scram. I've work to do." Blades braced himself. "I didn't want to say this. But I've already informed a number of my men. They're as mad as I am. They're waiting in the terminal. A monkey wrench or a laser torch makes a pretty fair weapon. We can take over by force. That'll leave you legally in the clear. But with so many witnesses around, you'll have to prefer charges against us later on." Janichevski began to sweat. "We'll be sent up," said Blades. "But it will still have been worth it." "Is it really that important to you?" "Yes. I admit I'm no crusader. But this is a matter of principle." Janichevski stared at the big red-haired man for a long while. Suddenly he stiffened. "O.K. On that account, and no other, I'll go along with you." Blades wobbled on his feet, near collapse with relief. "Good man!" he croaked. "But I will not have any of my officers or crew involved." Blades rallied and answered briskly, "You needn't. Just issue orders that my boys are to have access to the scoopships. They can install the equipment, jockey the boats over to the full balloons, and even couple them on." Janichevski's fears had vanished once he made his decision, but now a certain doubt registered. "That's a pretty skilled job." "These are pretty skilled men. It isn't much of a maneuver, not like making a Jovian sky dive." "Well, O.K., I'll take your word for their ability. But suppose the _Altair_ spots those boats moving around?" "She's already several hundred kilometers off, and getting farther away, running a search curve which I'm betting my liberty--and my honor; I certainly don't want to hurt my own country's Navy--I'm betting that search curve is guaranteed not to find the missile in time. They'll spot the _Pallas_ as you depart--oh, yes, our people will be aboard as per orders--but no finer detail will show in so casual an observation."