Nitworth stared, eyes bulging. He grunted, reaching for the gag, caught the Qornt's eye on him, dropped his hands to his sides. "I suggest we get the troops in out of the hot sun," Retief said. Magnan edged close. "What about the gag?" he whispered. "Let's leave it where it is for a while," Retief murmured. "It may save us a few concessions." * * * * * An hour later, Nitworth, breathing freely again, glowered across his desk at Retief and Magnan. "This entire affair," he rumbled, "has made me appear to be a fool!" "But we who are privileged to serve on your staff already know just how clever you are," Magnan burbled. Nitworth purpled. "You're skirting insolence, Magnan," he roared. "Why was I not informed of the arrangements? What was I to assume at the sight of eighty-five war vessels over my headquarters, unannounced?" "We tried to get through, but our wavelengths--" "Bah! Sterner souls than I would have quailed at the spectacle!" "Oh, you were perfectly justified in panicking--" "I did _not_ panic!" Nitworth bellowed. "I merely adjusted to the apparent circumstances. Now, I'm of two minds as to the advisability of this foreign legion idea of yours. Still, it may have merit. I believe the wisest course would be to dispatch them on a long training cruise in an uninhabited sector of space--" The office windows rattled. "What the devil!" Nitworth turned, stared out at the ramp where a Qornt ship rose slowly on a column of pale blue light. The vibration increased as a second ship lifted, then a third. Nitworth whirled on Magnan. "What's this! Who ordered these recruits to embark without my permission?" "I took the liberty of giving them an errand to run, Mr. Secretary," Retief said. "There was that little matter of the Groaci infiltrating the Sirenian System. I sent the boys off to handle it." "Call them back at once!" "I'm afraid that won't be possible. They're under orders to maintain total communications silence until completion of the mission." Nitworth drummed his fingers on the desk top. Slowly, a thoughtful expression dawned. He nodded. "This may work out," he said. "I _should_ call them back, but since the fleet is out of contact, I'm unable to do so, correct? Thus I can hardly be held responsible for any over-enthusiasm in chastising the Groaci." He closed one eye in a broad wink at Magnan. "Very well, gentlemen, I'll overlook the irregularity this time. Magnan, see to it the Smorbrodian public are notified they can remain where they are. And by the way, did you by any chance discover the technique of the indetectable drive the Qornt use?" "No, sir. That is, yes, sir." "Well? Well?" "There isn't any. The Qornt were there all the while. Underground." "Underground? Doing what?" "Hibernating--for two hundred years at a stretch." * * * * * Outside in the corridor, Magnan came up to Retief, who stood talking to a tall man in a pilot's coverall.