Seeing the tardy vessels in his rear viewscreen, the Colonel thought at first there must be some mistake, or mechanical problem, and so was not overly concerned. Until looking back in horror and sudden understanding, he recognized the call letters of the light cruiser, and remembered under whose command..... And saw the accompanying destroyers fanning out to either side of it---BLOCKING THE SOVIETS' PATH. And there they stayed, facing down two battleships and escort, twenty times their own strength. "HUMBOLT," he ejaculated to his communications officer. "Get me the bridge of the Icarus. . .quickly!" The com officer did as he was told, hailing the vessel several times. "WELL?" After a moment. "Sorry, sir. There's nothing wrong with the equipment..... She just won't respond." The colonel was livid. "Then get me number one. . .number TWO destroyer. ANY of them!" "Still trying..... No response, sir." The reason there was no response was that the destroyers had shut down all but channeled communications between themselves and their immediate Commander. And the voice and com-screen of the Icarus were otherwise engaged. Its outgoing signal, however, was neither coded, nor directed toward the Soviet battleship only. The whole of both fleets were free to listen, and to judge. Brunner stood in the sunken middle of the flying bridge---his wife stood beside him---gazing with surprising composure into the angry features on the screen before him: Colonel Joyce, the man with the power to end his life. "Colonel. Thank you for speaking with me. I don't believe you've met my---" The voice that cut him off was cold and cruel. "What the hell do you think you're doing, Brunner?" "I am experiencing difficulty with my ship's retreat mechanism: she doesn't seem to be able to leave the colonies just yet." "And how long do you think that will last?" A threat more than a question. The two understood one another perfectly. "I'd say, roughly of course, about forty-eight hours. Just about the time the Dutch return to---" "Now listen to me, you pathetic little worm. If you don't get out of the way, and I mean RIGHT now, I'll blow you and your little band of heroes to bloody shrapnel. Don't think I won't!" Brunner's voice shook with subdued passion, but not fear. "I don't think you won't. I know it. Because to do that you'd have to brutally attack, and murder your own allies. And have to explain to the Coalition, the Japanese, and everybody else, how you had no choice but to desecrate our victory, and steal the home planets---" Joyce tried to interrupt, but he would not let him. "And it's NOT going to happen." Again the other tried--- "You want me? Then come and TAKE me!" "I'll give you thirty seconds." Joyce turned to his gunnery officer, who nodded his understanding. "Starting now." Brunner waited till the count was down to six. His voice was the ice of Infinity. "Get the fuck out of here."