They filed into the building and, as the Lieutenant had done, the honor guard eyed him dubiously before snapping to attention. Savage strode haughtily between them and finally, after a succession of guards and lesser officers, he was ushered into the presence of Vice Admiral Harna lor-Harna. "Fleet captain Choon," he announced. The Admiral was tremendous. He towered a full foot over Savage and his heavily decorated uniform was stretched tightly over a majestic paunch. His great jowls moved loosely as he boomed: "Choon, by the great Galactic Gods. I knew your father on the old Arrano. He was the best Executive Officer I ever had. "But sit down--you may leave, Lieutenant--and tell me what you are doing here. What happened to your uniform?" "I was taken by the Terrans." The Admiral's eyes became icy chips. "I have just escaped from a Terran stronghold...." "Have you, by the Eternal Stars," the Admiral interrupted. "Too many of our men have vanished in spite of reprisals, but this is the first definite proof of an organized movement. Where is it?" "About five hundred ling North in the mountains," Savage said and the Admiral went into action. With his left hand he flipped a switch and a colored relief map of the area sprang into view on the wall, while with his right hand he pushed up a row of communicator buttons. "Ready three attack units for immediate takeoff," he roared. "I will take personal command. Have my car at gate three." With the buttons still up he asked, "What is the exact location?" Savage moved quickly to the map and examined it closely. After a moment's hesitation he said, "As closely as I can make it, it was zone three, sector five. It was well camouflaged." The Admiral roared the location into the communicator and slammed down the buttons. With swiftness surprising for one of his bulk he strode to the door. "You will come with me in my flagship, Choon. These miserable savages won't give us much of a fight, but it may be of some interest. We'll both be decorated for this." II An hour and twenty minutes later the fifteen unit fleet was hovering high over the Canadian Rockies, zone three, sector five. At the Admiral's direction Savage examined the mountain below through the electronic scanners. Although he knew there was no one left in the hidden cavern below him it was an effort to point it out, it had been his home for a long time. The Admiral barked co-ordinates into the microphone and then barked an order. One ship detached itself from the formation and dived toward the hidden entrance of the cavern, its heat guns burning great swaths through trees and brush. It made a second pass and antiquated anti-aircraft guns opened up, tearing the air futilely. Savage barely suppressed a start of surprise before remembering that the guns were automatic-radar controlled.