Chong's position lay behind a hill fifty miles north of the enemy. Great strap-leaf trees concealed tents and sentries. The captain, wearing the gray working uniform for the first time, called a council of war in his command tent. Eve of battle, gentlemen. Stout hearts, now. Chong, Crespi and Swenson would be landed in darkness to scout for the attack. They would plant a guide beacon and hide until the full party joined them the next night. Tomorrow the flyer would move reserve rations and the heavy blaster ammo down from the ship. Sgt. Chong, in accordance with Patrol Regulations, would direct the actual fighting. He, Captain Welnicki, would resume command when the diplomatic phase opened, that is, when President Fishdollar offered to surrender. Questions? No questions. When Kihara returned from dropping Chong, he came again to the dark command tent and brushed past the orderly. "Captain, wake up. The ship's guide beam don't register on the flyer's screen. Noticed it coming back just now. Something's wrong." "Do you suppose the Fishdollars--" Captain Welnicki came full awake. Never betray doubt to a subordinate ... the lonely leader.... "Locate it visually tomorrow, then," he said calmly. "Take Rutledge to help. But you can't miss that big T-shaped lake." "Oh, I guess we'll find it, if--" "Of course you will. Turn in now, Kihara. Get some rest." The captain did not sleep. He paced uneasily next day until the flyer returned, then almost forgot himself and ran to meet it. "Gone forever," Rutledge said excitedly. "One of them fissure flows, must've been ... miles of boiling rock right where we was ... updrafts like to tore us apart and fried us too ... now what, captain?" Captain Welnicki stood very erect and lifted his chin. * * * * * Darkness under the two small moons. Captain Welnicki stood apart and thought. Nothing but hand weapons and pack rations for two days. A fanatic enemy sitting with enormous reserves in a prepared position. So ... attack, of course ... always the audacity ... out of this nettle danger I pluck this flower.... Kihara landed the party, minus the useless blasters, by Chong's beacon. Chong, sulfurous in disgust, drew his corporals aside to improvise a new plan. Captain Welnicki hovered near, saying nothing. He heard Chong tell Swenson to use the spacers for support fire. "Soon's it's light enough I'll pass the word," Chong finished. "Scatter now." "Come on, you spacers," Corporal Swenson growled. He moved off, followed by the spacers. After a moment Captain Welnicki trailed along. The enemy base lay on high ground across a small stream. One large unfinished building of slagged earth stood near the tender. The land was uneven and wooded. The roar of the sea came faintly through night air as Swenson briefed his spacers. "Sleep if you can," he ended. "I'll watch." "I want to scout in closer, corporal," the captain said.