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With a wave of his hand, a sheet of crackled, frosty ice covered the bridge windows, temporarily blinding the Admiral before her external sensors kicked in and projected clear views again.

'We have many different allies, Admiral,' Peter said from his throne room. 'I suggest you don't make us demonstrate all the power we can bring to bear. You're a reasonable woman. You know you can't win here.'

Nonplussed, Willis pursed her lips. And you know the Chairman. If I return empty-handed, he'll just send a larger battle group next time.'

'Why doesn't he ever see the real threat to the Hansa, and the human race?' Estarra said, placing a protective hand on the curve of her belly. 'Maybe he should pay closer attention.'

Peter continued, 'Because Earth's only green priest has been killed - yes, we know all about that - you are unaware of major new developments. Even Chairman Wenceslas doesn't know of the new danger he's about to face. Therefore, it is your duty to turn and leave, so that you can brief him immediately. We will share the vital information with you.'

Leaning back in her chair, Estarra made a disbelieving sound and said quietly, 'He won't change his mind, no matter what you tell him.'

'Probably not,' he whispered, 'but it'll give Willis the excuse she needs to do the right thing.'

'What sort of news are we discussing here, King Peter?' Willis seemed sceptical, already imagining the browbeating Basil was going to give her.

'The original Klikiss have come back to claim their old planets. According to information we've received from the Ildiran Empire,

Klikiss have overrun planets settled in the Hansa's Colonization Initiative.' He explained in detail what they had learned through the worldforest from the green priest Nira.

Sitting up straight, Estarra added, 'If you still think you need to do something with those pretty EDF ships, try helping some Hansa colonies. Most of them have no defences at all.'

Nonplussed, Willis crossed her arms over her uniform. 'General Lanyan is already in process with his inspection and assessment.'

'Inspection and assessment?' Peter sounded dubious.

'It's a military term.'

Willis blew out a long sigh, deep in thought. Her Mantas hovered in full battle readiness, all weapons primed and ready to fire. The verdani battleships loomed over them, while Roamer defenders swirled about like stinging gnats just waiting to be provoked. She had to know her ships would be torn apart if she started shooting.

'Please don't make a mess of this, Admiral,' Peter said. 'Take the critical information you've just learned back to the Chairman. He seems to have trouble identifying the correct enemy. Worry about the Klikiss, not the Confederation.'

Willis squared her shoulders. 'All right. First things first, King Peter. I'll tell the Chairman about the Klikiss. I'm not stupid, and neither is he.'

'Yes, but will he listen?'

She didn't answer. Without firing a shot, she ordered her cruisers to turn and head back out of the Theron system.

Fifty-eight

Sirix

After his recent setbacks, Sirix went on the offensive -and revelled in it. He had lost Wollamor, and he had lost his long-anticipated base and fleet on the Ildiran resort world of Maratha. But with whatever weapons he still had aboard the stolen EDF battleships, he swore he would make up for those losses. At all costs, the black robots had to crush the Klikiss before they gained a foothold on other planets. Anywhere. That was the necessary response.

One world at a time.

Using the grid and starmap implanted within his circuitry, Sirix guided his EDF vessels, knowing the robots would have the upper hand against the Klikiss. His human-built ships carried a stockpile of carbon-carbon explosives, fracture-pulse drones, and collimated jazer banks, all of which had been designed to crack diamond-hulled warglobes. They would smash the insect race easily enough.

Sirix expected to find another entrenched and reinforced robot base on Hifur, but when they arrived he saw that the enclave had