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Updated: May 1, 2025
"Like telepathy was, until day before yesterday. Stories, but none of what Greggson likes to call cast-iron facts." Corina sneezed again, and Medart frowned. "Sounds to me like you're coming down with something, Rina. Maybe you ought to go see Dr. Sherman you need to be in top shape when you go against Thark."
"Unless, of course, you'd rather call it off." Corina's self-doubt was turning into determination under his scorn. "No, thank you," she said quietly. "I will continue." Medart smiled briefly at her, then turned to Greggson. "Get off her back, Colonel," he said. "You can join the spectators; I'll set up the situation for them." Greggson obeyed silently, and Medart turned to the team leader.
To her dismay, there was an audience; off-duty crewwens lined the gym walls. An audience, she thought, was the last thing she needed now but there was no help for it; she would simply have to do her best in spite of them. Then she saw Greggson and five others in Marine black standing slightly apart from the spectators.
"But I'm supposed to " Sunbeam objected. "Wait outside." Sunbeam hesitated, looked at Corina. "Sir Corina " "Go ahead. I will be fine." The young ensign left, but her hesitation seemed to inflame Greggson still further. "You don't give orders aboard this ship, Sir Corina," he said coldly. "Not even if you are Ranger Medart's special assistant. You have no military authority."
They had a number of advantages over standard humans, but the only ones she needed to worry about right now were their greater strength and speed. Maybe Greggson was right after all. Talent was important, but it certainly was not the only factor; she knew better than to underestimate Imperial Marines, and when one of them was a Sandeman warrior She broke off that line of thought abruptly.
"Though I must admit his compliments are flattering . . . I do regret causing the others distress, though the demonstration was necessary. Nor was there any dishonor in their defeat; they did as well as possible for those who lack Talent." Sunbeam looked more cheerful. "Maybe it would help if you told them so." "I will, then, at the first opportunity." "And you should see Colonel Greggson!"
"There will be much death because of his Crusade; I would prefer that we cause as little of it as possible. Set your weapons for a two-hour stun. Under the circumstances, that should be quite sufficient; by the end of that time, either Thark will be defeated, the stunned ones still able to stand trial, or we will all be dead. Are there any questions?" "I have one," Greggson said.
Hobison's, they already knew, was adequate, and Corina was less than enthusiastic about meeting Greggson again, so they decided to check with the young Sandeman first. His shield was strong, she knew from the demonstration, and she knew his pattern from the combat demonstration, which made it a simple matter to touch him, find someone nearby, and let Medart identify his location.
"We didn't expect much, so I didn't order one, but somebody else might have. Emperor Chang?" "Colonel Greggson has all such exercises taped for analysis, Ranger. I will send His Majesty a copy." "Thank you. Medart out." There was a brief silence while the ship sent the tape and Emperor Davis watched it. When his attention returned to Medart, he echoed the Ranger's headshake.
"Four out of the first five either Rangers or Ranger-level," Corina said thoughtfully. "Colonel Greggson is not?" "What do you think? No too inflexible, not enough regard for others, too narrow an orientation. He's at the top of his field or he wouldn't be on an IBC, but he's definitely not Ranger material. Go on."
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