There was a moment so quiet that the hum of the circuits grew loud, then the monitors shook with a mighty cheer.
Later, alone, Jezef congratulated him amusedly. "They are certainly with you a hundred percent now, if there was any doubt before. Yet there was one argument you didn't even hint at; the strongest argument of all."
"What was that?"
"Why, you're offering them a chance at life and freedom, where they might be going to imprisonment or execution."
That irritated Tulan. "I'm sure you're not so cynical about Fleet loyalty and tradition as you pretend," he said stiffly. "I wouldn't affront the men by using that kind of an argument."
Jezef grinned more widely. "Did it even occur to you to use it?"
Tulan flushed. "No," he admitted.
Teyr and her moon Luhin, both in quarter-phase from here, moved steadily apart in the viewers.
Group One's screen of light craft probed ahead, jamming enemy radar, and discovering occasional roboscouts which were promptly vaporized. Far behind, Group Two showed as a small luminescence. It would never be visible to Luhin as anything else, and then only when Tulan was ready.