"But look, sir—"
"You'll issue instructions to your beam officers to set their beams for the trial blast, but not to clear them."
"Mightn't that be dangerous?"
"It might. But the clearing blast can come before we strike—if we have to strike. I doubt that the wait will be disastrous, Regin. After all, they seem to have no armaments worthy of the name. And firing a few thousand megnoid beams, even at test power, cuts up some awful didoes in space."
"So?" sneered Naylo.
"Aside from scaring the armor off of them, it also kills a certain element I demand. At any rate, those are your orders. You, Faren Twill, will take charge of the maneuvers, setting up the fleet in battle formation and instructing each ship captain to be prepared for any maneuver, however unorthodox. Both of you are to maintain constant personal contact with me, for my orders may change by the minute. Linus, you had better clear your logic computer of all problems, but retain the information we have stored regarding this race. Be prepared to accept any information that may come from our next act. Understand?"
They all nodded.
"All right. Then as soon as each of you is ready for further orders, report. At that time we are going in!"
IX