**They'll kill us anyway! Don't be a fool!**
**No, no, no!**
Lycan embraced the Elder for protection. Trembling, he looked up into the Elder's contorted face. They both sobbed dryly.
Forential could not think. He was paralyzed.
It was almost half an hour before they quieted.
**My mutants aren't jammed,** Forential told them for the dozenth time. **Maybe there's still hope.**
**Send them all down; send them all—**
**No! Wait!** Fierut interrupted sharply. **Wait! Reason! Suppose there is interference on Forential's frequency. Suppose it just isn't strong enough for us to detect it. Suppose they're throwing most of their power into interfering with Lycan's transmitter. Suppose there is only local interference with Forential's. We've got to take that into account.**
Great hopeless whimpers echoed in their minds.
**Wait, now, wait!** Fierut commanded. **We must assume it's true. But if we throw all available power into Forential's transmitter, maybe we can breach that purely local interference.**