"At ease," Savage ordered. "Take me to Headquarters immediately."
"Yes, sir," the Lieutenant replied and followed Savage into the car. It was evident that he was wondering why such an exalted personage as a full Fleet captain should appear in a single place patrol ship and in this condition, but Savage let him wonder. The soldiers reentered the car and they sped away with a full-throated roar.
Savage remained grimly silent as they roared through the Trygonian capital. Trygonians were everywhere, but still Earthmen predominated, and Savage wondered what had induced them to remain. There were probably many reasons, he decided, for man in spite of everything must live somewhere and he must eat. After twenty years they were probably used to it.
He had lived briefly in Denver as a child, but nothing remained now of the city he had known. The old buildings had been blasted during the invasion and starkly functional ferro-concrete had replaced the rubble. At the very site of the old State Capitol the Trygonians had raised a towering structure to house the offices of the High Command.
They filed into the building and, as the Lieutenant had done, the honor guard eyed him dubiously before snapping to attention. Savage strode haughtily between them and finally, after a succession of guards and lesser officers, he was ushered into the presence of Vice Admiral Harna lor-Harna.
"Fleet captain Choon," he announced.
The Admiral was tremendous. He towered a full foot over Savage and his heavily decorated uniform was stretched tightly over a majestic paunch. His great jowls moved loosely as he boomed:
"Choon, by the great Galactic Gods. I knew your father on the old Arrano. He was the best Executive Officer I ever had.
"But sit down—you may leave, Lieutenant—and tell me what you are doing here. What happened to your uniform?"
"I was taken by the Terrans." The Admiral's eyes became icy chips. "I have just escaped from a Terran stronghold...."