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ntact with offworlders can exercise intermittent control over the programming。〃
Exedore and the Sterlings could sense Veidt's musings。 Alone among his planetary panions； Veidt had shed tears on the occasion of the death of Sarna； his mate in captivity； whose body had been delivered into the cupped hands of Haydon IV's towering shrine to its creator。
〃The process is somewhat analogous to the defenses your bodies utilize in the resisting of biological contamination or infection；〃 Veidt continued。
〃I guess Anad and Llan haven't got the hang of it yet；〃 Dana said。
Veidt rotated to face her。 〃They were probably more helpful than you realize； child。〃
Exedore spoke up before Dana could respond。 〃But what brought this about； Veidt？ Surely it has something to do with the Invid's departure。 Only a believer in coincidence would fail to see the connection。〃
Veidt's sendings ceased for a moment。 〃The Event has occurred； Lord Exedore。 I can offer little more data than that。 From the deepest center of my being arises an understanding that this world itself has been waiting and preparing for the Event for countless millennia； and yet I cannot speak of it。 I know only that the waiting is plete。〃
〃You're telling…us you've no idea what you've been waiting for？〃 Dana said。
〃I am。 Nor do I know what to expect。〃
〃Why have we been arrested； Veidt？〃 Max demanded。 The Haydonite glided to the center of the room and back。 〃Arrest is not the appropriate term。 You've done nothing illegal； nothing to warrant imprisonment。〃
Dana pointed to the laser…barred threshold。 〃In case you haven't noticed； Veidt； we're not exactly free to e and go as we choose。〃
〃Protective custody is the term I would use；〃 Veidt offered； as though he had been scrolling through a phrase file。 〃As I'm certain Lord Exedore has already informed you； Haydon IV has left orbit and is accelerating even now。 Surely you accept the fact that you never would have； been able to survive on the surface。〃
〃Granted； Veidt；〃 Miriya said。 〃We were brought down here for our own good； we've accepted that much。 But does that mean we'll be released when we reach wherever it is we're going？〃
Veidt's forehead pulsed with subdued light。 〃Not exactly。 You see； it is important that you not be permitted to interfere with the successful pletion of the secondary and tertiary stages。 Therefore； you are to remain in protective custody until all post…Event phases have been carried out。〃
〃But how long are we talking about？〃 Dana managed。
〃As long as the operation requires；〃 Veidt sent。
Max and Miriya stared at each other aghast。 Exedore and Aurora assimilated the disclosure silently。 Dana considered lunging for the hardwood war club she had stashed behind the couch。
〃Violence should not be considered an option；〃 the Haydonite said without facing anyone directly。 〃I should add that I have sought audience with Vowad。〃
Father of a sort to Sarna； Vowad was a high…ranking member of Haydon IV's Elite。
〃And？〃 Exedore asked。
〃He can do nothing。 Offworlder contact has mitigated the impact of the pulsion on Vowad as an entity； but he is still obliged to answer to the Elite； who have thus far remained fully responsive to the programming。〃
Dana felt her anger rising again。
〃Perhaps I should remind you that one incident of violence has already been answered in kind；〃 Veidt sent in her direction。
〃The Karbarran vessel；〃 Exedore said。
〃Vessels； unfortunately。 One Spherisian ship did； however； escape the acceleration unscathed。〃
〃Has Karbarra been informed of the incident？〃 Max asked out of genuine concern。
〃Yes； by the Spherisians themselves；〃 Veidt sent。 〃In fact； there is some reason to believe that a Karbarran battle group is en route to Haydon IV at this very moment。〃
Max shot to his feet。 〃But you just said that interference couldn't be permitted！ You've got to see that they're warned away。
Veidt grew quiet； as though accessing some remote mainframe。 〃I'm sorry； all of you。 But it is apparently too late for that now。〃
At Admiral…Elect Lron's urgings； the Karbarran dreadnought had been named N'trpriz in honor of some Terran ship of primitive design。 And while mander K'rrk had not been against the idea at the time； he would have preferred a different vessel to call his own； a Sekiton…powered ship…of the…line with a proper Karbarran name。 The Tracialle； if he bad had a choice or； failing that； the battlewagon Yirrbisst。
K'rrk sat in the mand chair of the N'trpriz； shaking out the lingering effects of spacefold as his bridge crew fed him updates on the ship's position and readiness。
〃Haydon IV ing into view； mander；〃 Mav reported from one of the forward duty stations。 〃All cruisers accounted for。 Establishing matching velocity with the planet three point seven units； sir。〃
〃Thank you； Mav；〃 K'rrk said from the helm chair。 〃Let's have a look at it。〃
The artificial planet resolved on the bridge's forward screen； variegated； rotating； but atmosphereless。 A celestial wanderer no longer； but more the starship it was。 Parsecs distant from that which it had called its home star for a time； and still accelerating。
K'rrk cupped a paw around his muzzle in a contemplative gesture。 Off to one side of the helm chair stood an enormous wooden wheel； a vestigial adornment overruled by Tiresian made astrogational puters buried deep in the ship's heart but left in place out of respect for the Sentinels' 〃steam ship；〃 Farrago。
K'rrk turned to regard his science officer。 〃Could they be preparing to fold； Lorek？〃
〃A distinct possibility； mander。〃 〃What do scanners show？〃
〃Areas of extensive surface damage；〃 Lorek responded after a moment。 By Karbarran standards； he was tall and lean； with mottled fur and a curious cant to the diminutive； mushroom…shaped horns set between his ears。 〃Glike appears to be pletely deserted； sir； although bio…indicators are registering life signs in several subsurface chambers。〃
〃Do we have a fix on whatever's powering the thing？〃 Kirk asked。
〃Affirmative。 All drive systems are controlled from a central AI nexus concealed under what used to be a system of reservoirs and interlinked canals。 It has apparently been given the name Awareness； mander。〃
〃Defenses； Lorek。 Shields？ Antiparticle fields？〃
〃None that scanners can discern； mander。〃
K'rrk growled with pleasure as he turned to the ship's munications officer。 〃Reeza； inform all battle group manders to hold their positions。〃
〃Done； mander；〃 she responded almost immediately。
K'rrk made an approving sound。 〃Open up a hailing frequency； Lieutenant。 〃
〃Frequency opened to all traffic；〃 Reeza told him。
K'rrk cleared his throat and slapped a paw down on the chair's translator stud。 〃This is the Karbarran starship N'trpriz。 We wish to make contact with whomever is presently in control of Haydon IV。〃 He repeated the request twice more。
〃Ining； sir；〃 Reeza said as a synthesized voice speaking formal Karbarran began to issue from the bridge's munication ports。
〃Attention； N'trpriz；〃 the voice began。 〃Your vessel is being scanned。 Do not； repeat； do not attempt to arm or deploy any weapons。 〃
K'rrk flashed his weapons officer a paw signal for