irated cruiser； but stopped short of following it into hyperspace。 It was believed； although hardly certain at this point； that Wolff was returning to Praxis； but the Sentinels' next destination was anyone's guess。 And if their movements were open to question； their motives were positively baffling。 Edwards was arguing this very point in the council chambers now； moving through the room like a trial lawyer； his speech angry and impassioned； his reasoning all but unassailable。
〃Furthermore；〃 he said； a forefinger raised； 〃it's my belief that Wolff's story was a ruse。 The Sentinels sent Wolff here to kill the Regent。 All his talk about the destruction of the Farrago and the rescue mission to Praxis was engineered as a diversion。〃
〃That's arrant nonsense；〃 Lang objected； getting to his feet and turning to face the rest of his group。 〃It was the Regent who first informed us of the destruction of the ship…〃
〃They allowed his troops to destroy the ship；〃 Edwards cut in； but Thurgood Stinson quickly waved him silent。
〃What's more；〃 Lang said after settling his gaze on Edwards； 〃the Sentinels had no way of knowing the Regent's fleet was here。〃
Edwards laughed。 〃Need I point out that they could have been monitoring our transmissions； even while remaining inmunicado？〃
〃But to what end； General？〃 Lang asked。 〃Why would they knowingly sabotage the negotiations？ Really； this makes no sense whatsoever； and I would caution the council to understand that General Edwards is offering us nothing more than an interpretation of the facts。〃
〃The facts； Doctor； are that the Regent is dead and one of our ships has been stolen。 What more do you require？〃
Tight…lipped； Lang took his seat。 Senator Longchamps cleared his throat meaningfully。 〃The council appreciates Dr。 Lang's reminder； but I for one would like to hear the general's assessment of the Sentinels' motives。〃
Edwards sat in silence for a moment； then stood up and said； 〃They've bee a private army。 They've liberated Karbarra…Praxis； for all we know…and their plan is to continue in this vein until the entire local group is theirs to mand。 In the meantime； our efforts here will have been neatly undermined。 The Invid will return in force and in the end it will be the Sentinels who will rescue us。〃
〃This is too much；〃 Justine Huxley interjected。 〃Admiral Hunter would never stoop to such measures。〃
〃Then why did he resign his mand？〃 Edwards threw back at her。 〃And why is it that the whole RDF apparat decided to follow his lead。〃 Edwards enumerated on his fingers： 〃The Skull； the Wolff Pack； Vince and Jean Grant； even the Tiresian； Cabell。 Hunter didn't like the idea of answering to the council's demands； and now he's out for himself。〃
Edwards returned to his chair； leaving the council members to argue among themselves。 In the seat adjacent； General Reinhardt wore a look of plete disgust。
After a few minutes of deliberation； Longchamps announced； 〃The council is not yet fully convinced of the scenario you detail； General Edwards； nor of your interpretations of the Sentinels' 'master plan；' if you will。〃
Edwards scowled； waiting for the senator to continue。
〃However； the fact remains that the actions of ex…Colonel Wolff； whatever their motivation； have placed us in a serious predicament。 The council wishes to know if the Invid manders have indicated to you any steps that can be taken to offset this injustice。〃
Edwards stood up； suppressing a self…satisfied grin。 〃Right now they seem willing to accept the facts just as we've presented them： Wolff acted on his own。 But I must include this caveat： these are relatively low…echelon personnel we're dealing with； and I'm certain that once the Regis hears of this； we'll see renewed fighting…perhaps on a scale more reminiscent of the Robotech War than anything we've experienced here。〃
He waited for this to sink in before continuing。 〃As for what we can do； I would suggest that short of a preemptive strike against their forces right now； or the capture of the Sentinels； we devote all our efforts to the construction of a fleet of ships to rival their own。〃
Again； there were arguments and objections from various council members； but Longchamps silenced these with his gavel。 〃Would you be willing to oversee this project； General； if the council so votes？〃
Edwards inclined his head slightly。 〃I would be honored； Senator。 Of course； I would require the full cooperation of Dr。 Lang's Robotech teams and control of the mining operations on Fantoma。〃
〃Naturally；〃 Longchamps said。 〃We will adjourn to consider our decision。〃
Edwards grinned in spite of himself。 He shifted his gaze slightly to show Lang the cold hostility in his eye。 Lang tried to return it； but could not。
The round had gone to Edwards。
In his hive plex on Optera； the Invid Regent sat alone with his two pet Hellcats； too stunned by the reports of his simulagent's murder to speak。 He held his snaillike head in his hands； sunk deep into a sense of despair that was entirely new to him。 Once before he had experienced such torment： when his wife had confessed to him her love for Zor。 Betrayal； he thought； in the soft glow of the room's mo sphere。
〃Your Highness； shall I give the order to attack？〃 a lieutenant repeated cautiously。
The Regent regarded the soldier's image in the sphere and sighed heavily。 〃No；〃 he answered quietly。 〃Return the fleet to Optera； and tell no one that I live。 It may benefit me to remain hidden for a while longer。〃
〃But； Your Highness； are the Humans to go unpunished？ And what of Tesla？〃
The Regent could feel the lieutenant's anger； and it was enough to refresh him momentarily。 He had not been pletely abandoned； then； loyalty still lived。
〃For the moment do nothing more than let our intentions be known。 Inform the Human high mand that we hold them responsible for the。。。Regent's death； and that terms for a cease…fire will not be discussed until the Sentinels have been brought to justice。〃
〃My liege；〃 the lieutenant returned with a note of reluctance。 He offered salute and shut down the link。
The Regent placed a hand on the homed shoulder of one of the Inorganics； on its haunches beside his chair。 〃My pet；〃 he said aloud； 〃will you； too； betray me someday？〃
Tesla had murdered。
He found it almost inconceivable。 Had the Sentinels put him up to it somehow； or； worse still； the Regis？ They were known to have seen one another on Praxis。。。Had she promised him something then； her favorite son？ Certainly Tesla had undergone some sort of change； if he was to believe the words of the simulagent's guards。 Perhaps he and the Regis had made a pact to rule in his place； and as a sign of good faith she had evolved him some。 On Praxis？ he wondered。 Had she gone there to carry on with her dangerous Genesis Pit experiments？ He would know soon enough； if her ships suddenly showed up in Opteraspace。
But in the meantime the Regent thought it best to allow the Humans to go on thinking that one of their own had assassinated the simulagent。 If； as they maintained； the group had acted alone； it showed a definite carelessness on the council's part。 But if this Edwards had permitted it to happen…even engineered it； as the Regent was inclined to believe…then the murder had more sinister implications； it was as if Edwards knew all along that the Regent had sent an imposter in his place； and the murder was the Human's way of responding to the substitution。
He made a note to treat Edwards differently the next time。
The simulagent hadn't been able to learn anything about the Masters' destination； or the location of the Humans' Earth； but it was possible that his death would have a positive side effect。 Obviously the Humans were anxious to sue for peace； and although he couldn't grant them this just yet； that fact eased his concern about their presence in the Quadrant。 And now it was likely that others besides Edwards would be willing to turn against the Sentinels。
The Regent called up a starmap in the sphere and leaned forward to study it。 〃Garuda；〃 he decided after a moment； that's where they would be heading。 A miserable world if there ever was one； a world that had its own way of dealing with intruders。。。The Regent had recalled all of his warships from the planet to strengthen the fleet he had sent to Optera； but there was still a small garrison of soldiers and scientists there tending the orchards and farms and supervising the transport of the nutrient。 Sufficiently forewarned； they just might be able to succeed where larger forces had failed。
The Regent rubbed his hands together in a gesture of renewed excitement。 He grunted to the beasts that flanked his chair。 Perhaps it wasn't so bad being dead after all。
When news of the Plenipotentiary Council's decision was released； the Expeditionary mission found itself more divided than ever。 Everyone on Base Tirol and aboard the SDF…3 now felt pelled to take a stand。 The council； by majority if not by unanimous decision； had effectively branded former admirals Hunter and Hayes； along with the rest of the Human and XT Sentinels； outlaws。 In due time a ship would be detailed for their capture； but presently they were to receive no help from RDF personnel； and anyone f