This meeting had been touted on the news as astrategy session, but Humber’s prediction was correct: no secretswere revealed over appetizers. Nor did they discuss theassassination attempt or Rem’s mech mishap. Instead, the ministerfocused on past glories on Earth and Zellot, which seemed likeancient, unimportant history to Zia, given the impending battlewith Alluva.
So she concentrated on enjoying the food,which was a bizarre mix of Earth and Malaran cuisine, includingpink and purple vegetables, and some grilled meat calledbenk, which Humber assured her tasted like chicken.
“Is it from a bird?” she asked him.
“Yes. Like the Earth one, only larger.”
“So, more like a turkey.”
“Yes.” His eyes twinkled. “But muchlarger.”
She laughed at the warning, then tried thefood, which was interesting if not delicious.
Even more interesting was Carrak’s behavior.The general was visibly uncomfortable in these surroundings, andwhile she didn’t seem nervous when the prime minister spoke to her,she was subdued. No cracks about Zia being delicate or Rem beingarrogant. No opinions at all, in fact, which Zia decided was justas well.
She could see that Rem was dying to ask aboutthe upcoming battle, but he didn’t want to overstep—especiallybecause Carrak had barely acknowledged him all night.
So Zia decided to ask the questions for him.Looking Prime Minister Tanbur in the eye, she said bluntly,“According to the rules, you need to tell Alluva by noon tomorrowwhat the configuration of mechs will be, and where the battle willtake place. Four days before it starts, isn’t that right? Whichmeans you’ve probably made all the decisions by now. So can youtell us? We’re a pretty dependable group, right? If you can’t trustyour biggest hero, your ambassador, and your most loyal allies inthe galaxy, who can you trust?”
Tanbur—a huge mammal with deep auburn fur andeyes as golden in color as Daniel Quito’s once were—smiledindulgently. “I am impressed that you know the rules so well. I wastold you have no interest in politics or warrior challenges, butthat is obviously untrue.”
The artful dodge annoyed her. “I can probablyguess the configuration anyway. From what I’ve seen, there’s not alot of creative strategy in mech combat. And I suppose the sitewouldn’t mean much to me, since I don’t know a lot about Malarangeography. So . . . never mind.”
Tanbur laughed. “I would be very interestedin hearing your guess.”
“Hmm, let’s see.” She pretended to think itover carefully. “One giant, two skirmishers. Huss?”
His eyes widened into two-inch circles. “Howdid you know?”
“It’s so unimaginative. The classicconfiguration, right? Especially for Malara. I’m sure the Alluvanswill yawn when they hear it. Plus, it’s so predictable, they’ve hadmonths to prepare for it, even before they issued the challenge.But I’m sure you thought all that through.”
“Zee . . .” Rem muttered under his breath.“Cut it out.”
She gave the prime minister a confidentsmile. “You should ask Captain Stone for some ideas. He’s beenstudying strategy for five years at our academy. And he’s obsessedwith mech warfare. Rem? What do you think? The old one-two? Orsomething more creative?”
Humber cleared his throat. “This is Zia’sway, minister. We have all grown very fond of it. To you, it mightseem flippant, but—”
“No,” the minister interrupted. “Not at all.It is what my wife said also. We are being too predictable.”
“The one-two configuration is the mostversatile,” Carrak reminded him quickly. “It is the one we trainfor most often. Yes, the Alluvans will assume it will be ourchoice, but that does not make it a bad one. It is our best hope atwinning.”
Zia tried not to laugh at the restraintCarrak was showing, especially given the fact that she probablywanted to wrap her furry claws around this particular delicateflower’s neck.
“Hmm . . .” Zia tapped her finger on herlips, pretending to think again. “How about two skirmishers and aprowler?”
“They have to use a giant, Zee,” Remreminded her with a laugh. “That’s why you’re here, remember? Wewant Alluva to be afraid you’ll pilot the giant. The rulessay Malara has to name the configuration ahead of time, but not theidentities of the pilots.”
“Oh, right. So how aboutgiant-skirmisher-prowler? That hasn’t been done into the ground,has it?”
“That was my wife’s suggestion!” the primeminister exclaimed. “How remarkable.”
“She sounds like a genius,” Zia said,laughing. “What do you think, Rem? Do you agree with the primeminister’s wife?”
Rem chuckled. “Actually? Yeah, it’s not a badidea. But Carrak’s the one who knows the most about her pilots’capabilities. If we don’t have someone really, really talented witha prowler, then a second skirmisher makes more sense.”
All eyes turned to Carrak, who murmured, “Ihave one pilot in particular who is a master with the prowler. Wehave not practiced this configuration as much as would beprudent—”
“You have four more days,” the prime ministerreminded her.
“Right.” Zia nodded. “This is better,actually. If they have spies on Malara, they’ll have seen youpracticing with skirmishers and giants, so this will be a completesurprise to them.”
“And to us,” Carrak reminded her dryly.
“Of course, General Carrak has the final sayin this,” the prime minister reminded them all. “I bow to herknowledge and experience.”
“So do I, since I don’t have either knowledgeor experience,” Zia joked.
Humber and the prime minister chuckled, andRem coughed into his napkin, which told her he was struggling notto laugh too.
Then they all looked at Carrak again, just intime to see her sigh in defeat. “It will unnerve the Alluvans. Andmy pilot is excellent. So yes, I agree we should proceed with aone-one-one configuration.” Turning to Zia, she added coolly,“Congratulations, Captain.”
“Don’t forget to give the prime minister’swife some of the credit.”
Carrak grimaced. “Of course. And now, if youwill all excuse me, I should begin adapting my strategy at once.Four days will pass quickly.” She stood and looked directly intoRem’s eyes for the first time since her arrival. “I will see you atdawn?”
“Yes, General. We’ll be there,” he toldher.
Carrak winced, apparently pained at thereminder that Zia would be
