“Yes, you have been very quiet, CaptainQuito,” the prime minister said, his tone scolding her. “Is there aconfiguration you wish to champion?”
“No.” She leaned back in her chair and gavehim a wistful smile. “I agree with all the ones you’ve eliminated,obviously. I mean, three hoverbots versus three hoverbots? No onewould pay to see that boring match.”
He laughed. “And what would you pay tosee? If you could witness any configuration?”
“I don’t know.” She took a deep breath andreminded herself not to interfere with the difficult job theseexperts were doing. She had learned so much these last fewhours—more details about the different sorts of mechs and theircapabilities than she could ever have absorbed otherwise. Themammals around this table were truly brilliant advisors, and shewas more than happy to defer to them, even though they weren’tquite as creative as she might have liked.
But she wasn’t about to say that.
“Indulge me,” Tanbur drawled. “I wish to hearyour suggestion.”
Ugh . . .
She paused, as though giving it real thought.Then she went with the safest answer available. “I like the classicchoice—one giant, two skirmishers.”
“And if not that? What is your secondchoice, Captain Quito?” Carrak demanded.
To Zia’s surprise, Carrak actually seemed towant to hear from her. Although it was always possible she justwanted to get Zia’s opinion out of the way so that they couldproceed with the real debate. Either way, Zia had to say something,so she studied the screen carefully, and was able to narrow heroptions to three very quickly.
Two giants and a skirmisher.
Giant, skirmisher and prowler—the one thathad been somewhat successful twelve hours earlier.
And in a nod to Rem, who was clearlyobsessed, one skirmisher versus one skirmisher—the Daniel Quitoconfiguration.
Taking a deep breath, she shared the threechoices aloud, then sat back and waited for the objections to rollin.
“Good selection,” Rem whispered.
Zia gave him a teasing smile. “Just because Ipicked your favorite?”
“No, I just want to stay on your good side.For later.”
She felt her cheeks turn red at the amorousundertone in his voice, and she glared at him before turning toCarrak and saying, “Don’t worry about hurting my feelings.Criticize away.”
Carrak shrugged her good shoulder. “I agreewith your choices. Theoretically, at least.”
“You do?”
The general nodded. “I would support atwo-one configuration because I believe our pilots have had moretime with their giants than the Alluvans have. They have onlyrecently built most of theirs. Unfortunately, that works against ustoo.” She eyed Zia intently. “Can you guess why?”
“No.”
“Captain Stone? Can you?”
Rem nodded. “Their mechs are newer. It’spossible the technology is more advanced than ours. For example,the armor on that colossus looked pretty innovative.”
“Exactly.” Carrak turned to the panel ofexperts. “Have we determined whether the new design gives them anadvantage?”
“We are still studying the data.”
Carrak raised her brow. “I was there. Thatgiant withstood a direct hit from me—a hit that would have made aMalaran giant careen backward, and perhaps even topple. That is atribute to the new armor, is it not?”
“Or they might have improved their jets,” Ziasuggested. “Right?”
Carrak glared. “Their jets?”
Zia cringed in exaggerated apology. “Sorry. Iwas just remembering something Captain Stone said. That giantscan’t jump, but they still have jets to help keep their balance. Iguess I misunderstood.”
“No,” Rem interrupted. “That makes sense.Doesn’t it, Carrak? Just because we didn’t see the jets firedoesn’t mean they didn’t.”
Carrak turned to the experts again, and oneof the males stood up, announcing, “I will ask my staff to explorethis possibility immediately.”
“If it is not superior armor, but only betterjets,” Carrak told the prime minister bluntly, “then I agree withQuito. Two giants, one skirmisher. The Alluvans will not expect it.And their pilots are not as experienced with colossal mechs as weare. We can compensate for the new jets by hitting them in adifferent spot, or at a different angle, depending on what ourengineers recommend.”
I agree with Quito . . .
Zia shook her head. The last thing she wantedwas to be responsible for the new configuration. It had been toostressful the first time.
“Remember my first choice was onegiant, two skirmishers,” she told the group firmly. “That’s theproven winner for Malara, time after time. Right?”
The prime minister shrugged. “We will awaitthe data. In the meantime, I suggest we all get a few hourssleep.”
* * * *
Accommodations had been prepared—one room forthe males, one for the females, and a special, luxurious suite for“Quito,” courtesy of the prime minister’s wife, who had long sincegone to bed. Zia tried to stay awake for a few extra minutes, justin case Rem decided to sneak in and join her, but she couldn’t holdher eyes open.
The next voice she heard was that of thechief strategist, Taryak, who roused her gently with news that thedata had been analyzed and the experts were reassembling. It wasalmost dawn, so Zia hurriedly dressed and returned to theconference room. They had only gotten three hours of sleep, buteveryone looked awake and alert.
There’s so much at stake, Zia toldherself grimly. As much as she wished they’d take another day ortwo to decide, she also knew this strategy was brilliant. TheAlluvans would be stunned to hear that the next round would takeplace in less than five days. They would take it as a sign oftremendous confidence on the part of Malara.
The ultimate mind grub, assuming we choosethe right configuration. And as long as they don’t blame it onme.
The doctors were fussing over Carrak, but sheordered them away as soon as everyone was seated. Then she sat upstraight in her hospital bed and demanded of the engineers, “Whathave you learned?”
The male who had left to consult with hisstaff gave a confident smile. “We have determined that it was ajet, not the new armor, that allowed the colossus to withstand yourblow. We believe we can help you compensate for that.”
“Well then.” The prime minister smiled atZia. “We will honor Quito’s selection—two giants, one skirmisher.Taryak? Arrange for notice of our decision to be sent to Alluvaimmediately.”
* * * *
“I still say she did it just to annoy me,”Zia complained to Rem when they met for lunch in the main room ofthe rec center later that day.
“You’re crazy. It was
