“Hopefully enough,” Carson said with a grin. “We’ve been training for this mission for two years and from what Miss Travante tells us, New Destiny had yet to even begin to plan when she… errr…”

“Megan generally uses the term ‘escaped,’ ” Herzer said with a grin. “I generally say something like ‘blew that popsicle stand.’ Sometimes she doesn’t get the humor.”

“I see,” Colonel Carson said, somewhat uneasily. While it was true that he outranked Major Herrick, there was no one in the army of the United Free States, with the possible exception of Duke Edmund Talbot, who was more famous. And with his engagement to the new Key-holder, Countess Megan Travante, Herrick’s career was presumably unlimited. Carson was well aware that he was probably dueling with a future boss and certainly someone with the ear of some very important people so he chose his words carefully. “I don’t say it will be a cakewalk, unless they intend to just let us steal all the fuel and do nothing about it. But we should be able to handle anything they throw at us.”

Herzer grimaced despite the careful phrasing and shrugged.

“Colonel, with all due respect,” he said, carefully, “I would strongly suggest that you not even think that. New Destiny is, in many ways, better at this war than we are. They are better at intelligence gathering, they are better at… call it ‘special systems’ development and they are not stupid when it comes to tactics. I’ve taken that attitude before and it bit me in the ass. So has Duke Edmund and it bit him in the ass. I would strongly suggest that you assume New Destiny is going to throw something you’ve never seen at you, that is game winning, and plan for it. Otherwise, it’s going to bite you in the ass. And there won’t be a second shot at this mission, sir.”