And if you don’t think Fleet will hit U.S. population centers, think again. Not to mention off-Earth colonies, Strike bases if Strike goes against them, etc. Then there’s simply the disruption that would occur system-wide. Famine, breakdowns. It would be a tremendous jug-fuck that would permit, among other things, a breathing room for the Posleen to start getting their act back together. Two hundred and eighty-three worlds with some Posleen presence. Including Earth.”

“But the Bane Sidhe are also the ones ensuring this… Mexican stand-off over assassinations,” Mike said.

“Again, you begin to see the complexity,” Tam answered with a sigh. “One thing that we’ve been told is that Fleet Strike may have to be used against ‘insurrectionists including but not limited to groups of Bane Sidhe operating on Earth in unrecovered, recovered or fully-controlled zones.’ ”

“Well, if it’s this Clan O’Neal I’ll be more than happy to teach them a lesson about using my name,” Mike said.

“And you probably will,” Tam said. “Thus to the real reason that you’re here. Reconstructing the Corps down to division strength is the cover. The real reason you’re here is that if we end up in a furball with these guys, you’re going to have to take control.”

“Confused,” Mike said. “I’m a Lieutenant General now, sort of. That’s the sort of thing you assign to a captain. At least if we’re talking ACS.”

“DAG went rogue, remember?” Tam said. “With the Bane Sidhe. Which means that like as not, what you’re going to be fighting is DAG. Which is no slouch unit.”

“Ouch,” Mike said. “Still, with ACS…”

“If they have advanced weaponry?” Tam said.

“Which they would get… where?” Mike asked. “Sure, there’s some pretty heavy stuff sold for defense on Earth, but even the common plasma rifles aren’t a real threat to ACS.”

“They’ve got Indowy support,” Tam said, smiling thinly. “So don’t think they’ve only got civilian weapons.”