Out in die middle of the harbor a circle of islands finked by causeways marked the site of an ancient caldera and the modem navy basin. Near it moved the low hulk-log gray shape of a battlewagon, spewing black smoke from its stacks. His mind categorized it automatically: Ezerherzoe Grufan, name-ship of her class, launched last year. Twelve thousand tons displacement, four 250-mm rifles in twin turrets fore and aft, eight 175mm in four twin-tube wing turrets, eight 155mm in barbette mounts on either side, 200mm main belt, face-hardened alloy steel Four-stacker with triple expansion engines, eighteen thousand horsepower, eighteen knots.

Tile biggest, baddest thing on the water, or at least it would be until the Republic launched its first of the Ifemocmt-class in eighteen months.

Fair shook his head. Enough. You're going home. He raised his eyes.

Snow-capped volcanoes ringed the port city of Oathtak-ing on three sides. They reared into the ha^ tropical air like perfect cones, their bases overlapping in a tangle of valleys and folds coated with rain forest like dark-green velvet. Below the forest were terraced fields; Fair remembered riding among them. Dusty gravel-surfaced lanes between rows of eucalyptus and flamboyants. A little cooler than down here on the docks; a little less humid. Certainly better smelling than the oily waters of die harbor. Pretty, in a way, the glossy green of the coffee bushes and the orange orchards. He'd gone up there a couple of times, invited up to the manors of family estates by Chosen navy types eager to get to know the Republic's naval attache1. Not bad oscos, some of diem; good sailors, terrible spies, and given to asking questions that revealed much more than they intended.

Also, tiiat meant he got a travel pass for die Oaditak-ing District. There were some spots where a good pair of binoculars could get you a glimpse at die base if you were quick and discreet.