Chapter tenIn pursuance of that policy — to use an amusingly pompous phrase beloved of the verbose governments of two worlds — we needed an army, a navy and an air force. We had one crippled flying ship.
“Once Deb-Lu or Khe-Hi regain contact,” said Seg in his big confident way, “we’ll soon have it all settled.”
A few of us were gathered in the aft cabin of Shankjid. This was not a Council of War, for, as you know, I have little faith in them. This was a meeting where we might take a breath and plan. As always, the final decisions would have to be taken by me. Had I ever, I remember thinking as we sat around talking and drinking there in the paneled after cabin of this strange voller, had I ever really got used to making Emperor’s decisions? Oh, I made them smartly enough, as this narrati
