> "Easier said than done, sir. To date not many of the major powers has
>seen a Venasian warship in combat and lived to tell the tale. Mostly
>because there have not been many wars, but they have put on a few
>demonstrations of their power in the past. Boiled down this means that our
>best people are only 'experts' in terms of comparrison to the rest of us.
>However, I will work out a few rules of engagement with what we have. With
>your permission, I would like to involve a few field commanders that I
know.
>They would be a great asset to the planning, and they can contribute
>remotely- from their stations in the field."
"Of courrrse," she said, nodding. "I'm not worrrried about warrrships; the
fleet can handle that. I want to take what we know, even if it's not a
lot, and see what we can make of it forrr a black op inside a Venasian city
orrr colony. If we do need a team to get people out orrr sabotage weapons,
I want that team to know as much as they can. Get one of ourrr docs with
the team too; if they have to underrrgo alterrrations to look and seem
Venasian in everrry way in orrrderr to be safe, then I want a doc on hand
forrr shorrrt notice worrk. If we don't have one that knows Venasian
anatomy well enough, tell me and I'll ask Drrr. Brrrennan if he has someone
who can worrrk with us on this."
"Understood. However, I think that you had better go ahead and talk
to Doctor Brennan. I don't think we have anyone that has the expertice that
we need."
"So, we have two powderrr kegs, on two differrrent frrronts. I wonderrr
which will go off firrrst?" She had no doubt in her mind that the Venasian
situation was a prelude to invasion. All those colonies, conveneiently
located in every empire's backyard, as Aurelius had said? No, this was
well-planned, for a long time.
Without skipping a beat, Aurellius replies, "I'd say the Venasian, as it
is the one that we are least prepared to tackle at the moment."
