But Kinsman could not sleep anymore. He tossed in the bunk for what seemed like a week, got up and padded around the darkened compartment, bumping into the dresser that was built into the bulkhead beside the bunk. Finally, when the glowing digits of the clock said 0700 he put in a call to Diane. The phone screen stayed blank as Selene's computer tracked her down. She was not in her quarters or at the communications center. Finally her face appeared on the small screen. Kinsman recognized the background instantly; she was in his own office.

"You're up early," he said.

"You too. Is everything all right?"

"I was going to ask you that."

Completely serious, she said, "Everything's running smoothly here. No trouble from Colt or any of the other dissidents."

"Good."

Diane frowned slightly as she said, "We got the word that everything went well, at first. But then there were reports about fighting. Nobody seemed to know what was happening for a while. Finally word came through that you had taken control of all three stations, and that Leonov had taken the Russians' stations. There was quite a celebration, the Rus- sians and us."

"Sorry I missed it."

"When will you be back?"

"I'm hoping I can leave today. Be back, urn, Thursday sometime. We'll work out an exact ETA later."

"All right."

Christ! he thought, we might as well be talking about the weather! How can she just . . .

"We saw the Chinese rocket intercept," Diane said. "It happened in the middle of the party. Everybody was in the main plaza. And when the Orca missiles were fired ..."

"Orca?"

She brushed a strand of dark hair back from her eyes. Kinsman began to realize that she probably had not slept all night. "Yes. We watched the whole thing on the big screens in the plaza. Everybody cheered when they were shot down."

"Yeah, I'll bet," he said weakly.

She peered into the camera. "Are you all right?"

"I Just need a little rest."

"The worst is over now," Diane said. Then she added, "Isn't it?"

"Yes. The worst is over," he answered, wishing he could believe it was true.

As soon as Diane signed off Kinsman punched the code for the comm center and asked for the Officer of the Day.

"Why wasn't I informed about the Orca missiles?" he demanded.

The youngster wore a lieutenant's bars and a wispy light brown mustache. "Sir, you gave orders that you were not to be disturbed unless something critical happened. The subma- rine launched six missiles in salvo from the mid-Pacific. We assume it was an American sub, since the projected trajectory of the missiles was toward targets in Siberia. Our fire control crew aboard Gamma tracked the missiles while the ABM system engaged them in automatic mode and shot them all down within four minutes of launch. No sweat. Sir."

Kinsman sagged back on the bunk and grinned. "I see."

"We have videotapes, sir, if you wish to review the action." The Lieutenant was very sure of himself, as only a young officer can be when he has the rules working on his side and he knows it.