If only they didn't have this towering independency and conceit, Ward thought. They used to fight as individual ships. Then they weren't the least surprised if a lonely frigate was blown to splinters by an overwhelming Grimnal force. In fact, it was a thing of joy and beauty forever.
It was only by the very fiercest thundering had he gotten this fleet together under Tahn, and only Tahn's high position had kept it together. And God only knew how much longer it would hold together. The Grimnal had shown remarkable organization. Ward had pointed that out, and that was a gross mistake.
The Kali wanted nothing to do with what the Grimnal did.
A sharp rap sounded on the cabin door and a Kali slipped in. He made the casual motion that could be a salute, a greeting or a wave good-by, depending on circumstances.
"Two gliders return," he said happily. "In the bay are two first-liners, four second-liners, five frigates and some corvettes. All at anchor. Just waiting for us."
Ward nodded.
"How many corvettes?"
The Kali's face wrinkled in dismay.
"Fifty-six," he said softly.
Ward smiled to himself, and ran the Kali fleet by in his mind.
Eighteen first-liners mounting a hundred-twenty guns apiece. Eleven second-liners mounting eighty to ninety guns. Twenty-four frigates mounting fifty to sixty guns. Fifty-two corvettes mounting ten to twenty guns. A strong force, but not as strong as the Grimnal potential. Firmly, he said:
"We will run down almost to Anda Passage—then wait."
The Kali glanced at each other. Tahn coughed.
"Not to go in?"
"No!"
"Why?"
Ward took a deep breath and told himself to stay calm.
"We know there are land guns along the Passage. We know that even without them three first-liners could hold it against anything. We know that those ships in the bay are not the whole fleet. Where are the rest?"
Double cough. Double head bob. Two helpless expressions.
"We outnumber," Tahn said hopefully.
Ward muffled a smile. At least they were learning something.
"We cannot go in, Tahn. It's a trap."
Tahn was quiet, his whole body slowly coming to what Ward knew was hurt pride and anger.
"Then we wait?"
"We wait."
Tahn was nearly rigid, his voice fighting its cage of control.
"We wait like before?"

It was Ward's turn to let a tingling moment pass. This was the first overt mention of his past actions. He must walk softly. Kali temper was like nitroglycerine; one touch the wrong way....
"We wait only to learn of the other Grimnal ships," he said evenly. "We let them make the first move in order to see what they are doing. Then we strike—hard!"
After a long, breathless moment, Tahn coughed. It was one that Ward never heard before, but judging by sound, it was not meant to be pleasant. Ward stood up, stared directly at Tahn and said quietly "I charge you with honesty, Tahn."
It was a serious phrase. Tahn made the equivalent of a nod.
"There is much talk," he began, his voice higher pitched. "We ask ourselves why we do not fight. The Grimnal takes many islands; land that is ours. He does not defeat us, but we do not stop him. We wait as you tell us. We wait and see our islands lost.
"The Kali are ashamed, and the Grimnal laughs. We cannot go home and face our women and children.
"You come to show us how to fight, you say. But we do not fight. We wait. You tell us things that will make us win, but we do not fight. We wait. You hold us back. We ask ourselves why."
He straightened, obviously grabbing a big piece of Kali courage.
"There is an answer why. Perhaps you help other Gods than ours. Or—perhaps you are afraid."
There it was. Stark and ugly. Ward looked at Tahn for a long time, then straightened to his full five-eleven.
"As a God Helper I am charged with honesty at all times," he said, and let it sink in for a second.
"I see many more things than the surface of the sea and the direction of the wind. What I do for the Kali is for the good of the Kali. If you follow me, you go to victory. If you do not follow, you go to the bottom."
The Kali glared with glittering eyes. Tahn's cough was a bark.
"Perhaps some will follow."
Their parting salute was crisp as they spun and left.
Ward eased himself back to the chair and stared at the door. This was the ragged edge. They fight the one coming, or else.... And if they lost it, the Confederation could mark off the Kali, John Ward and the planet.
He remembered all too clearly the other engagements, if you would call them that. And he remembered too the disappointment, chagrin and outright anger of the Kali, and his own frustration.

Engagement One: Taley Point. They had sur............