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between ours and that one. Hexosehr estimates, and our own, place the arrival of overwelming Dreen normal space forces at between twelve and twenty years. Best estimate is fifteen.”
    “Bozhe moi,” the Russian muttered. “This is . . . not well news.”
    “That estimate assumes two things. That they do not find out the location of Earth and that even if they do they do not want to jump ahead.”
    “If I may add one note,” Bill said diffidently.
    The NSA nodded. “Go ahead, Captain.”
    “The Dreen, and the Hexosehr, use a warp technology that is similar to wormhole jumping,” Bill said. “We're still studying it. But they jump, rather slowly compared to the Blade, from star to star. In normal space, the Hexosehr fleet will not reach our region for at least two years. The majority of the Dreen are farther out. If they found out where Earth was today, they would take at least two years to reach here, more like three, in any force. This is part of the full briefing documents we are turning over to your governments, as I understand it.”
    “The U.S. government, the British government and the Adar planetary government are all aware of this new information,” the NSA said. “Our plan was to bring your governments in, through more or less normal diplomatic channels, next week. And, no, I'm not making that up. What we've been waiting on, frankly, is a documentary to be completed. Three, actually. One to assist the briefings of your governments and two for general consumption. At that point, the Hexosehr were going to be presented as well as the Cheerick ambassador to the Alliance. And it was intended to offer expansion of the Alliance to other Earth governments. We're fully aware that we cannot stop the Dreen by ourselves. No combination of the U.S. and Britain can possibly do so. We know we were keeping you in the dark, but we didn't intend to do so for much longer.”
    “Frankly, this just jumped the gun by a week,” the President continued. “The general audience doumentary is complete. Would you care to see it? It's three hours long, intended to run for three nights. But the chairs are comfortable . . .”
    “I would,” the Chinese delegate said. “And you mentioned further information. Is this to be technical?”
    “We're going to be depending on technology from the Hexosehr,” the President said. “They are as far ahead of the Adar as the Adar are ahead of us. Perhaps further. It is Hexosehr technology that might permit humanity to survive. But it will require a world-wide effort, a coalition of the willing if you will. We have enough time to prepare. If we actually do so.”
    “That is the rub, isn't it?” the Indian said, smiling broadly. “The most effective economies on Earth, all pardons to my Chinese colleague, are the democracies. Can we sustain a fifteen-year buildup? If we did, we would win. Unquestionably. In fifteen years we could establish colonies, schools, training facilities, build a fleet beyond even the comprehension of the Dreen. We could put in massive defenses if we went to a full wartime footing for even ten years. We have six billion people on this planet and with what I've seen of the Hexosehr manufacturing ability, which is amazing, it would just be a matter of training space sailors and Marines. But can we? Will we? Can we sustain such a push? At the cost to our economies? In the teeth of wailing as consumer goods become scarce?”
    “We can,” the Chinese delegate said. “If this doesn't turn out to be an elaborate tale.”
    “You'll be given all the data we recovered,” the President promised.
    “Let us see this documentary, then,” the Russian said. “And could we have something stronger than coffee?”
     
    “You're sure you're shiny?” Eric asked.
    “I'm fine,” Brooke replied, grinning. “Better than fine. Okay, a bit sore.”
    “I hadn't realized you were . . . weren't . . .” Eric said, trying to figure out how to put it