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after all for some subtle, long-term reason, bad luck for the colonists. But at least the Xin won’t have it. Do you see? Though I must say it will be unfortunate if the very crops won’t grow here—”
    â€œI can make soil.”
    The ColU’s voice came clearly from Yuri’s backpack. Yuri, reluctantly being examined by the Greek doctor, looked alarmed at the sudden direct communication.
    The Brikanti ship’s commander was surprised too. Then, without hesitation, she marched over to Yuri, shoved him around so she could get at his pack, opened it, and peered at the components inside. “What trickery is this?”
    â€œNo trickery,
trierarchus
. I am a machine. An autonomous colonization unit. I am designed to assist humans in the conquest of alien worlds. And in particular, I can make soil.”
    â€œIf this is true—”
    â€œSoil is a complex of organisms, many of them microscopic, and nutrients of various kinds. If one of those is missing on this world, I will detect it, and with suitable equipment can begin the synthesis of supplements, the breeding of organisms.
Trierarchus
, I can make soil.”
    â€œAnd your price?”
    â€œSafety for myself and my companions.”
    Movena considered. “You know, I believe you. Impossible as it seems—but then you two, you
three
, are walking, talking impossibilities already, aren’t you? If Quintus Fabius believes this too—and, I suspect, if he buys off Titus Valerius by offering him and his daughter a ride off this dust bowl—then perhaps the situation can be resolved. And all you want is safety?”
    Yuri was racked by a coughing spasm. The doctor, looking concerned, helped him to sit.
    â€œSafety,” said the ColU from the pack that was still on Yuri’s back, “and medical attention for my friend.”
    Movena grinned. “How pleasing it will be for me to deliver this miracle to the arrogant Romans. Let me talk to Quintus.”

5
    AD 2213; AUC 2966
    By the time the Nail struck Mercury, the ISF spacecraft
Tatania
had already been traveling for three days. The ship had headed straight out from the Earth-moon system, away from the sun, and was more than three times as far from the sun as the Earth, when Beth Eden Jones picked up a fragmentary message from her mother.
    â€œI’m sorry I had to throw you at General Lex, even if he does owe me a favor. Wherever you end up, I’ll come looking for you. Don’t forget that I’ll always—”
    And then, immediately after, the flash, dazzling bright, from the heart of the solar system. The bridge was flooded with light.
    Beth saw them react. Lex McGregor, in his captain’s chair, straightening his already erect back. Penny Kalinski grabbing Jiang Youwei’s hands in both her own. Earthshine, the creepy virtual persona, seeming to freeze. They all seemed to know what had happened, the significance of the flash.
    All save Beth.
    â€œWhat?” Beth snapped. “What is it? What happened?”
    Earthshine turned his weird artificial face to her. In the years she’d spent in the solar system, Beth had never got used to sharing her world with fake people like him.
    â€œThey have unleashed the wolf of war. We, humanity, we had it bound up with treaties, with words. No more. And now,
this.
”
    â€œ
They
being . . .”
    â€œThe Hatch builders. Who else?”
    â€œAnd you, you aren’t human. You say
we.
You have no right to say that.”
    The virtual looked at her mournfully. “I was human once. My name was Robert Braemann.”
    And she stared at him, shocked to the core by the name.
    Lex McGregor turned to face Penny. “So this is the kernels going up. Right, Kalinski?”
    â€œI think so.”
    â€œWhat must we do? We were far enough from the flash for it to have done us no immediate harm, I think. God bless inverse-square spreading. What comes next?”
    Penny seemed