In the Balance

Schmidt, Dieter driver of Heinrich Jager’s tank

Schneider, Sergeant U.S. Army recruiting sergeant

Schultz, Georg gunner of Heinrich Jager’s tank

Sebring, Gerald nuclear physicist, University of Chicago Metallurgical Laboratory

Simpkin, Joe rear gunner in RAF bomber crew

SKORZENY, OTTO SS Hauptsturmfuhrer

Spiegel, Michael German Army lieutenant colonel in Satu Mare, Romania

Stansfield, Roger Royal Navy commander; CO of HMS Seanymph

Sullivan, Joe pitcher Decatur Commodores (I–I-I League)

Sylvia barmaid at the White Horse Inn, Dover England

SZILARD, LEO nuclear physicist, University of Chicago Metallurgical Laboratory

THOMSEN, HANS German ambassador to the United States

Thomsen, Pete reporter on the Rockford Courier-Journal

TOGO, SHIGENORI Japanese foreign minister

Tompkins, Charlie mechanic in Strasburg, Ohio

Virgil sailor on the merchant ship Caledonia

Wagner, Eddie U.S. Army private near Delphi, Indiana

Whyte, Alf navigator in RAF bomber crew

Yeager, Sam outfielder Decatur Commodores (I–I-I League)

Yi Min Chinese apothecary

Yossel Jewish fighter in Poland

ZINN, WALT nuclear physicist, University of Chicago Metallurgical Laboratory

THE RACE

Atvar fleetlord, invasion fleet

Breltan radar technician, 67th Emperor Sohrheb

Drefsab intelligence operator on Atvar’s staff

Erewlo subleader, communications section

Feneress shiplord-member of Straha’s faction

Gefron killercraft pilot, flight leader

Gnik outpost commander at Fiat, Indiana

Hassov shiplord-member of Kirel’s faction

Horrep shiplord-member of Straha’s faction

Kirel shiplord, 127th Emperor Hetto

Krefak missile battery officer

Krentel landcruiser commander

Mozzten shiplord based in U.S.A.

Relek shiplord 16th Emperor Osjess

Relhost assault force commander in attack on Chicago

Ristin soldier captured by U.S. Army

Rolvar killercraft pilot

Shonar shiplord-member of Straha’s faction

Ssofeg prison-camp official in China

Straha shiplord 206th Emperor Yower

Svallah artillery supervisor in the attack on Chicago

Teerts killercraft pilot, flight leader

Telerep landcruiser gunner

Tessrek senior psychologist

Ullhass soldier captured by U.S. Army

Ussmak landcruiser driver

Votal landcruiser commander

Xarol killercraft pilot

Zingiber Northern Flank Commander in the attack on Chicago

Zolraag governor of Warsaw

1

Fleetlord Atvar strode briskly into the command station of the invasion fleet bannership 127th Emperor Hetto. Officers stiffened in their seats as he came in. But for the way his eye turrets swiveled in their sockets, one to the left, the other to the right, he ignored them. Yet had any been so foolish as to omit the proper respect, he would have noticed-and remembered.

Shiplord Kirel, his body paint less elaborate only than Atvar’s, joined him at the projector. As Atvar did every morning, he said, “Let us examine the target.” Kirel served the fleetlord by touching the control with his own index claw. A blue and gray and white sphere sprang into being, a perfect representation of a life-bearing world floating in space.