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trace was there.
    Taking a deep breath, she directed an arrow-fine mental shout across the light-years, nadirward, to the Earth Prime FT & T Tower, high above the Grand Canyon.
    Alien spacecraft approaching our galaxy intercepting at Auriga
, she informed Jeff Raven.
    Damia
, control,
damn it, girl
. Control, Jeff replied, keeping his own mental roar within tolerable bounds.
    Sorry,
Damia amended briefly without real contrition. Her father was capable of deflecting her most powerful thrust.
    You are on a tight focus, I trust, with news like this?
he asked in an official tone.
    Of course, I am. But my first duty is to report to Earth Prime, isn’t it
?
    Don’t come over sweet innocence on me, missy. Now, give your full report
.
    Can’t give a full one. The alien aura is barely detectible, four light-years galactic north-northeast, Sector 2. I arrowed in once I heard the trace and it responded.
    It responded—
    The aura.
    You reported a spacecraft.
    Father, how else could anything cross the intergalactic sea?
    My dear child, in our galaxy, we have encountered many odd life forms that did not require light or oxygen to exist.
    I say, spacecraft. I touched it
.
    Damia?
and Jeff’s tone was suspicious.
Where are you?
    I was only resting,
she temporized, suddenly aware that she was doing something not quite circumspect.
    Resting is permitted. But how far are you from the Tower?
Jeff insisted.
    A light-year.
    With only a T-6 Station as control? Supposing, daughter, something happened to you? Supposing that alien aura decided to home in on you . . .
    Oh, Dad, if I can’t read more than an aura of Them, and they haven’t changed position or rate since I informed you, they sure as hell don’t pose any threat to me.
    She carefully suppressed a giggle at her father’s exasperation. She very seldom got the better of either her father or Afra—she erased that name and went on—but it didn’t keep her from trying.
    All right, missy, show me,
Jeff demanded, still severe.
    She allowed him to join her mind completely as she led him out beyond the blaze of stars. She led him directly to the alien trace. The aura was palpable but so far away that only the extraordinary perception of two powerful minds could sense it.
    I caught anticipation, curiosity,
Jeff told his daughter thoughtfully as he withdrew from the tight focus.
And caution, too. Whatever it is, is approaching our galaxy.
    I shall maintain a watch,
Damia volunteered, unable to conceal her intense excitement at this momentous event.
    Not at any time personally endangering yourself, Prime,
Jeff abjured her, coloring the official concern with personal.
    No, of course not. But I’d like to borrow Larak to maintain an augmented watch.
    Larak’s training T-3s to augment old Guzman on Altair. The old man sleeps most of the time but he’s the only Prime we have for that Sector until Ezro’s older,
Jeff replied.
I’ll send you Afra. He’d be better anyhow.
    Because Afra has already touched those aliens you and mother routed above Deneb twenty-odd years ago?
Damia laughed, covering up her reaction to Afra’s coming with a jab at her father’s recall.
    Jeff chuckled amiably, giving her credit for a deep perception.
    Well, I’d rather wait until Larak’s free. I can just hear mother screaming at being deprived of Afra.
    Damia,
Jeff’s tone crackled with disapproval.
That is an irrational, childish and insulting remark. Repair your attitude.
His tone altered.
If you hadn’t, at one time or another, intimidated every T-2, -3 and -4 in the Federated Worlds, I could send someone else—
    And matchmake into the bargain?
She tinged her thoughts with derision, and then advised smugly,
Your dynastic plans will bear better fruit with Jeran. Only don’t let him settle for anything less than a T-4.
    That was score two for her, she decided as she felt her father’s startled pause.
    You