Birthright

“Well, we can't very well get whichever member of the council we decide to spare to make that

promise,” said Connough. “We are talking, Admiral, about overthrowing the most powerful single political and military establishment ever to exist. It is only natural that uncertainties as to its accomplishment and aftermath should exist.” “What's to stop the media and the public from assuming that the surviving Oligarch engineered the whole thing himself?” asked Broder, changing the subject. “An attempt will be made on his life as well, and doubtless he will sustain serious but nonfatal wounds. The would-be assassins will not live to tell what they know. Blame for the incident will be laid on a certain radical fringe group which, though innocent, will be only too happy to take credit for it.” “How soon are you ready to move?'’

“Within the next thirty days,” said Connough. “This means that Admiral Klare must be assassinated almost immediately.”

“It's a harebrained scheme,” said Broder. “What makes you think I won't turn you in the moment you've left my office? After all, this conversation hasn't been monitored or recorded. I could deny any complicity whatsoever and become a hero overnight.” “Indeed you could,” agreed Connough. “However, that is a risk I must take.” “You're a cool customer, I'll grant you that,” said Broder. “When must you have my decision?” “By this evening. You needn't contact me again. If you decide to join us, find some way to have Admiral Klare admit a man named Deros Boron to his office tomorrow afternoon. Everything else will be taken care of, and you will receive further instructions at the proper time. If Boron cannot gain admittance to Klare's office, you will have rejected my proposal.” “Is there any way I can get in touch with you?” asked Broder. “None,'’ said Connough, rising and leaving the room. Broder sat and stared at the wall. It was a crazy proposition, a million-to-one shot. It probably wouldn't get off the ground at all. The odds were even that Klare would come out unscathed. The odds were astronomical that the Oligarchy would survive. And the odds extended almost to infinity that even if Klare and six of the Oligarchs were successfully gotten out of the way, the seventh Oligarch wouldn't see eye to eye with the men who had so swiftly turned him into the most powerful sentient entity in history. And, he grimaced, the odds ofhis surviving were considerably longer than the odds on any of the intended victims. So much for the negative side ... but was there even a hint of a positive argument? There was.

It was preceded by half a hundred ifs, but it ended with him in total charge of the entire military complex of the Oligarchy.

Unlikely? Hell, yes. Improbable? Certainly. But not impossible.