“Looks as if the whole Fleet is assembled.” Reza Pahlavi stared at the display as the ships fell into formation. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many starships in one place. Must be at least twelve of them here.”
Eight Four Seven had made a textbook dropout from hyperspace and was slowing her speed. The space around her was filled with ships of all types and sizes.
“You’re right.” Harry stared in fascination. “Some I do not recognise—they must be our new allies from the Imperium.”
“Request for a link, sir. It’s the Admiral.”
“Put him on my link.” Harry sat up straight as the Admiral appeared on his screen. “Good evening, sir.”
“Welcome back, Ancient Mariner. Your request that the Almighty ‘defend your cause against the ungodly’ appears to have been answered in perfect timing.” The Admiral’s smile was warm. “Proceed directly to the Beagle. She’s expecting you. My barge will be there to collect you and the part of the message that’s for my eyes only.” His face showed his pleasure. “Tell your people well done. You chaps have pulled off quite a feat.”
“Thank you, sir. I will.” Harry paused. “It was touch and go for the last part, sir.”
“So I gather.” The Admiral chuckled. “Rear Admiral Pienaar was most impressed with your manoeuvre around one of your shadows and tells me you went through and past her task group like a cat with his tail on fire. Oh yes, she asked what you meant by thanking her for relieving you of some dead albatrosses.”
“Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,’ sir. It seemed appropriate.”
Harry placed the container on the desk and was interested to see that Anton DuBois now seemed to be a member of Dr. Martin Borner’s team. Harry pushed this observation to the back of his mind and began his report.
“Captain, Dr. Borner, as you can see, the seals are intact. It is as I removed it from the delivery drone.”
Captain Kretzmann examined the seal. “Okay, Harry. Break it open for us, and let’s see what we’re supposed to do with the contents.”
Harry studied the images of the flags that formed a decorative pattern around the container’s lid. From the original signal he received, he knew that any attempt to remove the band without first touching the flags in the correct order for the removal code would result in the self-destruction of the contents. He opened his battered copy of the signal book, circa 1801, and checked the flags he needed. “I hope the people who created this got it right.” He turned the cylinder and found the first flag. He pressed the image and it immediately vanished. All good so far, he reassured himself, and rotated the container then touched the second, then a third. He paused, found the next sequence and repeated the process for another five groups, each containing a group of three flags or pennants.
To everyone’s relief, the seal expanded slightly and dropped, revealing an inset keypad. “Someone really didn’t want the contents to fall into the wrong hands,” exclaimed Captain Kretzmann. “Do you know the code for that, Harry?”
“Aye, sir.” Harry reached into his pocket and withdrew the note the Admiral’s barge had brought. “Perhaps you should enter it, sir.” He handed the note across to the Captain. “The Admiral indicates only that it is the key code once the seal is removed. I am to convey something to him from within this container once it is open. Everything else is for Dr. Borner and the science teams.”
The Captain glanced at the note. “Well, I’ll be damned.” He laughed. “Push the damned thing across and I’ll do the deed then.”
Harry obliged and waited while the Captain activated the keypad and entered his ship’s identification code and pennant number. There was a soft click followed by a hiss as the lid released and the air pressure stabilised. He removed the lid and peered into the container. “My guess is that all these vials are for your team, Martin.” He lifted the contents out and set them on his desk. “There are some data chips as well. Looks like you’re going to have a busy time ahead.” He fished out a smaller package. “And this is addressed to the Admiral.” He handed it to Harry. “Better get it to him.”
“Sit down, Harry.” Admiral Heron waved him to a seat, his expression one of pleasure. “Tell me about your mission.” The opened wallet, the protective seals lying to one side and the documents it had contained lying beneath the Admiral’s hand had taken some twenty minutes to read, though the recipient had not shared the content.
“It was routine for the most part, sir.” Harry’s face lit up with humour. “Though extremely cramped, with all the stores we had to find a place for, at first.”
The Admiral laughed. “I expect so. Presumably it improved?”
“Yes, sir, once we’d eaten our way down to the normal levels.”
The Captain chuckled at the visual image that conjured, and Harry accepted a cup of coffee from the android steward.
Harry took a sip before adding, “The method of signalling us was novel, I must say, sir. Quite took me back to the Spartan. Your idea, sir?” He smiled because he already knew the answer.
The Admiral nodded. “I thought you, Danny and Ferghal would probably be the only ones able to decipher it. We had to get Danny to compose it and to encode the seal. That was the only part I had doubts about, since we had to transmit it through the normal channels, and I couldn’t be sure it was secure.” His face registered pride. “I should have known my Ancient Mariners would be able to come up with something only they would understand. Danny had to explain the message and its origins to Flags.”
Harry’s face broke into a grin. “I expect ‘splice the mainbrace’ has little meaning now, sir.”
“True. As I understand Danny, it meant an issue of neat rum was to be made to the crew. I don’t think we’ll try that. Danny says it was a pint to each man!”
“Indeed, sir.”
“He said the mainbrace was an important piece of the rigging and only a drunken man would splice it.”
“Indeed, sir. If it parted or was shot away, we were likely to have our entire rig go over the side, leaving the ship helpless. It was always made from the strongest cable the ship could obtain, and never spliced.” Harry laughed.
The Admiral chuckled. “I can understand why. Now, tell me about the pursuit. When did you pick up your tail, and what made you suspect a trap?”
Harry gave a brief recount of how they detected the suspicious ship and figured out the peculiar manoeuvres it used to maintain distance, and the growing suspicion that they were being driven into a trap. “We tried several manoeuvres to shake him off, none successful, sir. Even when we met the second ship and it pursued us in dropout, the shadow ship remained in hyperspace awaiting some indication of success, I presume.” He frowned. “He made no effort to come to the aid of his companion, which I found exceedingly strange.”
“You created a decoy, though, and he responded to that.”
“So I thought, sir, but now I think that was a third ship.” He paused, his frown deepening. “There was something else, sir. It seemed as if these ships were able to detect us by some means unfamiliar to us. They seemed to sense where we were hiding, and came sniffing in the manner of a dog scenting its quarry.”
The Admiral’s face showed concern. “So your stealth systems weren’t in operation?”
“They were fully operational, sir. This was something more akin to an animal hunting its prey.”
Mary was delighted as the hologram formed and Harry’s handsome face came into view. “Harry, you sweet man, my own gorgeous space warrior, there you are, finally! I was just sitting here thinking of how to get a link to you when I got the advisory that there was a hyperlink request.” She leaned forward and air-kissed him. “Oh, I miss you so b-a-d. Where’ve you been? Six weeks and not a single word from you—it’s been agony!”
“I’ll have to tell you all about it when we’re together again, beautiful girl. That top looks great on you, by the way,” he added with a look of appreciation in his eyes.
�
��Thank you, I put it on just for you!”
“It was worth the effort.” He smiled again. “Hey, good news, I’ve been given leave while they fix a few defects on 847. I wish I could come home and be with you, but I have to spend my leave time on the Prinz.”
Mary groaned. “Why? That just sounds like more work to me. Why are they even calling it leave if you have to report for duty to another ship?”
Harry laughed. “Well, at least it won’t be as demanding as what we’ve just been through, so there’s that. I’ve been able to catch up on my letters and some painting and sketching.” His face softened. “But what about you, my love? How are things at home?”
She grinned. “You obviously made quite an impression on Monty Montaigne. He sings the praises of those ‘dashing young men and women who man the corvettes,’ and we all know he’s referring to one young man in particular. According to him, you’re fighting this war singlehanded.”
Harry chuckled. “No comment.”
Mary’s smile morphed into a look of concern. “Seriously, though, Harry, please take care of yourself. Aunt Niamh is furious with the Admiral for putting you Danny and Ferghal in the front line, as she calls it.”
“Don’t worry, sweet girl. We take all the care we can. I know Aunt Niamh wishes to have us all brought home, but this is where we must be. The Admiral is merely doing his job, and besides, he’s used to his sister’s browbeating by now.” They shared a laugh at that comment. Harry added, “I hope the cancellation of your tour has not cost you as much as I suspect it might have done.”
She laughed. “Yeah, that. My manager and agent were not very happy, but, thankfully, they had insured against disruption, so it won’t be a total loss.” She lifted her shoulders in a slight shrug. “It’s really okay. I’ve been able to take on other engagements at home, and it’s nice not having to travel all the time.” She hesitated. “I know you’re doing what you feel you must, Harry, but I share Niamh’s concerns. I wish you could all be a bit less in the thick of the fighting. Can’t you ask for a desk job for a while maybe?”
Harry’s head shake and chuckle told her all the answer she needed to that suggestion.
“I know, that would drive you crazy, and then you wouldn’t be the Harry I love and admire so much. You’re my very own sexy Ancient Mariner, and I don’t want to lose you—ever! I want you around until we’re old and pottering about the garden together.”
Mary didn’t realise that she’d just let slip her desire to spend the rest of her life with Harry, and his heart skipped at beat at this reassurance. “I’ll do my best, but we are engaged in a fight for survival, my love, despite what the LPSL think. This enemy will never surrender, and if we surrender to them, that will mean the end of our species entirely.” His link chirped. “I need to go now. Duty calls, and all that! I’m glad I found you at home. I despatched my latest letters today. I hope you’ll enjoy them. Give my love to Niamh when you see her.” He caught the briefest glimpse of her lovely eyes and smile before the hologram vanished as the link closed.
“Your command is as good as new, Captain.” Ferghal grinned as he dropped into a chair next to Harry. “She tells me you make her perform manoeuvres she was not designed for.” Ferghal’s elbow nudge was accompanied by a naughty wink. “So what’s that all about then?”
Harry laughed out loud. Ferghal was always good for comic relief, and he was relaxed enough now to enjoy it. Three weeks of enforced holiday while his beloved 847 was in the hands of the repair crews had given him time to rest, get a number of things in perspective, and catch up with all his reports, commendations for his crew, advancement orders and the myriad things a Commander has the ultimate responsibility of handling in a timely manner. One of these was the move of Reza Pahlavi to his own command.
“I had little choice but to drive her hard,” said Harry, not realizing the untended nuanced meaning behind his reply, but Ferghal didn’t miss a beat.
“Oh, I bet you did,” he added with a big grin, and accepted the glass proffered by the steward. “I will say only that it’s a miracle the drives did not part company with us, or the containment fail on the reactors.” He took a long sip. “We’ve almost had to rebuild her aft end as well as the hangar.” He eyed his friend over the rim of his glass. “You have a new launch by the way.”
“Excellent news, thank you, my friend.” Harry finished his drink and stood. “I have to see the Commander in five minutes.” He smiled. “I shall have to make my peace now with 847 as well. No doubt you’ve filled her databanks with tales of my ruthless behaviour.”
“There was no need. She already knew!”
Harry knocked at the door of the Commander’s office.
“Enter.”
“You wanted to see me, sir.”
“Yes.” The Commander looked up from his tablet. “Take a seat.” He waited until Harry had settled. “Feeling a bit rested now? Ready for the next challenge?”
Harry considered the Commander’s expression. It gave nothing away. “I think I’ve caught up on all the returns, damage reports, voyage reports, promotions and defaulters, sir.” He tried to gauge the mood. “And I got some recreational time in the swimming pool and on the fencing piste, and some sleep, and managed to get a little reading in.”
“Good, good.” The Commander nodded, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth. He leaned back in his chair. “So you’re ready to deploy again. Your ship has recovered from your abuse of her hull and drives, according to the engineering crew.”
“So Ferghal tells me, sir. They wouldn’t let me watch what they were doing to her.”
The Commander laughed. “I should think not. An anxious young owner breathing down their necks while they took her apart and put her back together was the last thing they needed.” He pushed a datachip across the desk. “Your new orders. A junior officer will join you tomorrow. I think you may know him. Regidur will remain as your weapons officer, and you’ll have another Lieutenant as well.”
He paused, amusement showing in his eyes as he tried to keep a straight face. “Oh, and you might want to get some new rank markings. You’ll be acting as my second in command of the flotillas. You’ll be looking after the 36th. Korinna is taking on the 37th, replacing Michael Waterhouse. I’ll be shifting between 771, 830 and 841 when necessary.”
He stood, unable to contain his smile any longer, and held out a hand. “Congratulations, Lieutenant Commander Heron.”
Feeling slightly dazed, Harry stood and accepted the handshake. “Thank you, sir. I hope I can live up to the honour.”
“Harry, I shall be surprised if you don’t.”
He made his way back to the lounge with his mind in a whirl and stopped short in the doorway as a cheer greeted him. His friends surrounded him, and before he could protest, they lifted him and carried him around the compartment before ceremoniously depositing him in a specially decorated chair. A drink appeared in his hand, and he found himself shaking with laughter as everyone raised a glass and called out their congratulations.
It proved to be the start of a long and boisterous night.
Chapter 33
Infection
“Ferghal, what brings you aboard again?”
“Orders.” Ferghal’s grin creased his face. “I’m to replace Lieutenant Pahlavi as your first and engineering specialist.”
Harry beamed his pleasure. “That’s wonderful. The Commander said I was to get a replacement, but he didn’t say who. I could not ask for better.” He frowned as he remembered something else. “We’re to have a new junior as well. Do you know who he is?”
“Is that a fact, now. That would explain the youngster I found skulking. I dragged him along, thinking he might be useful.” He stepped back and stuck his head into the corridor. “The Captain will see you now, yonker.”
Harry was perplexed at Ferghal’s casual remark to the junior, but laughed in pleasure and surprise when the smiling face of Danny Gunn appeared. “Danny! By all that’s wonderful. So all the Anc
ient Mariners are together again.” He squeezed around the desk and Ferghal’s bulk to take Danny’s hand, noting the new Sub-Lieutenant insignia he sported on his uniform. “Congratulations, you passed the exams then.”
“Aye, sir, that I did.” He looked impish. “And escaped the flagship.”
“Then you’ll have done your chances of advancement little good. Everyone knows it’s the starship men who get the medals and the promotions!” Harry paused. “Does Aunt Niamh know?”
Danny’s face fell. “Not unless the Admiral has told her, because I’ve not done it yet.”
When Danny saw Harry and Ferghal exchange a wry glance, he clapped his hands on his face. “Aaahhh! Now I’m in for it, aren’t I? I should’ve told her, but her last letter was filled with pleadings to take care, and her hopes that I would soon find a larger ship to serve, a big enough ship to keep me safe.” He shook his head. “I dread to think her response when she discovers we are now all on one of the smallest and most active ships in the Fleet.”
“Best not tell her then!” said Ferghal, and Harry nodded his agreement.
“What she doesn’t know won’t hurt her. She’ll find out when the time is right.”
“Any progress, Dr. Borner?”
“Ja. We make good progress with this. But there is a big question. The DNA it is keyed to is not the soldier creatures, nor is it the material we obtained from any of the infected ships. Dr. Palmer and his people have struggled to interpret the text that came with it.” He hesitated. “If we understand the message, this is designed to affect the DNA of the creatures that control all the others.”
Captain Kretzmann frowned. “Affect? How so?”
Martin leaned back, his face serious. “It is a type of infective agent—a plague, but it affects only one creature: the one whose DNA we know only from the files the Siddhiche give us.”
“So we are supposed to spread a dangerous infective agent? I’m pretty sure that’s against every rule in every convention on warfare.”
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