by Peter Grant
The surveillance team leader grinned. “And I’m sure we can persuade them to be generous, sir.”
“We have ways and means.”
14
Consultations
CONSTANTA
Frank Haldane shook his head slowly. “I said to you, a few weeks ago, that we’d be overextended, sir, but I didn’t know the half of it!”
Chuckles from the staff officers greeted his sally as Cochrane replied, “No, you didn’t. Neither did I, as a matter of fact, at least not at that time. I think everything I’ve told you has been based on the best evidence we have, and some pretty solid extrapolation from that. Does anyone disagree?” Heads shook in negation. Nobody said anything. “Then I think we can proceed to planning on the basis of likely developments. We have to deal with four operations. I’m going to assign each one to a separate commander for planning and action.
“First, there’s the Brotherhood’s new destroyers. In many ways, this is the pivotal event around which all others must take place, at least as far as we’re concerned. It establishes the timing for our single most important operation. At present, delivery of the new ships is scheduled for less than five months from now, after completion and shipyard testing. They’ll join the existing destroyers and depot ship in detention in New Skyros orbit. We expect the Brotherhood to try to seize them within a week or two after that happens, because they can’t afford to wait any longer than that.
“This operation is so critical that I’m going to take it in hand personally, at least in the initial stages. I’ll be heading for New Skyros soon, to try to arrange certain things that will make our operations there much easier. While I’m doing that, Frank Haldane will continue planning to attack and destroy any Brotherhood ships entering that system. He’ll have at least three frigates at his disposal. By then, two more may be worked up and available for operations; if not, we’ll add a few corvettes to his squadron, or an arsenal ship. He will command our assault.”
There was a rumble of approval from the staff. Dave Cousins asked, “What about prisoners, sir?”
“Brotherhood prisoners, you mean?” Dave nodded. “We won’t take any ourselves. If some of them take to the lifeboats, we’ll leave them for planetary forces to collect. New Skyros’ legal system can deal with them.”
All around the table, heads nodded. When push came to shove, Hawkwood was still just a space security company. It had no legal authority in its own right to take prisoners of any sort. Those few it had already taken were kept carefully concealed, for that reason.
“Next, the assault on the Brotherhood’s base. This has to take place after their forces have left for New Skyros to recover their destroyers, but before they return – if they survive to return at all, which I hope they won’t! We expect up to half their armed ships will go on that mission, to cover one or two freighters as they refuel and replenish the destroyers.
“That will leave only two or three fighting ships at their base, for our forces to overcome. If any of them try to surrender, we’ll let them, and take their crews and passengers prisoner. There’s no-one else out there to do that, and we’re not going to make ourselves judge, jury and executioner. I have some ideas about what to do with any prisoners we take, but that’s for future discussion. As for the ships, we might be able to use some, and we’ll sell or destroy those we don’t need.
“We don’t know what defenses we’ll face in addition to armed ships. They may have space mines, as we do in Mycenae, or even missile pods. If so, they’ll be in orbit around one or more of the planets in that system. For that reason, our ships must stay at least ten million kilometers away from every planet. If a Brotherhood ship surrenders, and it’s closer than that to a planet, they’ll order her to move out to meet them. If they refuse, they’ll be destroyed. If they’re too damaged to move under their own power, they’ll have to send their people out using lifeboats and small craft, after which their ship will be destroyed.
“Dave Cousins will command our strike force there. It’ll be based on two arsenal ships, accompanied by six to eight corvettes. It’s possible some corvettes may be provided by Qianjin.” There was an instant rumble of astonished comment. Cochrane held up his hand. “Don’t forget, they’ve been plagued by the Brotherhood even longer than we have. If they want to be in at the kill, I’ll accept their help and be grateful for it. It’ll allow us to use more of our ships elsewhere.”
Dave asked dubiously, “Will these be Qianjin Fleet ships, or Dragon Tong, sir?”
“Oh, Fleet, of course. The Tong doesn’t operate its own warships, as far as anyone knows. In the past, it’s called up a division of Qianjin Fleet vessels when it’s needed to deal with interstellar pirates from time to time.”
“I see, sir. Will they take my orders?”
“That’s a very important point. We’ll make sure of that before we allow them to accompany you.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Cochrane waited for any more questions, but there were none. “All right. Dave is already busy with planning for that operation. I’m leaving it in his hands, to let me concentrate on New Skyros, and another operation at a corporate planet named Mavra.” There was a rustle of surprise. None of the others, except for Henry and Caitlin, had heard of that planet before.
“I won’t go into details about it yet. Suffice it to say that Frank’s contacted someone he used to work with in the past, who helped us deal with the Callanish consortium a few years ago. We’re going to hire him to help us at Mavra. If we’ve guessed the Brotherhood’s timetable correctly, it’ll likely require action a month to six weeks before they go after their destroyers. Frank’s frigates will deal with it, then go on to New Skyros.”
Sue McBride raised her hand. This was her first staff meeting since her emergence from self-imposed isolation. She’d been welcomed back with exclamations of pleasure, hugs and handshakes all round, but was still a little tense and nervous as she got back into the swing of things.
“Sir, what might happen there? You haven’t given us any details.”
“No, I haven’t. That’s because we don’t know enough yet to say anything for sure, except that it’ll involve dealing with at least one Brotherhood ship. We have people looking into the situation there. Our future actions will depend on their reports.”
Cochrane didn’t look at Henry or Caitlin as he spoke. They’d sent Gustav and his people off aboard a small chartered freighter, soon after they’d arrived. Gustav’s initial report had spoken of establishing a cover story, identifying them as purchasers for an asteroid mining operation that was preparing to commence operations at a deserted star. His second report was expected any day now.
“I get it, sir. Thanks. What’s the fourth operation?” Sue sank back into her chair.
“That’s the only one where we won’t be directly involved in any military activity. It’ll be at Patos, the Brotherhood’s temporary home. We know the Big Three are planning to do something about them there. It may be pretty permanent for a lot of them. I won’t shed any tears for the guilty, but there are families, particularly women and children, who don’t deserve that. I’ve promised… certain parties who shall remain nameless, that if possible we’ll try to rescue those we can. Call it a humanitarian operation, if you wish.
“Hui, my wife,” and she blushed as a ripple of amusement ran around the room, “will handle planning for that. We’ll try to station a small freighter at Patos, carrying a personnel pod or two and the necessary supplies. She’ll use the excuse of a breakdown to remain in orbit there, waiting for parts for one or more of her systems before she can continue her journey. I’ll have a courier ship bring spares to her after a month or two, only to learn that some are the wrong parts, so that it has to go back for more. That’ll give us the chance to send orders, and learn what’s happening there. If anything happens that we have to know about urgently, the freighter can pretend to have repaired her damage, and head out to report to us.”
Jock commented, “And wh
ile we’re doing all that, we’ll still have our vessels patrolling in Mycenae and Larcuna, and some ships working up at Barjah, and others defending our base here at Constanta.” He looked across the table at Frank. “You weren’t joking about us being overextended.”
Frank nodded. “As our esteemed boss replied when I said that, ‘When haven’t we been?’ I daresay we’ll cope, even if only because we have to.” Another murmur of amusement ran around the table.
Cochrane looked around. “All right, people. Let’s get to work.”
Aferdita glowed like a sunbeam. “Thank you so much, Commodore!” She looked as if she wanted to throw her arms around his neck and hug him, her happiness was so transparent.
Alban wasn’t much better. “That will be a wonderful gift to my father, sir. Thank you very much!”
“It’ll be a pleasure,” he assured him. “If he can’t be here for your marriage, the least we can do is send him a vid of the proceedings when your mother goes to see him. The crew will arrive tomorrow morning. They’ll set up while the ship heads out beyond the system boundary, where her commanding officer’s powers of marriage take effect. He’ll perform the ceremony, then return to orbit. We’ll send you down to our training camp, to enjoy an extended honeymoon while the ship takes your mother to meet your father.”
Aferdita sighed, “I wish we could go with her, but I understand. You’ve been far more generous than we could ever have expected, and much more than our situation requires of you.”
“I’m accepting her word that she’ll come back, and her husband’s promise that he’ll allow her to return.” He glanced at Jehona. “Please don’t fail in that, Mrs. Sejdiu. If you don’t return, there are many in Hawkwood who’ll take that as a sign that nobody in the Brotherhood is to be trusted. If that happens, all your husband’s efforts, and mine, to rescue those we can, will be in vain.”
“I shall not fail you, Commodore,” Jehona said with a small sigh. “It will be painful to separate from Pal once more, but I know it is unavoidable. Perhaps, this time, it will not be for too much longer.”
“For all our sakes, Mrs. Sejdiu, I hope you’re right.”
PATOS
The hastily-called meeting of the Brotherhood Council listened with rapt attention as Gjerg Hyka recounted his and Pal Sejdiu’s experiences on Neue Helvetica.
“I am frankly amazed at how hard Pal works,” he concluded. “I felt like I was running at full speed trying to keep up with him. It was exhausting!” Laughter ran around the group. “I am very glad he is now counted among our number. He will be an asset to this Council for many years to come.
“He is now inspecting the three planets that are within our price range. He is also obtaining details of their environmental conditions. We shall need those to order the correct infrastructure for our first settlement, such as prefabricated housing, water purification systems, and the like. When he has visited all of them, he will return here to report to us, and allow us to make the final selection. He urges that we send to Neue Helvetica not only enough gold to buy the planet we want, but also sufficient funds to pre-order and pay for all the critical infrastructure we shall need at once, and buy more personnel pods for our freighters, so they can carry all of our people when the time comes.”
“That is an excellent idea,” Agim agreed. “It will save several months of delays.”
“What about the Gesellschaft’s interference?” another councilor asked.
“I am not familiar with them,” Gjerg confessed. “I left it to Pal to handle that side of things. He seemed very competent.”
“He is,” Agim confirmed. “That is why the Patriarch selected him to fill our most vital, most critical security position. I know something of the Gesellschaft. They dominate the criminal element on Neue Helvetica, but do not operate beyond that system, although they work with the Cosa Nostra when necessary. They are certainly dangerous on their own ground. However, Neue Helvetica is where we must buy our future home, thanks to United Planets regulations; so we have no choice but to accept that risk, and deal with it as best we can. I think Pal’s idea of establishing a new company to handle our needs was a good one. The Gesellschaft can waste their time monitoring Vaterland, while we get our business done behind their backs.” More laughter.
“Pal had another idea,” Gjerg went on. “He suggested that our forces should assign their most dedicated spacers and officers, those most committed to our cause, to the ships we send to New Skyros to collect our destroyers. That is the post of greatest danger for us, so our most trustworthy people should be on hand to deal with it. He says the remainder can be assigned to the ships that will remain behind to defend our base, as the risk to them will be much less. After all, as far as we can tell, no-one even knows where our base is, much less has plans to attack it.”
“That is another very good idea,” Agim approved. “I shall send orders this very day to Captain Toci, to implement it at once. I shall also have him assemble our gold aboard the refinery ship from its hiding places throughout the system. We keep it on several of the planets there, and aboard two ships, so that any accident or attack cannot steal or destroy all of it. Since most of it will soon be needed on Neue Helvetica, it will be best to have it ready to send with minimal delay. The balance will be available to take care of any urgent needs while we move our people from here to there, and then on to our new home.”
Another councilor asked, “Should we start preparing our people to move? They can begin disposing of things they do not plan to take, and packing the rest to load aboard our ships. That way, if the need arises, we can leave at short notice.”
Agim smiled. “This council is full of good ideas this morning!” More amusement. “Yes, let us do that once we have chosen our new home. The sooner we are ready, the more efficient will be our departure. Let us make the Patriarch proud of us!”
15
Reunion
RASKOL
Pal Sejdiu almost danced with impatience as his chartered courier vessel slid into orbit. This was a very minor planet in the galactic scheme of things, settled a few centuries before by members of the Old Believers schism from the Orthodox Church on Old Home Earth. They discouraged most contact with outsiders, preferring to keep to themselves. However, merely orbiting Raskol was not considered ‘contact’, so long as visitors did not land without invitation. The planet was only a hundred light years from Constanta, an easy hop for Hawkwood’s ship to rendezvous with him.
“They’re here, sir,” the skipper of his ship said to him, a faint smile on his face at his passenger’s obvious eagerness. “According to Orbital Control, Zaqar entered orbit yesterday.”
Pal nodded wordlessly, heart pounding. Cochrane had told him the name of the communications vessel that would bring his wife to the rendezvous. He managed to say, “Do you need to signal her that I’m coming over?”
“I’ll request permission to send our cutter to her, sir.” The skipper turned to his communications console.
OrbCon obligingly assigned an orbit to the new arrival that was close to Zaqar’s. As soon as the maneuver was completed, Pal grabbed his already-packed carryall and headed for the docking bay, where the ship’s pilot was waiting for him in the cutter. “It’ll take only about half an hour, sir,” he assured him.
Pal gulped. In his present feverish impatience, he knew it would feel like half a week. He forced himself to sit still as the pilot drew nearer to their destination, cut the gravitic drive, and allowed the other ship’s docking bay tractor and pressor beams to lay hold of the cutter, turning it and drawing it toward one of the airlocks. Locking bars extended to hold the small vessel in place, and the airlock trunk reached out to its rear ramp and sealed itself in place. A light above the ramp flickered from red to green.
“Clear to disembark, sir,” the pilot said as he lowered the ramp. “I’ll be back to get you in two days.”
“Thank you.”
Pal walked through the airlock into a small docking bay foyer. It was crampe
d, as was inevitable in such a compact spaceship, but immaculately clean, testifying without words to a captain and crew who took pride in their vessel.
A uniformed NCO was waiting for him. “This way, please, sir,” he greeted the new arrival. Pal noted with approval that he had not even asked his name. Discretion was clearly well understood aboard this vessel.
As they moved up the main passageway, his escort said quietly, “Sir, the passenger area has been stocked with food and drink, and the crew ordered to keep clear. The Commodore promised your wife that we will not monitor or record her during this visit, and he has so ordered us. She’s in her cabin, waiting for you. We won’t disturb you unless you ask for something.”
“Thank you very much.” Pal could feel his body trembling with eagerness. “I appreciate your courtesy.”
“It’s our pleasure, sir.”
He stopped outside a door. “The passenger area is through here, sir. Your wife is in Cabin One.”
“Thank you.”
Pal hurried through the door, and his escort closed it behind him. He knocked at the door to Cabin One. To his almost unbearable joy, he heard a familiar, beloved voice call, “Come in!”
He opened it – to find his wife standing before him, wearing only a flimsy negligée, clearly every bit as eager as he was himself.
She held out her arms. He dropped his carryall and rushed into her embrace.
Later – much later – he asked drowsily, “Where on earth did you get a negligée as a prisoner of war?”