Howed Kanner of Refuge also responded promptly, though his expression was irritated. I'd apparently woken him. Cornwell's tablet was also answered by an underling, and again I had to bully and threaten, but finally President Tyree's irritated face appeared. President Crapen of East Brent was the last to appear, rumpled and pajama-clad. For several minutes I had been fending off the angry complaints and questions of the others.
As soon as they were all represented, I began: "Gentles, I apologize for disturbing you, but I think you will agree that this is a genuine emergency.
"Half an hour ago, some fifty armed terrorists, led by a man we have identified as General Faba Hunto of the New Home Royal Army seized a supply airship and invaded the International Zone. He was followed by another, larger airship, with even more men. These men have seized the Zone by force of arms. Ten minutes ago, the robot piloting the Lander assigned to the Zone was deactivated, presumably using violence, and the Lander lifted off rather clumsily five minutes ago. It carries nineteen armed men and the General.
"Gentles, I have been criticized for refusing to train Haven pilots for the Landers, but I have always assumed that by doing so, I took responsibility for the security of Adventurer and her cargo. So, the terrorists will not be greeted warmly.
"It will take the lander more than two hours to reach Adventurer. Once the terrorists in their stolen lander manage to reach her, they will not find an easy welcome. Adventurer's crew and workmen are evacuating her as we speak. That evacuation will be complete in less than half an hour. By the time the terrorists arrive, Adventurer will have shut down all life support. There will be no lights or temperature control, and her air will be being pumped into storage tanks. It will take almost a week to reduce the entire ship back to vacuum, but that will be accomplished.
"The terrorists will also find all exterior doors and hatches secured, including the landing bay doors. and they will find that Adventurer will respond to no one's commands but my own. Unfortunately, that includes your own tablets. The ship will neither accept nor acknowledge any contact but mine. I anticipate that they will find themselves unable to find a way aboard, and will of necessity return to the Zone."
I had been watching King David's face since I began speaking. His confident smile had faded, and his face had grown paler and paler. "NO!" he shouted. "Those are not terrorists! Retired General Hunto has been appointed by the Chancellor to the position of University Provost. As such, he is responsible for ensuring the order and safety of University personnel and property. Naturally, he must have a force of police to enforce the policies of the International Council."
"Oh, really?" President Runtz grated. "And why do I not remember a vote on the establishment of this interesting position?"
King David's superior smile reappeared. "Oh, Cellia voted for it, sire. It was in the list of staff the Chancellor requested."
Runtz nodded. "In other words, you sneaked it into the middle of a list of over three hundred positions, including cooks and janitors. But even so, I would have noticed a fifty-man police force, especially one that I suspect consists entirely of military veterans from New Home."
The King's smile slipped. "Well, of course the Provost would have the authority to hire subordinates."
Time for me to intervene. "And would he have the authority to invade the Zone and impose martial law? Would he have the authority to damage a robot pilot that did not belong to the University, and the authority to steal a lander?"
"Yes," Ada Curran put in coldly. "I would be very interested in the answer to that question."
King David's smile was gone, now, replaced by desperation. "Look, there's no emergency here. The people aboard that lander are simply University employees, coming to assume their duties. Really, Carver, you're overreacting." He looked around. "All of you are overreacting! These men are there simply to make certain that this treasure trove of information is disseminated in an orderly and logical manner, and that the people aboard her are safe and secure." He turned his face to me. the face was calm, but the eyes were blazing. "Carver, you are an employee of the University, just like those men. All you need do is cooperate, and there will be no trouble."
Runtz snorted, and swung his gaze around the others. "Now he sounds like Len. I can't tell you the number of times that — creature told someone that all he had to do was 'cooperate and there would be no trouble'."
King David looked ready to explode. "How dare you? How dare you compare me to that … that animal!"
Runtz shrugged. "Then stop acting like him. Grow up and finally do something that's in the interest of all of Haven, not just your kingdom!"
"NO!" It was King David again, shouting this time. "I'm not the villain here, it's Carver! Don't any of you see that this is a momentous day? That we are freeing Haven from the control of this … this alien? This commoner, a mere cargo handler, who presumes to decide who is permitted to learn what? We can finally assume our rightful control over the wonders our ancestors left for us!
"Can't you see what he's doing? He's using a simple staffing issue to cut us off from our heritage! He's seized sole control of all Adventurer's wonders! He'll simply sit up there and dole out bits of knowledge in exchange for the wealth of Haven! We will be even worse off than before. At least before we knew that once we could again reach Adventurer, we would have access to all her wonders. It is our heritage. and you're letting him steal it from us!"
President Runtz of Cellia shook his head. "Nonsense. Carver has proven his good intentions multiple times. You young fool! Call back your people before you start a war!"
King David turned a desperate gaze onto Runtz. "I told you, old man," he said in an exasperated tone. "They aren't my people! They are civilians hired by the Chancellor!"
He shook his head violently. "This is not a matter to be discussed between heads of state; it's an internal matter for the University and the Planetary Council! If this – this criminal intends to deprive us of Adventurer, I'm sure the Council will want to issue a warrant for his arrest!"
Runtz raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And exactly where in the Planetary Council's charter is it granted arrest powers?"
Ada Curran interrupted. "And you see, your majesty, our representatives on the Planetary Council represent our nations, and therefore they represent us."
She waved a dismissing hand. "Oh, yes, it's easy to see the plan. Drag out discussions in the Council for months while New Home's people drain Adventurer's computer of all its advanced military knowledge. No, I think that this group is perfectly capable of forming its own policies. Diplomats be damned. We're not going to let you build up to world conquest!"
She visibly regained control of herself. She turned to me. "And what about you, Jerd? What about your own fine ship? I'm sure these terrorists would love to try to 'convince' you to turn over control of Adventurer."
I smiled at her. "I have taken precautions, madam President. By the time the terrorists arrive, Startrader will have broken orbit, and will be headed for deep space."
"I should also mention that I have shut down all advanced power systems in the Zone. None of the automated defenses will operate. The original steam powerplant, used when the place was being built, is still in place, but will most likely require maintenance, and maybe repair. I would suggest that fifty terrorists would not be able to prevail against a multinational strike force attacking the Zone."
"See?" King Davd almost shrieked. "I told you! He's planning to abandon us, after cutting us off from all of Adventurer's wonders!" His tone turned calmer. "And New Home could not permit the deployment of foreign troops on her territory, 'Multinational Strike Force' or not. Invasion means war!"
I shook my head. "I said Startrader would break orbit and drive into deep space. I did not say we were leaving the system. Once safely beyond the reach of the terrorists, we will observe happenings on Haven. If the terrorists are overcome and punished, we will return, and pick up where we left off. If they are not, if they succeed in gaining control of Adven
turer, I have no doubt they will soon succeed in conquering all of Haven." I shrugged. "As for me, well, there's always Hadley, a mere thirty years away.
"At any rate, Gentles, it is a situation that can only be resolved by international action. I have warned you, and I will now leave you to your deliberations and continue my own preparations. I will leave the connection active so that your discussions may continue." I clicked off. I had promised to leave, and I did; of course. Lisa was the one maintaining the connection, and she was recording every word.
The conversation went on for another hour, becoming progressively louder and more hostile. But I wasn't listening, at least not then. I was busy getting the big workboat ready to launch, the one we'd modified for deep-space use. Ollie was reporting that the crew aboard Adventurer was almost ready to launch, and I wanted to make certain I would launch with them. Well, simultaneously, since I was aboard Startrader. The idea was that watchers would see three landers leave the starships. Over the ocean, I was hoping no one would notice one of them separate from the others' landing orbits, and sneak off to the south at low altitude.
With tensions this high, every telescope on Haven, especially every official one, would be watching the drama in space. But I really didn't want to sit out in the asteroid belt, listening to five-minute delayed messages and programming. So, I planned to head for my "Bolt Hole" in the South Sea.
We were aboard the lander and ready to launch when Ollie called to report the landers ready to launch.
"Any trouble?"
He chuckled. "Well, two of our laborers from New Home got a bit lost, but Erna found them. They were rather upset, so I thought it wise to have Erna administer sleep-gas sedative. They're sleeping peacefully, and I'm sure Mistress Heidi is seeing to their comfort. Everyone is present and will launch with us."
"Okay, Ollie. I'm going to have the pilot land your boat in Westin. The other boat will land in Cellia. In both cases, they'll ground at least ten kilometers from any major cities, but near a town with both rail and airship transportation available; if you want to disappear, that will give you the opportunity. If you prefer, you can contact George Cass; there's a contact number in your tablet." I sighed. "Good luck, Ollie. Keep your head down for a while."
Ollie shook his head and smiled. "And good luck to you, Jerd. I'm very much afraid you're going to need it." He looked away, then turned back. "We're starting to move. Is there anything else I need to know?"
I shook my head. "You're better off not knowing anything else." I cut off rather abruptly; if we were going to join the parade, we'd have to get moving. I signaled Lisa, and she went into her act, flashing external lights and sprouting jets of gas as we slipped out of the landing bay, all external lights off. The ships had been orbiting close aboard; with Lisa's distractions there was a good chance that no one would notice that one of the landers came from Startrader. I fell neatly into line behind Adventurer's landers, crowding the last one a bit and lighting the externals; I wanted as much confusion below as I could manufacture. We would soon be crossing the terminator, and move over the day side. I hoped that by then, we would be just another boat full of refugees. Startrader, all lit up, broke orbit and started her three-day voyage to the asteroid belt, where she'd be safe.
We descended over the major ocean, well out of view of land. Adventurer's boats leveled out gently, and headed for the coast of West continent. As programmed, one headed for Cellia, and the other for Westin. After all, there was no reason to drop Ollie and some of our friends into a nest of terrorists. I hoped all of them would find a safe haven, but at least they'd get a head start on Duke Richard.
The descent took a tension-filled two hours. The only break was when Chancellor Toray called Ollie and me on the University's radio frequency.
"What do you two think you're playing at? Return to Adventurer at once, and welcome our new Provost!"
"I'm sorry," I replied, "but I'm afraid I find it rather hard to make nice at bayonet-point. Especially with someone who has just stolen a lander from me."
"Yes," Ollie added. "And I'm afraid I must wonder why a University Provost would assume his duties with an armed invasion. I'm afraid I must refer you to the Planetary Council. Until I receive notice from the Council, I'm afraid I must consider what is occurring to be a terrorist invasion of the University. I have a duty to protect University employees."
There followed several minutes of sputtering indignation by Toray, and repeated assertions that "The Provost is there to protect University employees."
Ollie wasn't moved. "I'm sure we will be listening to radio news, Chancellor. If the Council agrees with you, I'm sure they'll let us know. Rest assured, I will support the Council in whatever it decides." He clicked off, but I continued to listen to Toray's fuming indignation for its entertainment value.
The New Homers were following our normal orbital lift pattern, over the equator and in the direction of the planet's rotation. Even if the hijackers had learned enough to maneuver their craft, I wanted to make certain they couldn't interfere with our peoples' escape. So our descent was mostly polar, and designed to descend over the sea and maneuver to their targets at a few thousand meters' altitude. Lisa still controlled the robot pilots in the first two landers, of course, so she had no problem keeping us well clear of the hijacked lander. It seemed to be wasted effort; the stolen lander didn't try to change course; it headed straight for Adventurer.
Still, Lisa's efforts created a serious problem for me. In a hurry, we'd had no chance to arrange a descent at night or on an empty ocean. By the time we dropped to our flying altitude, it was broad daylight, and there were at least three seagoing ships visible. Three ships whose crews would be certain there were three landers, not two. A disappearing lander would be all it took to set Duke Richard to scouring the planet, even if it took years. During the long descent, though, I'd had an idea. I sure hoped it worked!
As I leveled out, I shouted to Ellie to hold on, and sent the lander into a wild spin. I slowed her as much as I thought I could get away with, and then dropped her into the ocean with a huge splash, accompanied by a blast of air from her tanks that should have sent a cloud of spray over 50 meters into the air. With luck, observers would think the lander exploded.
Meanwhile, I held my breath. Several months ago, I'd told Heidi that I thought a lander should make a serviceable submarine; after all they were airtight, and to them, water should be just another, thicker atmosphere. But that explanation did not include slamming a highly modified one into water at high speed.
Workboats are built stronger than most landers. They have to be. They may be called upon to ground on heavy-grav planets, or in corrosive or near-liquid atmospheres. They're also designed to withstand the kind of abuse that port stevedores can hand out. Still, they are spacecraft, with mass a major consideration.
But I'd had no choice. My lander had been seen. If it disappeared now, Duke Richard would be convinced I was hiding on Haven, and he would leave no stone unturned to find me. My only chance of avoiding becoming the object of a planet-wide manhunt was to convince everyone, including Duke Richard, that I was dead. Having the crews of three separate ships witness the crash and sinking of a lander just might accomplish that.
But I held my breath for the incredibly long three minutes it took to verify that the lander was still air- and water-tight. Finally, I looked around.
The lander didn't have instrumentation for use underwater, so I couldn't really tell how deep we were. I had to watch it closely; the last thing I wanted to do was bob to the surface in front of rescuers.
But from the growing dimness, it looked as though we might actually be sinking slowly, and I began worry about how deep the water was here. I didn't really want to start the reaction engines here, since they were sure to produce signs visible on the surface. But I didn't know enough about the gravs to know what their effect would be in water.
I forced myself to calmness. That nearest ship had been at least five kilometers away; it would tak
e her more than a few minutes to change course and cover that distance, since freighters normally only run less than twenty kilometers per hour. We had at least half an hour to get ourselves well away from our point of impact.
While I was worrying, Ellie stirred. "Uh, Jerd, Are we … are we going to die?"
I turned a bright smile on her. "Of course not, Ellie. we're quite safe here. I'm sorry about the crash, but there were three ships up there. I needed witnesses that we had crashed and died."
She smiled. "Clever. But what now? Are we really safe here? Under the water? Won't we sink?"
I shook my head. "I hope not. We're all right so far. But we have to get away from this area; in a few hours it will be crawling with ships come to help rescue us."
Ellie subsided, but there was no doubt she was frightened. Submarines were simply fiction on Haven, and fantasy fiction at that. "We'll be fine, Ellie. It's just like we're flying through the water in an airship. Think about it; you're the first Havener to see the sea life in its natural setting!" she turned to the viewscreen, and in seconds was enthralled. I sighed in relief. At least I wouldn't have to deal with a hysterical woman; but her complete trust in me was unnerving.
But now that I'd realized that the lander did make a serviceable submarine, I had developed another worry. Very little was known about Haven's sea life, but there were plenty of stories of huge creatures swamping and sinking ships. And I had no idea how many or which of the stories were true; there were some incredible monsters on planets I'd studied.
I decided that we'd stay submerged until we were at least a hundred kilometers from any ship traffic, and then we'd fly the rest of the way to my hideout in normal air. Luckily, Ultraradio meant I was still in contact with Startrader and Adventurer. Even Jane could locate me anywhere on the side of the planet facing her, and could scan for the locations of surface shipping and even airships. So, I fired up the reaction drives, and headed away from our rescuers. If they got too close, airships and even ship's lookouts would probably be able to detect signs of my drives, but as long as I stayed more than a hundred meters or so down, and well away from traffic lanes, we had a good chance of carrying this off!
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