Captain Hyk strode the bridge impatiently.
"Point Icarus in ten minutes," he reported to
Drummer and Brad as they entered the tight
compartment. "The Jovians and Saturnians are
coming up fast, and the Neptune-Uranus team
is close behind. Orders?"
"You'll get yours with the rest, Har," Drummer's
tone reflected his tension. He turned to Brad.
"Brad, I wish to address the Commanders of all
Plutonian ships. Set up closed communications,
please."
"Yes, sir."
Brad strode to the console he and Drummer had used
to assess the fleet's status a short while before.
He detached a microphone from the bulkhead nearby,
keyed the computer, and spoke.
"Attention, all ship Commanders of the Plutonian
Assault Force. Rig for secure 'Commanders Only'
communications with Admiral Drummer. The Admiral
will speak in one minute. Countdown -- start now."
He handed the mike to Drummer. The first of many
uncertain steps would now be taken.
Drummer glanced at the ship's chronometer, then
at Captain Hyk.
Time.
"Ship commanders, Admiral Drummer here. Our
allies are approaching in formation and they will
link up with us in seven minutes at Point Icarus.
We must greet them properly. I order the Plutonian
formation to come about immediately from its
head-on orientation to the Terminals and cluster
to face our allies. Do it now. At Point Icarus I will
address the combined fleet."
Drummer paused, then added, "I am turning over the
details of this change in formation to my Chief of
Combat Operations. Follow his instructions without
hesitation."
Drummer handed the microphone to Brad and stepped
back. Brad rattled off the revised orientations
and positions, ship by ship listed in the Order of
Battle. Both he and Drummer watched the effects
in the observation pit's view tank.
As Brad spoke the close order of the original
formation dissolved and opened. The maneuver
was extremely complex, but within minutes the
ships had come about in a ragged formation to
face their oncoming allies.
Out of the corners of his eyes Brad observed Hyk
input orders to the Dragon's guidance control and
navigation centers. Hyk glared at Drummer as if
the man was out of his mind. Brad expected the
other Commanders to be equally perplexed and
angered by the unexpected reorientation.
Drummer, by his order without prior notice and
planning, had completely disrupted the Plutonian
tactical formation. Valuable time would be spent to
sort out the confusion and array for the assault.
##
Captain Yargoul, Commander of the Jovian Combined
Strike Team, stood on the bridge of the Battle
Cruiser Windstorm and scowled into his view tank.
The unconventional redeployment of the Plutonian
Assault Force amazed and appalled him.
"What in hell are they doing?" Yargoul pointed at
the tank as his Executive stared aghast over his
shoulder.
"Damned if I can tell, Captain Yargoul,"
replied his deputy. "This isn't called for in the
rendezvous plan."
"I don't like it. Get nav on this right now and
pass the word to our ships' Commanders. Assume
a waiting formation ten thousand kay from the
rendezvous. Get the Commanders of the Saturnian
and Neptune-Uranus teams into a closed conference
call with me. I'm going to suggest they do the same
until we find out what this is all about."
"They smell the rat," Brad thought as he watched
the oncoming fleets slowly alter their formations.
He hastily left the command deck.
Walking swiftly along a passageway he passed Hodak
at a workbench calibrating instruments as cover.
Their eyes met and Brad moved on. Hodak switched
off his test panels and headed toward a side
passageway.
Myra, checking medical supplies in a wall cabinet,
glanced at Hodak's features as he brushed by. His
grunt caused her to close the cabinet and walk off.
Kumiko and Adari would soon have the message.
##
The storage compartment was tiny, barely enough
to hold them.
"Drummer will be talking to all ships' Commanders
in the combined fleet in less than a minute," Brad
told them. "I want to be there when he does so
that I can deal with their reactions. Also, Hyk is
a problem. I expect they'll all line up against us,
including the Plutonian crews. The best we can
hope for is a short delay while they argue among
themselves. It's up to the five of us; six, really,
if I can count on Drummer."
Brad looked from one tense face to the other.
"Hodak, your first job is Scarf. As soon as he
hears Drummer he'll come charging up with his
goons to take over the ship. Stop him."
"Kumiko, to the ship's fire controls. Do as much
damage there as you can without being detected.
I want as many as possible of the Dragon's
long-range guns inoperative."
He turned to Myra.
"Suit up and head for the hangar deck where
the two-place fighter-bombers are in position for
launch. Tell the officer-in-charge I sent you to
check combat readiness. I want three two-place
jobs up front on catapults, fully charged and armed,
hot and ready for launch. The officer on duty is
sure to ask why it's you that's giving the orders.
Just say that the fighters are going after the
Terminals' minelayers and destroyers that just
popped out through the force field's gate. Tell him
I'm briefing the pilots personally and will send you
along as my observer. He won't like it, but I doubt
that he'll interfere."
"Got it."
"Remain on the flight deck, Myra. Move around and
spot where each guard is stationed. When you see
us coming, start to take them down. Pinpoint their
positions to us as we come in so we can clean them
all out fast. Confusion in the ranks works to our
advantage."
Turning to Adari, he asked, "Did you put it
together?"
"Yes."
"Come with me back to the bridge. I'll brief you on
the way."
His look took them all in.
"Gather round -- close."
Speaking rapidly, not wasting words, Brad shared
information that Ram passed to him before his
departure.
"A UIPS battle fleet should be loading about now
into an expanded spunnel gateway off Luna. They'll
be here shortly. If Drummer doesn't neutralize
the INOR fleet, the job will be taken on by the UIPS.
But they'll need time to re-group as they enter
this arena. Our job is to keep the INOR fleet off
balance until ours is ready.
"Everyone is to be suited-up and checked out for
extended combat. Except for Myra, spread along
the corridor as close to the Flight Deck hatch as
you can without drawing attention. Keep a low profile
and wait for my signal. I expect Drummer will be
with me and we'll all go in together. Go now."
##
Drummer's voice was heard throughout the combined
fleet. His tone was grave.
"This is Admiral Drummer. My words are, first, for
Commanders of this combined fleet. Beyond that,
I speak to all ships' crews and troops who make up
this task force, and for all men and women within
reach of my voice, whatever your nationality or
whomever your leader.
"We are confronted with a dilemma. The mission
assigned to this fleet is to capture the Slingshot
Terminals. Slingshot and all that it represents
will then become hostage to the negotiations now
taking place between INOR and the United Inner
Planetary System.
"If denying the UIPS access to their Terminals for
a brief period was the real objective, I would have
no qualms in moving forward. But the orders given to
me by President Narval go much further, and I must
share them with you so that you will understand
what we face."
Captain Hyk's eyes narrowed and he took steps
toward Drummer. Brad, standing silently behind Hyk,
covered the distance to the door he had closed when
he returned to the command deck. He shoved the
locking dog closed. Turning back his hand brushed
his sidearm, releasing the safety. Hyk halted
several paces from Drummer, who ignored him.
"With heavy heart, I must now inform you that
President Narval has a deeper strategy," Drummer
continued, "one that presents a clear and present
danger to all nations and peoples of INOR, and
perhaps to the entire Solar Community. I state it
as simply as I can: Narval's strategy is betrayal."
The way back had closed; Drummer plunged ahead.
"Here are the orders given to me by our President.
Judge their purpose and their honor for yourselves.
First, to capture and hold the Terminals. As soon
as the Terminals are taken and secured, I am
under orders to subvert all ships' Commanders
of our allies so that they swear allegiance only
to Narval. Those who refuse, under psychic probe
verification, are to be killed on the spot.
"If this is done, Narval will have consolidated
enough military power to dominate the entire Outer
Region. When his position is firm, his strategy is
to use Slingshot to force the UIPS to its knees,
and establish himself as ruler over the entire
Solar System. These are the real objectives of
President Narval of Planet Pluto. If we follow
his orders, have no doubt that he will attain his
diabolic objectives.
"I refuse to comply with those orders. I urge all
Commanders of INOR ships and forces to return
to their home stations and report to their Heads of
State who are now attending the Solar Convocation.
Establish boards of inquiry, or conduct such
investigations as you feel appropriate. But do not
proceed with this adventure concocted in the mind
of a madman. It means disaster for us all.
"I am now opening this channel for replies from
the Senior Commanders of the combined fleet."