Captain Yargoul's face, inflamed with rage, flashed
on the screen.
"By what right do you take this on yourself,
Drummer?" he exploded.
"I choose to be a free man, Captain Yargoul, and
have spoken as one."
"I don't believe President Narval gave you orders
to turn us against our own Governments." Yargoul's
eyes glittered his suspicion. "What's your game,
Drummer?"
"Those were indeed the orders given to me by
Narval. As for my 'game', as you put it, it is,
first, to take Planet Pluto out from under tyranny;
and second, to bring reason to the negotiations now
taking place between INOR and the UIPS. You cannot
help me with the first, but you and all honorable
citizens of the INOR federation share in the
obligation to help with the second. With whom do
you stand, Captain Yargoul?"
"I stand against you, Drummer, and I charge you
with treason against your Government and disloyalty
to our cause. You are not fit to lead this fleet.
As ranking officer next in line I now challenge your
right to act as Supreme Commander of this Combined
Fleet. I hereby replace you in that capacity and
assume command." His voice rang with the power of
his new authority.
"Captain Hyk, take Admiral Drummer into custody.
If he resists, shoot him."
Drummer switched off the communications console
and turned to face Hyk.
"And you, Har, you're a Plutonian and should
understand, better than most where the real
treachery lies. You've seen Narval's psychic probes
placed on board and must have suspected what they
and Scarf's troops aboard must mean. Think, man.
Tell me I can count on you."
"I'm an officer in the service of President
Narval," Hyk growled, "and I remain loyal to him.
I accept that Captain Yargoul has replaced you as
Supreme Commander of the Combined Fleet. The
Plutonian forces in this combined fleet now come
under my command. Drummer; I place you under
arrest. If you resist I won't hesitate to shoot you
down where you are."
Hyk drew his weapon and aimed it at Drummer.
"Easy does it, Har."
Brad spoke from where he stood off to the side.
Hyk shifted his focus and saw the weapon raised
in Brad's grip. Reacting instinctively, he crouched
and swung toward Brad, the nozzle of his gun
flaring. A tight beam laced across Hyk's chest,
and he crumpled to the deck. Brad slipped his gun
back into its sheath.
Captain Yargoul's commanding voice blasted from
the ship's loudspeakers, addressing the fleet.
"All ships' Commanders. You've heard and witnessed
Admiral Drummer's treasonous statements. I am
compelled, by circumstances, to assume command
of the Combined Fleet. You will follow my orders;
I order that any commander or crew-member who
refuses to recognize my authority is to be disarmed,
and imprisoned. Those who resist will be shot
immediately.
"The target stands: we will move on the Slingshot
Terminals and take them. I order the fleet to array
itself for the assault. Unfortunately, Drummer has
sabotaged our rendezvous, and we must reconstitute
the assault formation. My chief navigator will
issue sector orientation and vectors to each ship
in the fleet so that we can form up for combat
operations. Follow his orders without question."
As Yargoul spoke Brad released the clip securing
the door and yanked it open. Adari rushed in and
darted to the communications console, drawing
a comm capsule from her tunic. She slipped the
capsule into the computer slot, slapped switches
and pressed keys. She looked at Brad. He nodded.
Adari pressed the final key. A light flashed red;
the message on the capsule went out to the fleet.
A deep voice issued from the ship's speakers:
"This is Captain Yargoul's chief navigator," it began.
"Here are the formation positions for each ship
in our Order of Battle. Use as your reference
Annex X-ray to the Slingshot Assault Plan. Comply
immediately upon receipt of your ship's new
coordinates. Jovian Battle Cruiser Boulder and
destroyer screen to Sector Alpha, coordinates
R784-212-426; Saturnian Battle Cruiser Encounter
and destroyer screen to Sector Gamma, coordinates
R784-856-275; Plutonian Battle Cruisers Dragon
and Tiger and screen to Sector Beta, coordinates..."
Adari grinned at Drummer who was staring at her.
"Lucked out," she said. "Yargoul brought his chief
navigator along to Brad's planning meeting off
Neptune. His voice was on our tapes, and easy to
synthesize. Even Yargoul himself won't know the
difference. The capsule is transmitting orders to
each ship of the fleet to move to new coordinates
in a three-dimensional tract. This redeployment
will get them so screwed up it'll take 'em a while
to even figure out which way is sunside."
"But how did you know events would develop just
this way?"
Adari winked; tapped her temple with her forefinger.
"Just put myself in their place, and figured the
options," she said and turned to Brad.
"Do you have all the data on where you've sent
them?" Brad asked.
Adari patted her pocket and nodded.
"Figured we'd need the information. Run a copy for
each fighter. Meet us on the flight deck."
Drummer snatched up Hyk's weapon as he followed
Adari who raced out of the bridge compartment.
Brad motioned Drummer to join Adari.
Brad followed and pulled the door closed behind
him. He drew his sidearm, narrowed the beam to its
minimum and its power to maximum. He directed the
beam into the space between the door and the frame.
Within seconds the door had fused shut. The Dragon's
bridge, at least for the moment, was isolated.
##
Hodak crouched behind a massive generator at the
bend of an L-shaped corridor. The rapid-fire beam
rifle in his hands was energized and safety off.
The passageway had a single entry to the bay in
which Scarf and his troops were quartered. Hodak
had a free field of fire. He did not expect a long
wait.
Drummer's appeal to the fleet commanders cut
into the talk and laughter rolling down the corridor.
Drummer's opening words brought complete silence.
Long before it ended Hodak heard shouts and curses
from the bay. Scarf's heavy voice rose above the
clamor, giving orders. Hodak drew breath, raised
and leveled the weapon. He hoped Scarf would come
out first; that would simplify his job.
Scarf did not. Instead, armed troops spilled from
the bay, crowding the passageway. Scarf followed,
his coarse features congested.
"There's five of 'em, plus Drummer," he shouted.
"Search the ship. You know who they are. Shoot
'em on sight. I want them dead."
Hodak tried to draw a bead on Scarf but troopers
blocked the line of fire. Several started in his
direction. He cut a swath through them, searching
for Scarf.
The first streaks of concentrated energy wrought
havoc in the forward ranks. The stench of burning
flesh came at him with a rush, and the corridor
reverberated with howls and screeches of agony.
Unaware of what they were up against, the troops
milled about in confusion. They clawed at each
other in panic to get back into the bay and out
of the line of fire. Scarf was somewhere in the
struggle.
The tiny receiver in Hodak's ear came alive.
"Sentinels. Flight deck. Now."
Hodak directed a final lengthy barrage of rifle
bursts at the entry. Molten metal and sparks
bounced off the frames in all directions, followed
by screams and shrieks from inside the compartment.
"Unfinished business," Hodak muttered as he turned
and raced off.