The Ascendant Stars - Michael Cobley [122]
‘You were here when Commander Ash gave his very precise instructions, Mr Cameron … ’
‘Aye, but … ’
‘And we know that Tygran destroyers considerably outgun scout vessels like the Starfire … ’
‘Well, aye, but … ’
‘But, Mr Cameron, my orders did not specifically restrict any efforts to gather additional data – Sub-Lieutenant Bains, how many sensor probes do we have?’
‘Twelve short-range, eight long-range, sir,’ said the tac officer.
‘Prep eight of the short-range and configure them for pursuit,’ Berg said. ‘Launch them in sequence to intercept that destroyer’s projected re-entry path at half-kilometre intervals.’
‘Probes configured, sir … probes launched … ’
In almost the next breath a frame popped open on the main viewport. It was Ash.
‘Lieutenant Berg, I thought I’d made myself clear … ’
‘Sensor probes, sir, gathering more data on their atmospheric capabilities.’
‘Really? Their trajectories seem somewhat aggressive, almost as if they’re on course to collide with Becker’s ship!’ Then his attention switched to Greg. ‘Mr Cameron, wild plans like these undermine my authority.’
‘Had nothing to do with this one, Commander. Almost wish I did, though. Clever … ’
Ash frowned. ‘Clever? How?’
‘Well, if this guy Becker is as distrusting and paranoid as everyone seems to think, then he’s gonna look at those incoming probes, think the worst, and … ’
‘Becker’s ship is altering its descent path, sir,’ said the tac officer, Bains. ‘Banking to starboard … executing a turn of 163 degrees … ’
Greg gave Berg a smiling nod. Berg raised an acknowledging eyebrow.
‘So Becker, y’see, now has to pass over the continental landmass to reach the colony rather than coming from the sea,’ Greg said. ‘Should take him over areas dominated by them Spiralists with their shoulder-mounted ground-to-air launchers.’ He shrugged. ‘Maybe one’ll get lucky, who knows, eh?’
‘A long shot, Mr Cameron.’
‘Aye, but God loves a trier, Mr Ash.’
‘Contact,’ said Bains. ‘Multiple contacts at outer long range … sir, I’m picking up Imisil idents.’
‘But their fleet’s not due for hours,’ said Berg.
Ash was getting similar data on his own bridge but suddenly his face turned grim and his channel went dead.
‘What’s wrong?’ Greg said.
Berg was studying his own holoconsole, worry plain in his features.
‘Oh, it’s the Imisil all right,’ he said. ‘But we’re only picking up four ships.’
‘Four?’ Greg said. ‘Out of the original sixty that set out … ’ He shook his head, then chuckled quietly.
‘You see a humorous side to this?’ Berg said, annoyed.
‘Not so much, but I remember what my Uncle Theo said about the time he was expecting reinforcements and got rather less than he hoped. He turned to his men and said, “All it mean, boys, is more medals for the rest of us, eh?”’
JULIA
Julia-Dragon paused on the mountain track and stared out over the lands of Vendredasir, at the hills, forests and dales growing dark with the encroaching dusk. The great winding river Manarun was a shining ribbon which was turning bloody red as the sun dipped to the horizon. She sniffed the air then shook her great head and resumed the trudge to the summit.
Harry was already there when she arrived. His exter was that of a paladin of the Order of the Dawnflower and was clad in an elaborate suit of armour, all silver, yellow and blue. Julia’s exter was a Great Red Drake of the Damynel Nightclan, who just happened to be mortal enemies of the Order of the Dawnflower …
‘How much longer will this take?’ she said, slumping down, taking up most of the summit’s flat, pebbly area. ‘Your drone friend said that all we needed to do was spend some of the credit and this Nicodemus would easily track us when the account flagged up. We’ve been in here for nearly two hours and still nothing.’
For Julia the entire situation had turned sour. They had translocated from Reski Emantes’s data refuge aboard the airship to the Glow lobby at the Medafrique multiportal, and soon after received a glownote from the AI telling them to buy player tickets in