field generator. The first pack would run in and lure the missiles out, and the transport would blind their scanners with a static distort. Then the first pack would destroy the helpless missiles, while the second pack would go in after the ship itself. That is one reason why the packs run double to this day.'
'Also, when we went after military targets, we would lay down a blanket distort from the first,' Gelvessa Karvand added. 'Then they would most often realize that they could not even launch at all.'
'Still, they are very dangerous, when you suddenly get nine in your face when you are not expecting it,' Thenderra Delvon said. 'Velmeran was lucky to come away as well as he did.'
'He did not lose any ships in the initial attack,' Valthyrra said. 'He warned his pack away at the last moment before the wolf-chasers launched, and that was what saved his pilots. Dveyella ran into trouble when she went in to help someone else.'
'How did he know?' Thenderra asked. Valthyrra turned her camera pod to regard the younger pilot. 'Meran, I never have figured out what did clue you to the trap. How did you know?'
Velmeran shrugged. 'A lucky guess, for the most part. Lake's warning of a new weapon was very much on my mind. I was not about to take a chance, when my fighters were right on top of that ship and it still did nothing to evade. It seemed to me that we were being lured in.'
'The stories I have heard about you must be true,' Korlan said. 'I do not know if any other pack leader would have made that connection.'
'The next question, I suppose, is what countermeasure we are going to take,' Gelvessa said. 'I suppose that we are in agreement that we must answer this attack with some action of our own.'
'That is simple enough,' Valthyrra said, and brought her camera pod around to face her young pack leader. 'Velmeran, will you explain your plan?'
He glanced up at her sharply, understanding only too well exactly what she meant. 'You have been watching me.'
'Of course,' she replied with no shame. 'It was not hard to figure out what you were planning. Now I would like for you to explain it to everyone.'
Velmeran had only a moment to collect his wits. And, after his initial resentment, he could see that it was very much in his interests to ally himself with Valthyrra. They shared a dream. She needed him to do it, and he needed her to arrange the opportunity.
'I intend to recover the memory cell of the Vardon,' he announced simply. 'I have discovered a way to get an attack force inside Vannkam undetected.'
He paused then, knowing what the reaction to that would be. The only members of the gathering who did not appear surprised were the mechanical manifestations of the visiting ships. Mayelna looked dismayed, but he had expected that. What he had not expected was the eagerness he began to detect.
'I have been made aware that there is an unknown and unguarded entrance to Vannkam,' he continued. 'An artificial tunnel, leading down from the lake near the port trams to the sea several kilometers away. A special attack force can approach the planet through the magnetic corridor and fly underwater to the entrance of that tunnel.'
'Fly underwater?' Korlan asked, stilling a second outburst with that important question.
Velmeran nodded firmly. 'The atmospheric shields of our ships can be adapted for underwater flight… '
'In theory!' Schyrrana interrupted.
'In fact!' he insisted. 'I have done it myself — three times — in the seas of the planet below. I was able to achieve a test speed of nearly four thousand kilometers. That means a two-hour flight from the polar corridor to the tunnel entrance, but it can be done.'
'Assuming it is done, what then?' Schyrrana asked.
Velmeran frowned, hastily assembling his plans. 'I know of a transport, adapted for Dveyella's special tactics team, that has a large cargo bay and handling arms that can be used to carry out the memory cell. My computer projections show that a transport can fly underwater as well as a fighter, so that is no problem. Aside from that…'
'Assuming that you have the complete resources of these three ships at your command,' Valthyrra told him gently, encouragingly. 'You are giving the orders. Tell us what you need.'
Velmeran sat back for a moment, deep in thought. 'I would like to lead ten full packs into the city, mostly to serve as a distraction. Tregloran and I will guard the transport during the securing of the memory cell. There is another pilot, Baress, who is very familiar with special tactics. I will send him with a pack or two to destroy the generators that power the dome shields and planetary defenses. With all the major power systems out, we will simply punch a hole in the dome and leave unopposed.
'By that time, the system fleet will be closing in to intercept us. That is when the remaining packs will attack the Union Fleet from behind, coming in two or three large groups. They will crush the fleet between them, and we will shoot a hole for ourselves during the confusion. Valthyrra, I am hoping that the ships will have acquired maps of the Vannkarn complex, especially of the generator stations.'
'Of course,' Valthyrra replied. 'Actually, we have always known about the underwater entrance.'
Korlan glanced at her questioningly. 'Why have you never gone after the memory cell before?'
'The time had not yet come,' she answered simply. 'And this is the time?'
'Has it not been said that the memory cell would not be reclaimed until the end of the war was drawing near, so that it can show us the way to Terra? Who do you think started that rumor? Besides, we have never had someone like Velmeran to go after it.'
Mayelna made a small derisive sound that only those nearest to her could hear, her first contribution to the conversation in some time. Valthyrra Methryn was about to get her way in everything she had ever wanted. Mayelna wondered what she could do to stop this, although it already seemed too late for that. She wondered if she should even try.
Velmeran studied the map that Valthyrra had brought up on the main viewscreen for him, quietly comparing notes with her. At last, seemingly satisfied, he leaned back. 'It can be done. I will need Baress, Threl and Marlena.'
'Here!' the three answered from the gallery.
'Threl, do you want a chance to fly that transport underwater?' Velmeran asked, turning to face that section of the gallery.
'That is the only place that I have not flown it,' the pilot answered.
'Baress, you have the greatest special tactics experience of us all. Will you go after those generators?'
'I will, if I have the proper help.'
'Do you think Baressa's pack would be a good beginning, if she is willing to go with you?'
Baress considered that, and brightened. 'That would be a very good beginning. I would also like Kalgeran's pack, from the Delvon.'
Velmeran glanced at Thenderra Delvon. 'Is that agreeable?'
'Do you even have to ask?' a pilot called from the gallery, bringing laughter from most of the gathering.
'That makes three packs to follow me in,' Velmeran mused as he returned to his seat. 'I would like to have ten — certainly no less than six. Not only will we need that distraction inside the city, but we certainly need that firepower to get back through the system fleet. I think that our ships should make two or three suggestions each, and we will decide from among those.'
'Easily done,' Valthyrra said. 'Then we are in agreement that this is what we must do? Karvand?'
Commander Schyrrana quickly consulted with her ship, first officer and Commander-designate, and there was no dissension. Daelyn was grinning with mischievous satisfaction. Schyrrana nodded. 'We agree.'
'Delvon?'
'No complaints here!' Korlan insisted, not even pausing to consult with his ship or officers. There was no need; they all nodded eagerly.
Valthyrra turned her pod to Mayelna, who sat well back in her chair, deep in thoughts of her own. 'Commander?'
Mayelna glanced up sharply, at first surprised. But she also nodded in agreement. Consherra offered no opinion, aside from a very bewildered stare; this whole affair left her speechless.
As soon as the council was over, Velmeran made as inconspicuous a retreat as he could manage. His problem was compounded by the fact that his only way out lay through the middle of the gallery, so that he was
