brother, is not open to discussion. You conveniently omitted the fact that Walker and Mahan will face the same ‘slaughter’ as our Homes. They will not face it alone. Salissa will be your floating battery as long as she can.”
The hall was silent while everyone considered the implications of Keje’s words. Matt didn’t know what to say.
“One problem I can see,” Ellis interjected, “is their damn observation plane they bombed us with. If it shows up again, it could throw a major wrench in the works. Japs could stand off and pound us-just like you said-and there’d be nothing we could do.”
Matt knew Jim wasn’t very happy with Mahan ’s assignment, and his tone actually sounded a little confrontational. Matt glanced at Shinya, then looked his former exec-his friend-in the eye.
“Good point, but I have it on… good authority… the spotting plane won’t be a factor.”
“How…?”
“Our radio wasn’t busted, remember? We picked up a transmission, in the clear, that the plane was damaged. Must’ve been right after its attack.”
“Well… okay, but that’s just one example of how easily the plan can get thrown out of whack.”
“I thought you liked the plan. If you didn’t, why didn’t you say something when we were making it?”
“Because I did- do -like it!” Jim admitted in frustration. “No, I take that back. I hate the damn plan, but it’s probably the best we could come up with under the circumstances. What I disagree with now, that maybe I didn’t before, is that the plan leaves Mahan out of the fight. By all rights, she ought to have Walker ’s job!”
Matt shook his head. “She’s too vulnerable. It’d be suicide. Amagi has to see Walker, which means she’s going to get to shoot at her. With one good boiler and only one screw, Mahan ’d be a sitting duck.”
“ Walker ’s not much better off than Mahan,” Jim insistedmake smoke and run like hell. After she sees Walker run away, she won’t worry about her anymore. That’s when Mahan does her job. It’s an important job, Jim. Besides”-he grinned wryly-“you already changed your number back.”
Jim snorted. “All right, Skipper, but next time Mahan gets to play target while Walker puts the sneak on ’em. Fair’s fair. The boys are starting to feel left out-and sort of coddled.” Jim chuckled softly, but Matt knew his old exec was more serious than he seemed. The Mahans didn’t want to die any more than anyone else, but they did want to do their part. Many still felt tainted by the Kaufman incident, despite their recent success.
“You bet, Jim. Next time.”
“I guess it’s really come down to this, hasn’t it?” Sandra asked bitterly. Everyone looked at her questioningly, surprised by her tone. “You know, ‘win or lose, live or die’-probably die even if you win?”
“It’s been that way from the start,” Matt said gently. “Ever since the Squall. In our old world, maybe it wasn’t so black-and-white. I guess you could always surrender-even to the Japs-but that won’t work here.” He took a breath. “So, yeah, it’s down to that, and it’s just that simple.”
Sandra shivered in the warm hall. She knelt and gathered Rebecca in her arms. “Maybe, but it seems even worse when you joke about it.”
Nakja-Mur cleared his throat, and everyone looked at him. “Well,” he said, “that’s decided, and well-done. I do have a request, if you will permit me, Cap-i-taan Reddy.”
“Of course.”
“Before you depart, would you share with us again your not ‘backup’ plan?”
CHAPTER 10
Tsalka glared across the water as Kurokawa’s launch returned to his ship. “You know, General, I still detest that creature.”
General Esshk hissed agreement. “But he is useful. His iron ship is still slowed by damage, he says, but at least it floats evenly now.” He hissed amusement, remembering Kurokawa’s stormy indignation and fury toward their enemies after they blew another hole in his mighty ship almost four moons ago. “He is also highly motivated,” he added cryptically.
“Their iron ship is wondrously powerful,” Tsalka agreed. “I will never forget the concussion of its great guns, and the damage it inflicted on the huge ship of the prey. Magnificent!”
“Most impressive,” Esshk hedged. He gazed at the lumbering iron monstrosity. Black smoke belched from its middle as it burned the coal that somehow pushed it along. Despite its amazing power, he must not forget that the Tree Prey had friends who could damage it. It was ensconced deep within the protective embrace of the main body of the “Invincible Swarm” (as opposed to the previous, ill-fated Grand Swarm) to protect it from another surprise eottom.”
“They’ll see them, won’t they?” questioned Hale.
“Maybe,” Gray agreed. “But what are they gonna do about it? We’ll rig it so’s they can’t squeeze between ’em without hitting another. Top it off by putting out way more barrels than we have depth charges too. It’ll be just a matter of tying an anchor to ’em and heavin’ ’em over the side. That’s how we’ll leave a clear channel for Walker to come back through, without it lookin’ like there is one.”
Newman looked thoughtful. “Might work,” he said. “Now I know why we’re on such a long cable, though. I guess we’re the ones setting the charges?”
Gray nodded. “With this box of bombs, if one of ’em slips after we set it, the flashies won’t even find enough to make it worth their while.”
Pete Alden stood on Nakja-Mur’s balcony with the High Chief of Baalkpan, Letts, Shinya, Bradford, and Sandra Tucker. The kid was off with O’Casey. The balcony made an ideal observation post from which they could see the vast panorama of the city’s bristling defenses in the late-afternoon sun. The regiments had been moved into their positions, and Big Sal was now moored by the shipyard dock. She had a spring in her cable so she could fire her augmented battery into the flank of any force trying to land there, or anywhere along the waterfront. Her sails were stowed, and like all the defenses, she held plenty of water barrels ready to defend against firebombs. Because it was such an obvious place for them to direct the battle, they’d already made plans to abandon the Great Hall if Amagi came into the bay. Even with high-rise dwellings all around, the Great Hall and its Sacred Tree stood out quite prominently. It would be a prime target for the battle cruiser’s initial salvos. Nakja-Mur was horrified that the Sacred Tree might be damaged, but there was nothing they could do to prevent it. Secondary command posts had been established in strategic locations.
Karen Theimer had worked wonders setting up a central hospital and ambulance corps, and the surgeons and nurses who’d learned their trade with the Allied Expeditionary Force were now fully integrated into the system. Sandra was in overall command of the medical effort, from the central hospital. Karen was her exec, and the other nurses would supervise the two main field hospitals in north and south Baalkpan. Smaller aid stations were established near every defensive position, supervised by talented veterans such as Selass. Sandra hated that she wouldn’t be with Walker during the coming fight, but there was no question where she’d be most needed. Jamie Miller could care for any casualties the ship might have. Other than her personal feelings, she had no excuse to be aboard.
Without Mahan ’s generators to run the new transmitter, it had been stowed in a deep, safe bunker. Walker would remain in constant contact through light and flag signals, as well as the crystal receivers Riggs had constructed, which required almost no electricity. The experimental batteries they’d built had plenty of juice for them, so Matt could keep overall strategic command even while fighting his ship. Hopefully. Even if everything went exactly according to plan, however, Walker would be fighting for her life. Her exposure to the enemy was the part of the plan everythingmenell as her conviction that they had been a “couple of dopes” all along. She envied Karen her happiness and her ability to show open, natural affection for the one she loved.
She suddenly realized someone had spoken to her. “What was that?” she asked, shaking her head.
“Do you have any questions or requirements, Lieutenant Tucker?” Letts asked. Gone was the tongue-tied suitor of short months before. Alden would have command of the “land battle” they expected, but Letts was still acting as Captain Reddy’s chief of staff.
“Uh, just the disposition of the child, Becky, and Mr. O’Casey.”
“I thought you might keep the girl at the central hospital-what’s the dope on her, anyway?” Only Bradford and Nakja-Mur knew, and they didn’t answer. “Well, if you’ll do that, I’ll keep O’Casey with me. I’d like to see what he’s
