'They're setting up for an intercept from the looks of things,' Vance said 'Send a messenger down to Captain Bondarevsky, tell him to come here at once.'
There were times when security got on his nerves. All communication lines between the fighter bay and the rest of the ship had been sealed off based upon the near infinitesimal chance that a member of the ship's crew, and one of his own people might collaborate in trying to get information off the ship.
The analyst turned and started for the door while Vance punched over to his head of Alpha team security, informing the captain to let the analyst pass into the ship and return with Jason.
A side channel suddenly leaped into activity on the display screen, originating from inside the system they were now occupying. It was one of the standard Confleet bands. But from where?
The D-5 had already locked on to it, a reflected signal skipping over the horizon of the planet, the message breaking up. 'Just what the hell is this?' Vance whispered, turning more of the computer's power loose from other activities to focus in on the signal and enhance it.
It was an audio signal, and he turned on a speaker.
'Green one, Green one, this is Green two over.'
'That's Paladin!'
Vance turned to see Jason coming up behind him.
'Green one, where the hell are you, am under attack, over.
'Where's it coming from?' Jason asked.
'Looks like from directly on the other side of the planet. Getting some skip through the atmosphere, wait a second.'
He typed in a quick order and the D-5 turned one of its antenna array to aim at the small moon of the planet which was nothing more than an oversized rock orbiting half a million clicks overhead.
'Getting a reflection signal from the moon as well, give me a second here . . .' and he punched in another command.
'There, got it. Triangulate the signal as coming from near directly behind us, thirty five million clicks back.'
'Straight back towards the jump point towards Hari,' Jason said, turning to look at a holo map of the system which one of Vance's assistants activated, a blinking yellow dot showing where Paladin must be.
'We're getting in the clear attack signals from the Kilrathi cruisers, one of them is launching fighters,' the assistant announced.
'They're moving in to cut Paladin off,' Jason said quietly, looking at the map which was now showing the enemy ships in the sector. Several corvettes were already moving to set up a picket across the jump point leading out towards Confederation space while the cruisers positioned themselves for an easy kill.
'Either they found him out before he got the information, or after he picked it up; it's one of the two,' Vance said quietly.
'Why are you telling me this?' Jason asked, suddenly aware that Vance was staring at him in a coldly detached way.
'If he doesn't have the data, and we go up to try and save him, our cover is blown and we'll have to get the hell out. For that matter I wonder if we can get out now considering the hardware they've brought in here.'
'Are you suggesting that I do nothing and let them blow Paladin and Ian apart?'
'The mission comes first, Captain.'
'And suppose he does have the data we need?'
'I haven't heard it yet, and frankly, son, his chances of finding them were slim to none to start with when we sent him on alone.'
Jason looked back at the screen.
'Green one, Green one, am under attack, where the hell are you?'
Jason closed his eyes and tried to focus his thoughts, while. Paladin's insistent call for help echoed across the deck.
'Green one, Green one, this is Green two over.'
Paladin, exasperated and filled with a frustrated rage, punched the channel off and slammed his fist down on the console.
To have come so far back and now to be cut off. The next jump point out of this system was blocked, and already half a dozen ships which had been pursuing him for days were coming through behind, a fact made worse by the more than fifty patrol craft and three cruisers currently in the sector. The heavy cruiser was already launching its squadron of fighters which would close with him within the hour.
The game was up and Bannockburn was about to get fried. As soon as he had jumped, the pickets waiting on the far side plastered him with high energy radar bursts and then threw on laserlocks he simply couldn't shake.
Just before they hit him he'd try one more burst signal, feeding every erg of power he had into it, but the chance of it reaching Confed space at this range was remote and made even more implausible by the fact that it was dicey at best if someone had a listening array focused on this region. If only he knew where Tarawa was he could transfer the info off and the they'd have the power to punch a signal through, plus they would also know where to aim it for an intercept.
'Damn it all to hell, if I get out of this I quit,' Paladin snarled. 'I'm heading back to Scotland and I'll be damned if I ever let my two feet get off the ground again.
'Ian, you'd better launch now. I'm glad that the Admiral managed to get a jump capable Ferret tucked into this ship's cargo bay. I thought he was a wee bit crazy trying that out. I'm ordering you to break off and try and make it through the jump point. I'm loading the information into your fighter's computers now. You've got to get that information back to Confed territory. Tarawa's either gone or bought it.'
Ian looked over at Paladin. He knew Paladin was right. The swarm of enemy fighters was closing.
He wanted to say something but couldn't find the words.
Paladin looked up and forced a smile.
'Lift one for me at the Vacuum Breathers Club, laddie. Now get the hell out of here.'
Ian turned and headed for the door.
'Good luck, Paladin.'
Paladin shook his head and laughed.
Ambassador Vak'ga paused for a moment and looked back at the holo image on his desk. Again he felt the tug of pain and silently cursed himself for still feeling it. After all, the mourning should have ended on the first Sivar after the death of his sons. That was, after all, six years back. But no, the pain had never stopped. His seed was gone and when he died, his hrai would die with him.
He thought yet again of the agreement he had made with Prince Thrakhath on the eve before leaving for Earth. When Thrakhath had first suggested it to him his blood had burned with the thought of at last gaining vengeance. But now, it was so cold, there was no rage, no pain, just a detachment, a coldness, as if the goddess had already reached into his heart to still its beating.
The coded message to commit the act had arrived this morning, and soon the pain would stop. At least I will see my sons again, my sons taken from me by the humans. At least we will again embrace and go forth on the hunt with our ancestors.
He thought of the detonator and antimatter explosive buried in his chest cavity. Strange, there will be nothing more of me, nothing to be found to be buried. Fitting perhaps, since there will be no one to mourn me.
The Ambassador walked out of his office, not even bothering to close the door.
'How are you doing, Geoff? It's damn good to see you again.'
Admiral Banbridge came around from behind his desk, hand extended. Former Rear Admiral Geoffrey Tolwyn grasped it, and to his surprise Banbridge grabbed hold of him in a friendly bear hug. Turning he looked at Kevin, who stood at attention, and smiled.
'I heard you're one of the fleet's best,' Banbridge said approvingly.
Geoff smiled broadly at the compliment to his nephew. The long transit back to Landreich, and from there hidden aboard a high speed smuggler craft to Earth, had given him the opportunity, for the first time, to really find out just who his nephew truly was. In the back of his mind, in spite of Kevin's actions aboard Tarawa, he still
