Kowalski stopped halfway down thecorridor. He leaned against the wall, arms folded across his chest. Farenough away to give them a moment, but close enough to intercede if necessary.
Gillespie was acutely aware ofthe young engineer’s intent as he kept his eyes on Lorraine’s. “In a manner ofspeaking.”
“How about the truth?”
The truth was not publicknowledge and he intended keeping it that way. “How about you get back toengineering and give the boys a hand.”
She brooded for a minute, but hewasn’t budging.
* * *
Gillespie’s handiwork in thetransporter room had caused more problems than it solved. There was barelyenough power to refine the crystals and keep the ship running. It would be aslow process to refine them one at a time.
The most immediate problem wasgetting away from Tricon. The Centauri ship had been detected early andGiacomo had done a good job to keep Bismarck hidden from it. With a bit ofluck, they could remain hidden and sneak away. Luck appeared to be with them.
Engineering was full ofproblems. A day later they were no better off. They had one new crystal inworking condition and in place. The increase in power it generated showed themsome systems, previously switched off to conserve power, were not operational. Shield damage was major – a lot worse than had been first thought.
Kowalski wanted to repair themfirst. As John had drummed into him so often, without shields they weredefenceless.
John refused. They’d get toCopernicus and get it done properly.
A second crystal refined and theincrease in power and speed had the hull shuddering and threatening to breach. They patched up what they could from the inside but it was like putting asticking plaster on a torn artery. It was never going to last. It was eithercrawl along as they had been, increase speed and risk a breach or stop and fixit.
John gave permission for externalrepairs. Half the engineering crew would be outside the ship. Bubble suitstended to muffle communicators, but there was no other way to keep track ofthem. John worried. He always worried when the ship wasn’t moving. AndKowalski tended to have way too much fun for John’s liking.
“You’re not out there to playgames, Mister Kowalski.”
“Cool it, sir. When was the lasttime you were out here?”
John noted McReidy’s muffledgiggle.
“Just fix my ship.”
There was no answer.
“Mister Kowalski?”
No answer. No static; nothing butdead air.
John flicked the intercom off andon. “Sam?”
“We’ve lost contact with all ofthem,” Tan informed him.
John quickly tried the others,but there was no response. “Bricks… O’Grady… Wright…”
“Someone’s locked a tractor beamon them… I just lost them from my screen,” Gillespie added.
“What do you mean, you lostthem?” Giacomo turned slowly to Gillespie, his eyes dark, his tone sending achill through the bridge.
“I mean, they’re not there.”
“How did anyone get this close?”John asked.
“If sensors were working, theywouldn’t have,” Gillespie explained.
“You blew them!” Giacomo was onhis feet, fists clenched by his sides, ready to tear Gillespie apart. McReidyput a hand on his arm to guide him back to his seat but he flicked her off.
“All right, I blew them! It’s myfault!” Gillespie glared back at Giacomo, warning not to push it.
“Settle down!” John’s voice roseabove theirs. “Laying blame is not going to get them back. You,” he pointed toGiacomo, “sit down. And you,” he turned to Gillespie, unsure of what he wasgoing to say. “You do what you can.”
“Commander –” McReidy began.
“What?” John snapped, cutting heroff. He immediately regretted his abruptness. “What is it?” His voice wasquieter.
“It’s the Centauri ship fromTricon.”
“It would be,” he groaned, wipinghis hand down his face.
He moved to the console betweenMcReidy and Giacomo, confronting the pilot who was still on his feet.
Giacomo’s attention shifted toJohn, who inclined his head the slightest. Giacomo fumed, rocking forward afraction as he glared at Gillespie again. He gave up, dropping to his seat andfacing forward.
“Let’s have a look at them.”
The ship came up on the mainscreen. A commercial frigate.
“Call them, Mister Tan. Let’sfind out what they want.”
“They’re already calling us,sir,” Tan answered.
“Wait.”
Tan hesitated, his finger acentimetre above the button and watched John out of the corner of his eyes.
“Get me something I can use,”John told McReidy.
“Like what?”
“Anything. Put it on, MisterTan.”
“Greetings, Captain… I’m sorry…Commander,” the Centauri spoke.
John’s mood soured at thedeliberate insult. “Where’s my crew?”
“They are unharmed. I believeyou have something that doesn’t belong to you.”
“I don’t know what you’re talkingabout.”
“Don’t play games with me. Irecognise you, as you do me.”
John couldn’t deny that. He’dseen the man down in the mine.
He briefly glanced down atMcReidy’s console. She was working cautiously, trying not to attractattention. She needed more time. When he looked back at the screen, his lefthand rose to Giacomo’s shoulder. He could feel the tension in the pilot.
“How did you find us? We couldhave been anywhere by now.”
“I traced you by your enginesignature.”
Easy enough to do, John nodded. “Iwant my crew back.”
“And I want my crystals.” TheCentauri stared back, unblinking.
“If I didn’t need them, Iwouldn’t have taken them. You can see for yourself, we’ve suffered majordamage in our encounters with the Andromedans. Half our systems are down. Youprobably know that from scanning us… We didn’t even know you were there.”
The Centauri thought for aminute. “Perhaps we can trade.”
John was immediately wary. Heknew he had nothing of value. “What do you suggest?”
The view on the screen widened toinclude the engineers. John threw Gillespie a sideways glance. Personally, hedidn’t know how many there should have been. He firmly pushed Giacomo back inhis seat as soon as he felt him move. Gillespie nodded slowly. They were allaccounted for.
“A fair trade,” the Centauricontinued. “One for each crystal.”
Giacomo was on the move again. Arough shove kept him in place.
“No deal. I don’t trade my crewfor anything.” John was having enough trouble keeping his own temper, letalone restraining Giacomo’s.
The Centauri was parading infront of the engineers. “However, I am not an unreasonable man.” He stoppedbeside Lorraine and pulled her away from the others, one hand running down theside of her face. “This one is payment enough.”
Giacomo was on his feet beforeJohn could stop him; the screen went black. If the Centauri had been on theship and not just the screen, Giacomo
