“That does appear to be correct,”Mark added.
“An extragalactical invasion?”Simpson asked.
“Taking out everything in itspath,” Bustlethwaite repeated thoughtfully.
“Then we must do something.” Powers was back in control. “Tell Emperor Komodo we will match his six ships. I will speak with him directly once this meeting is over.”
Mark was dismissed. It didn’tmatter; his role was finished. “I will pass on your message.” He strodequickly from the room.
Powers was deep in thought. Theroom waited for him. The admiral knew where every ship in the fleet was – orshould be. He scribbled some notes, switched on the console in front of himand tapped away in the silence.
A brief consultation with Jordan on one side and Simpson on the other had both men nodding in agreement.
Powers looked up, zeroing in onJohn. “Madison,” he spoke civilly, but begrudgingly.
“Sir?” John couldn’t avoidlooking at him.
“Bismarck is yours for now –”
John couldn’t stop the smile thatcovered his face.
“I need some scouts out there andI don’t have another captain to spare.”
“But, sir, we’re five crewmanshort,” John blurted out.
“Keep the Magellan crew. You’vegot a first officer and an engineer among them. You leave,” Powers checked hiswatch, “in twelve hours.”
John didn’t want to point outthat still left them short and Powers was now talking to the frigate captain Manning.
John decided that the ship wasbeing considered an expendable risk. He would later find out that he waswrong. Powers knew what he did not. Bismarck was one of the fastest ships inthe fleet. She would arrive in the area days before the bigger ships. Hopefully, with her small size, she could avoid what they would not.
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Chapter five
John’s first job when he got backto Bismarck was to check the weapons capabilities. What he found did notsatisfy him. He also realised he had no personnel fully trained in their use. He checked the computer banks. There must be an operating manual in theresomewhere. There was, but it only covered what he had learnt at the academy. Since then, he had had very little practical use for them. All that was aboutto change. And if the rest of the crew knew as little as he did, they were allin serious trouble.
Powers had given him twelve hoursto move out. The crew’s twenty four hour leave would end in seven. He saw noreason to cut anyone’s leave short.
McReidy’s silence as he contactedher and informed her that she was staying on Bismarck told him exactly what shethought of the idea. Kowalski was delighted and Gillespie was reticent.
John contacted all seniorofficers and relevant department heads and set up a meeting on their return. That gave him time to do some homework. A bit of background research mighthelp, and it suddenly occurred to him who may have some answers.
The bar was deserted. Soghra wasdoing an inventory. A load of new supplies had arrived and he would checkevery individual bottle to ensure he hadn’t been cheated. He had learnt thehard way that aliens were not always treated as equal as humans and haddeveloped a cunning that would have pleased Gillespie.
“What brings you down here,Commander?” Soghra asked without looking up from his invoice.
“I’d like to talk,” Johnanswered, unsure of what he wanted to say.
“Talk. You are not disturbingme.”
“Are they still trying to rip youoff?” John changed the subject.
Soghra sighed heavily and put hisinvoice down. He leaned on the counter and looked up at John. “You did notcome down here to discuss my invoices. And since it appears I will not get anywork done with you here, what do you want?”
“You’ve travelled a fair bit,haven’t you?” John tried to sound casual.
“I’ve done my share.”
“Ever been out of the galaxy?”
“Once or twice.”
“Where to?”
“Where would you like it to havebeen?” Soghra was smart enough to know John’s interest was more than casual.
“Where would you say we stand atthe moment? Compared with your own observations?”
“Commander,” Soghra beganslowly. “I have been alive for more than one hundred of your years. Duringthat time I have seen great advances in your people. But I have also seenthings that you have not yet dreamed of.”
John was quiet.
“Does that answer your question?”
John nodded. “Yes… I believe itdoes.” He could feel Soghra’s eyes staring right through him. Spying a caseof scotch, his tone lightened. “I’d check that scotch over there,” he noddedtowards the case. “They don’t like letting that stuff go.”
This time it was Soghra’s turn toact defensively. “Lieutenant Gillespie assured me it was top quality.”
John smiled. “In that case, itprobably is.” Having said all he wanted to, he turned to leave.
“Commander?”
The tone was hopeful and Johnhalf turned back in answer.
“Next time, maybe you could bringthat lovely female back. She does brighten the room so.”
John ignored the comment. If itwas meant to get under his skin, it didn’t. It surprised him the attentionthat appeared to be lavished on McReidy – Soghra, Nickolai, Powers. If he hadbothered to notice, it was no more than a lot of other female officers had tocontend with.
Back to the bridge and he accessedKuiper’s computers for a full weapons analysis. A quick scan told him it wouldtake days to learn all he needed to know. Bismarck’s weapons were basic, herdefence systems not much better. She could not withstand the type of attack heexpected.
He tried to figure out how hecould update the systems. A complete refit would be ideal, but he didn’t havethe time or the crew. Instead, he went back to basics; something he always didwhen he had no answer. He looked again at what he had. This time, he settledon what he could make out of it. Knowing he was short of time, he downloadedall the information Kuiper would allow into Bismarck’s computer.
What he really wanted more thananything was a top class engineer. “I wish I had Delaney,” he muttered underhis breath.
Anthony Delaney was the one manwho could make the impossible possible. John smiled as he remembered how hehad rebuilt Magellan after the engine core had melted. With
