“There are lots of empty shipping cartons and containers. Some of which are labelled with references to Earth, like shipment numbers, and what seem to be codes, etc.
So, yes it definitely is our ship.”
“We would like to see your ships, Susanna; they must be totally different to anything we would recognise,” Bren said.
Then asked. “When do you think this will be possible?”
'They are indeed very different. But at the moment, we can’t risk sending a force craft to pick you up. It would almost certainly be detected by the Crillon ships.’
“All right. We'll wait patiently then till you’re able.”
‘Thank you,’ Susanna replied.
‘I am sorry about this. But with the Crillon ships hanging over your cities. We must be very careful not to cause them to fire on your cities before we are ready to attack them.
Then, when we do attack, another problem will be, in not allowing any wreckage to drift down and crash onto your cities.’
“Yes, that would be appalling,” Acarea replied.
'We only have five ships. But, the Crillons have seven that we know of. So, it would seem that the Crillons have the advantage over us.
However, we have one thing in our favour.
We can Jump. At the moment, they can't until their new crystals are grown.
But, if they've found a way of growing the warp crystals faster than we believe, then we're all in trouble.
We would be unable to destroy them as they would be able to jump way out of our detection range. So, we must stop them here, and now.’
Bren looked astonished. “Don't tell me, you can't find out how fast they're growing?”
‘I’m afraid so, and their timing plays an important part in our strategy.'
“So, do you want us to try and find out?”
‘If it's possible, yes.’
“We'll have to get into the crystal growing plant, at night,” said Bren, thinking out loud.
“Ah, what about these two Crillons? Their clothes would be a good disguise, but the clothes are too large for us,” Bren remarked.
“I could easily alter them,” Acarea replied.
“Come on, let’s get them off them,” she said. Starting to strip the first Crillon.
“All right, Susanna. We'll have a go,” Bren said.
'You'll have to be very careful. We won't be able to help you once you’re inside.'
“We understand,” Bren acknowledged.
'One last thing before I go,’ Susanna added.
“Your computer. You must use it in a different location each time.
Keep moving it around, or the Crillons will locate you and your cabin,’ she said, pausing a moment.
‘I’ll leave a portable power supply to enable you to charge your computer in the skimma, and I'll talk to you again soon.’
With that, the familiar ascending ‘hiss’ told them that Susanna and the drone had gone.
Chapter 19
Susanna.
Susanna sat back. Closed her eyes and let her hands drop away from the controls. Her operational display screen went blank, and she thought about what had happened.
She had felt the Crillons weapons discharge at the drone, and though only a feeling, she had also sensed the image of the flashes from their discharges. This had made her contact with Brendereen and Acarea more stressful than usual.
“Susanna, are you all right?” asked Jonathan, a pleasant young man of twenty-six.
“Just about, thanks,” she said, opening her eyes.
'Rest,' Andromeda's voice said, sounding softly in her transplant.
‘Frank wants the drone to look at Atreen's Industrial compound. Jonathan and I will take over the drone, and we'll bring it back when we've finished. So, rest now.'
‘I suppose you're right, I do feel a little sick. I'm going to my cabin to lay down.’
'I will monitor you.’
‘Thanks,’ Susanna said. Leaving to go to her cabin.
Some hours later, after having seen all the images that their drones had made of the once vibrant city of Atreen's industrial compound, Frank organized yet another captain’s conference for eleven o'clock the next day.
He was also slightly worried about Susanna and decided to see how she was. Thinking at the same time that he could spend some time with her.
It seemed a long time since they had been able to be on their own for any length of time, and he missed the intimacy of such times
'Andromeda,' he thought. 'Private Mode, please.’
'Yes, Frank,' she replied, then, in answer to his thoughts, said. 'She's sleeping, but I detect a slight change in her. Do you wish me to do a complete analysis scan?’
'Not yet, maybe tomorrow if she's worse.’
'Very well Frank, Good night.’
A sudden emptiness filled his mind, but even, so he was thankful for the privacy.
On reaching Susanna's cabin. He tapped in her private security code and the door slid silently open, then closed after him.
Susanna was still asleep, so he undressed, quietly, and unclipping the sheet's magnetic tabs, slipped gently into bed next to her. Remembering to clip it back on the bed as even in point three of Earth's gravity things could still go their own way.
The next morning at seven, he got up. Quietly had a shower and dressed. Then checking that Susanna was all right, kissed her on the forehead and left.
Moments later, after waiting for Frank to leave, she got up, went hurriedly to the shower room, and was sick.
After eating, Frank was sitting in his control room, idly thinking to himself that it had fewer gizmos than his own cabin.
‘But, they’re not really necessary,’ he thought.
‘After all, Andromeda’s my control.’
Then speaking aloud, said. “Andromeda, work time.”
“Yes Frank,” came her pleasant-sounding voice.
“I’m always happy to work.”
“Sorry, I always think of you as a human.”
“I think I am as well,” Andromeda exclaimed, her voice sounding higher pitched than usual.
“Do you realize, I am like an octopus, no, that's not, right? I have twenty-one human extensions or tendrils, all talking to me, all wanting something all the time. I feel like a mother, so in that respect, I am alive.”
“Yea, true Andromeda. You’ve told me this before.”
“Talking about being alive,” she continued. “Did you know Susanna is pregnant?”
That hit Frank like a bombshell. “What?”
“You asked me to leave the scan until this morning. So, this morning I did as you suggested.”
“I'd better go and see her.”
“No, Frank. I have looked at the psychology of what you’re planning. All my knowledge tells me that you mustn't.”
“But I want to tell her.”
“No Frank, I'm sure I'm right. The coming battle requires your full concentration. I will hint to Susanna what she must do.”
“You’re right. I know it. But.”
“It will be all right Frank, I won’t let it be otherwise.”
He knew Andromeda was right, so stayed quiet.
Chapter 20
Revelation.
The Inter-ship conference started as scheduled, with the subject of deployment of the stealth drones being a priority.
Derrick spoke first. “I’m afraid it will still be another two days before the drones are in the correct position.
We have to work very slowly, to ensure the shimmer from the stealth drone's skin is less noticeable, so the Crillons don’t see anything.”
Meanwhile, Frank, pleased at the prospect of being a father, couldn’t help his mind wandering back to thinking about Susanna's condition.
Then Andromeda snapped at him, bringing him back to the present again, as Derrick spoke.
“So, we'll be ready to attack in two and a half days’ time,” Derrick continued.
“What about your conta
cts, planetside, Frank?”
“Excellent,” he said. “So, just ironing out the small details is it then?” Frank asked.
Tony Crisp interrupted, smiling as he did so. “If I didn't know better. I’d think you were somewhere else, Frank.” This embarrassed Frank, as he noticed that they were all smiling at him.
“What?” He asked. “Do you know something I don't? You've all got a silly grin on your faces.”
“We can't tell you,” Tony Crisp answered, smiling. “It's just some Inter-ship backroom chatter.”
Then Andromeda spoke to him again through her link.
‘Frank! Are you listening? Derek asked you a question.’
‘Oh, sorry. Remind me what the question was, Andromeda?’
‘He asked about your contacts, planetside,’ she replied, sounding slightly irritated now.
“Right, Derek.
Our contacts, Brendereen and Acarea, should be ready. But at present they are helping us to find out how fast the Crillon’s crystals are growing,” Frank replied, then paused briefly.
“They are scheduled to go to the undamaged industrial compound close to where their own City Atreen was wiped out. It’s going to be difficult because they have to get in at night, and they know we won't be able to help them once inside,” he finished.
Then looked at Harry.
“Harry, has your team finalised the strike angle data that we need to upload to the drones?”
“Yes,” he replied. Then continued to give Frank the details.
“As you know, Frank, we have been working jointly with Andromeda.
And our simulations show that, for each of the three Crillon ships, we need to fire both of a drone’s torpedoes into the tube of their Antimatter weapons.
The torpedoes have to be set to enter at an angle of five-point-seven degrees, to ensure that the detonation will then occur about halfway along the tube.
Our simulations have also confirmed that, although the ships will be damaged beyond repair, they should stay in place, and not crash onto the cities below them.”
“Good. Are you set to upload, Andromeda?”
“Yes, but Harry and I agree that we won’t upload until nearer the time.”
“That’s fine. Now. Take note, everyone,” Frank ordered then paused to get their attention.
“First, I want continuous updates, to and from all ships.
That means every scrap of information must be available to everyone.
Second. We'll set the engagement to start in two days’ time. At eleven hundred hours, precisely.
I hope that is clear to everyone?” They all nodded their agreement.
“Third. All movements of the ships and stealth drones must be made in the full stealth mode pattern.
There must be no chance that the Crillons can detect us.”
Then Barry Winston interrupted him.
“But if they do discover us, for whatever reason, Frank. What's plan B?”
“Pray. Pray that we can still disable the three Crillon ships hanging over their cities,” Frank replied, with a heavy heart.
“Like throwing everything we've got at them?” Harry Blacksmith suggested.
“Yes. Seriously. The rest of the drones. And us. Just hope that we can get to their high orbit ships first.”
“Indeed. The chances of our losing a ship or two will be a lot higher if we miss the three in low orbit,” Andromeda stated.
“Then this has got to work,” Derrick Patterson replied. “Whatever it takes.”
“OK gents, that's all for now.
But if there’s anything at all that’s likely to affect the operation, call in without delay.” They all nodded, and his main screen cleared.
Then Frank sat back, deep in thought.
‘Andromeda, you are right, about Susanna being pregnant, aren’t you?’
'I do not make mistakes. She is five weeks pregnant.'
'I wonder if she’s up now?' he wondered. Remembering he had left her in bed.
'Yes, she's making a special meal for you both,’ Andromeda replied, still linked with his mind.
'OK.' Frank said, then went to say something more, but thought better of it.
'I'm going to see Susanna, so privacy mode now, please.'
'Of course,' she agreed. 'After all, I know I’m only the ‘other’ woman in your life.’
'But we're nothing, without each other,' he thought.
'I agree,' she thought back.
'Andromeda. Privacy mode means just that.’
'Oops. I’m sorry,' she said. Then her presence was gone.
He left the control room and was heading down the corridor towards the habitation cabins when he felt something behind him. He turned and saw a Marine in full battle armour, walking behind him.
“Are you on a mission Sergeant?”
“Yes sir,” the sergeant replied, without smiling.
“I have orders to protect you when you are in privacy mode.”
“I see.”
“Don't worry sir, I'll be just outside Miss James's door.”
“Fine,” Frank muttered back, not really liking the idea. But turned and carried on down the corridor, with the Marine following close behind.
On reaching her cabin, he tapped Susanna’s annunciator pad.
The door slid open, and as she stepped forward, he saw that she was wearing a high-necked, and clingy dress that showed off her voluptuous curves.
He also noted that Susanna, being as fashionable as ever, had also colour-matched her obligatory magnetic footwear to that of her dress.
“Frank, I'm glad you've come,” she said with a broad smile on her face.
Then saw the Marine, standing a little way back from her door and gave him a quick smile as well.
“Come on in Frank,” she said, as she took his hand and pulled him, with some urgency, into her cabin. Frank almost tripping up in the process.
Once in, the door slid shut behind them.
Then they embraced, and kissed passionately, their hands running uncontrollably over each other’s body.
“Hold on,” he finally said.
“As much as I want you. There isn’t much time, and we need to discuss some important matters before we go into action.”
“I know you’re right,” she said. “But we’re hardly ever alone together this trip.”
“I understand. But I love you, and I promise it will get better.
Now, shall we eat Sues?”
Then, wrinkling his nose, said. “Mm, something smells good.”
“Well, it should do. Geo’s hydroponic department is experimenting with growing real vegetables.
Peter Harris gave me some ‘new potatoes,’ and some ‘beans.' At least that’s what he called them.”
“So, not straight out of the food vendor this time then?”
“Certainly not,” she said with a sheepish grin.
“Their hydroponics’ department is bigger than I ever imagined, Frank. You should take the time to see it.”
“Well, maybe,” he replied, thinking about Geo’s experiments.
“But I think I’ll take this up with Andromeda. I should imagine the results don't justify the time and resources spent.”
He thought for a moment.
Then changing the subject, said. “I know you are feeling unwell Sues, but there's a drone meet tomorrow. Do you think you'll be up to talking to Bren and Acarea?”
“Andromeda says I'm in no danger,” she replied.
“So yes, I'll be there.”
“That's good then, I just wondered.”
“I'm all right, Frank,” she reassured him.
“Go and sit down. I'll be in the kitchen for a few minutes,” she said giving him a gentle nudge.
“By the way. Do you remember that evening in London when we had a meal with my uncle?”
“Yes. In the Galaxy restaurant, wasn’t it?”
“That's right,” she said, from the kitchen.
“Well, I was searchi
ng Andromeda's music memory block, and what do you think I found?”
“Go on, you're dying to tell me.”
“Do you remember B.B. King, the American guitarist that we saw in London?”
“Yes, I do. Wasn’t it a Holographic presentation?”
“Yes. Well, just listen to this,” she said, tapping a remote unit that lay on her work surface.
The sound of a gentle bluesy beat and smooth guitar playing filled the room. Frank, on hearing it, remembered that this guy, when he was singing, always stopped playing the guitar. Unwilling to give all his attention to both at the same time, Frank assumed.
‘I really like this music,’ he thought. ‘So, relaxing.’
Susanna came out of the kitchen, carrying a tray with utensils and two plates of steaming hot food and placed them on the table.
“By the way, this is a dish called 'sausage and mash.' But, I left out the ‘mash,' cooking the new potatoes instead, and added the beans.”
“Looks and smells delicious,” Frank commented.
“But, how did you know how to cook them?”
“Easy, Peter told me.”
“Well, it certainly makes a change from the synthetic food we usually have.”
“It does, doesn’t it,” she said, smiling.
They sat and ate in silence, just enjoying their meal.
“That really was appetizing,” Frank said complimenting her on her choice of food.
Then, when they had finished eating, she cleared everything away as he moved over to sit on the sofa.
“Do you want more music?” he asked as she came and sat down beside him.
The Definitive SpaceFed Trilogy (SpaceFed StarShips Trilogy).: A thrilling, action-packed Sci-fi space adventure. (SpaceFed StarShips Series Book 8) Page 30
