“Saki!” The chief nodded. “What if I’m not near a chair?”
Kloo laughed. “Don’t tell me, Chief, you can’t relax any damned time you have the chance!”
“Aye, sir.”
The science officers had other puzzles, concerning why the Hivers rejected so many systems. Were they already inhabited by Hivers? Or uninhabitable? Had any of them, by any remote chance, once held off a Hiver advance, too? The skeptics thought this area of space far too remote to have received much Hiver attention. Others argued that the very fact that the Hive ship was going so far from its original homeworld proved it had investigated all the intervening systems and either occupied them or found them useless.
To settle some of these arguments—which often proved agitated—Captain Ashiant initiated a program for the fast scout ships which the Washington carried. Whenever an M-5 system was observed, the scouts—using a different crew each time—departed their mother ship for quick discreet surveys.
For these, Ashiant asked the assistance of the Talents, who were as glad to have some excitement as any other crew member. Thian always took Lieutenant Senior Grade Alison Greevy with him; Rojer favored a T-3 ensign from Engineering, Cyra Charteris; while Clancy needed to have two augment his T-2 abilities. Invariably he chose Semirame Kloo and the only other T-3, one of the gunnery officers, Targia Upland. An attractive girl, her nickname of “Target” was respect for her professional competence and a knowledge of antique and archaic weapons.
When the scout was close enough for the Talents to deploy the undetectable plastic units, the relevant planet within the system was probed. Four Hiver colonies were discovered out of twenty worlds surveyed, two with sphere ships in orbit and the usual debris. Once Hiver possession was noted, the scout ship was under the strictest orders to leave the system immediately. Detection had to be avoided. Hivers often worked moons and other planets for mineral deposits. An argument arose over how the Hivers would know a system of theirs had been invaded, when they had no intersystem communications and their planet-based sensors had, as shown by the Xh-33, limited range.
“Let us not assume what has not been established beyond doubt,” Captain Ashiant reminded those captains and first officers who attended his weekly updates. “There are still panels on the Refugee whose function is unknown.”
That was the standard warning every scout captain impressed on his or her crew before the scout departed on an exploratory mission.
Every week the star charts were upgraded by such side trips and new primaries were added, including an unusual binary-sun system that fascinated all the astronomy buffs.
After the second Hiver occupation was discovered, the Vadim’s new captain, Pat Shepherd, brought up the suggestion that a multi-tasked beacon be set up near the heliopause of Hiver systems: to warn any passing Alliance ship of Hivers, and to record any out-goings, in which case a message capsule would be released to speed back to Alliance space where any Prime would soon “hear” its shriek and retrieve it. After the Denebian Penetration, every Alliance system had installed a device that could identify the Hiver sting-pzzt and emit a warning.
A contest to design such a device was circulated through the Fleet and small mechanically oriented groups vied with each other to come up with the successful design. The winning design group came from the Washington, because Rojer and Commander Tikele worked all the hours of the week to win the competition. Then the design was distributed among the machine shops of all the ships to ensure a sufficient supply.
Uninhabited M-5 planets were examined in more detail: one had an indigenous life form which was already using primitive tools and had controlled fires. That system was duly put off limits. Several planets, despite appropriate atmospheres and distribution of land mass to sea, did not appear viable for Human or Mrdini occupation, showing high levels of radiation, too much seismic activity or other anomalies.
“Well, such conditions would account for some of the bypasses,” Captain Ashiant said at one of the weekly “brass” meetings which included the Talents. “One thing puzzles me. How did the Hivers know which to bypass? If we have probes, what do the Hivers use to obtain the same information? They surely must. Did anyone ever discover if Deneb had been probed by a Hiver mechanism?” He turned to Clancy.
“Sir, the Denebian Penetration happened long before my birth. My uncle who lived through those days never mentioned a probe, but then Deneb was pretty primitive in those days. And who was expecting visitors from outer space?”
“But did you not as a youngling on Deneb recover quantities of Hiver materials?” asked Captain Spktm.
“Yes sir, indeed, we all did,” and Clancy indicated Thian and Rojer, “and the Navy installation on Deneb is still trying to fit the pieces together.” He grinned.
“Probes usually return to the sender to deliver the information they’ve acquired,” Rojer added.
“True, true,” Ashiant said, fingering his jawline as he often did.
“Flavia Bastianmajani recently sent us a message,” Thian went on, “that the first of the occupied Hive systems showed a total breakdown which hasn’t yet been fully analyzed. The xenobs and biologists have an unconfirmed opinion that the planet was deficient in some element or elements which are vital to Hive survival. So, if they do use a probe, it doesn’t tell them all they need to know.”
“So there are discrepancies in their colonial program,” Captain Germys of the Genesee remarked in his dry fashion. “That’s encouraging.”
“And they avoid some planets that are fine for us.”
“But if that colony failed, what sort of information do the Hiver probes seek?” asked Germys’s first officer, Beckin Watusa, a very tall and very dark-skinned man.
“Well, one we saw was mainly islands, some good-sized, but no large land masses,” said Selig Derynic of the destroyer Comanche. “So perhaps that’s one of their criteria—large continents.”
“They probe for suitable atmospheres as well, since two they’ve bypassed showed hydrogen-nitrogen imbalances,” Vandermeer said.
“No,” Captain Prlm of the KLTL said emphatically, its usually smooth fur ruffling, a sign of agitation, “the probe finds out how much and what kind of life had to be ‘fumigated.’”
“Then let us be thankful for whatever limitations their probes, if they use them, report,” Ashiant said briskly. “We can at least propose a few colonial sites for the Alliance.”
“So far nothing we have discovered explains why they have ranged so far, especially now,” Spktm said in an almost lugubrious tone, echoing some of the pessimism Prlm displayed.
“I would have thought that obvious, sir,” Ashiant replied courteously. “Their homeworld was lost to the nova. They must be seeking an alternate.”
“That must not happen!” Spktm said, bringing both upper hands hard down on the table, the percussion felt by everyone touching it.
“That is the purpose of this squadron, Captain,” Ashiant said as resolutely. “And, especially, the reason the Washington was conceived and built!”
“And the Hivers built their Great Sphere to establish a new homeworld,” Thian said. “Could it be in all the volume of space they, and we, have explored, they have not yet found a similar one? And that’s why they have ranged so far, and looked in as many directions as they have?”
“You give the Hivers credit for emotions which they do not have,” Spktm said, its poll eye swiveling to give Thian the full glare.
“Now, a moment, Spktm,” Ashiant said, raising one hand, “the Prime has a valid point. Wouldn’t Mrdinis, deprived of Clarf, search for one as near to what they’d lost as could be found?”
Spktm’s fur ruffled further, and so did Prlm’s and the other two ’Dini captains seated around the table. Thian inwardly groaned at his tactless remark. Exuding as much pacifying empathy as he could, he followed Ashiant’s lead.
“MRDINIS HAVE LONG HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE THAT HIVERS FOLLOW INSTINCT WHICH HAS NOT CHANGED, HONORED SIR, AND THAT IS, A
BOVE ALL, SURVIVAL OF THEIR KIND. THEIR SPECIES MUST HAVE HAD A VERY UNUSUAL HOMEWORLD TO HAVE ALLOWED THEM TO BECOME DOMINANT. THAT WORLD IS GONE. SURVIVAL OF THEIR SPECIES REQUIRES THEM TO FIND ITS LIKE. THAT IS WHAT THIS ONE MEANT. PARDON THE OFFENSE THIS ONE HAS UNWITTINGLY CAUSED THE HONORED SPKTM.”
The ’Dini captain’s fur began to settle, and so did Prlm’s. Thian felt the wave of relief from his fellow humans that the Mrdinis were mollified by his explanation.
“So they haven’t found it. And, by my honor, I hope they don’t,” Cheseman of the Solidarity said, “but give us a little hope, Captain Spktm. Do we even know what their primary’s spectrum was like before it went nova?”
Both Spktm and Thian, who had reached the area where the dead star was still cooling, shook their heads.
“Bluntly, no,” Thian said.
“We’ve got a helluva lot of space to check out,” Captain Cheseman of the Solidarity said, made gloomy by the sheer magnitude of the task facing them. “Five years won’t be long enough!”
“But a lustrum makes a start, gentlemen,” Ashiant said, adopting a firmly positive tone, “and let us not discount what we have managed to accomplish in the past two years. We may have been forced by circumstances to explore further than any previous program for either of our species but we have already discovered enough new worlds to support members of the Alliance for thousands of generations to come.
“Let me come back to the point that there may be a more specific goal for these Hive Spheres—finding a new homeworld under a sun similar to the original one. I certainly don’t know what spectro-analytical means the Hivers possess,” and Ashiant attempted to inject some humor, “but I’d like our astrogation officers to start checking the spectrums of all G-type stars, however far away they are, on the off chance that it’s a certain type they’re hunting, not just any G-type system with M-5 planets.”
Even the Mrdinis saw the merit of that suggestion and the meeting ended with considerably more enthusiasm and purpose than it initially had. Ashiant later confided to Thian that there’d been some very tricky moments but he was positive they were onto a line of investigation that was going to prove invaluable.
“Certainly it’s giving us another purpose while we’re tracking that damned Sphere to wherever it’s going. What odds would you take that it has a definite primary objective?”
Thian regarded Ashiant for a moment before letting out a startled guffaw. For one moment, Ashiant glared at him and then, realizing what he had said, joined Thian in a much-needed laugh.
“In line with that, sir,” Thian said, still shaking with laughter, “maybe I ought to contact Flavia. Squadron B’s been to quite a few systems now, too. Maybe they can throw some light on the matter.”
“Light on the matter?” Ashiant echoed and enjoyed another chuckle. “I needed that, Lyon. That was a hairy moment there…”
“You mean, of course, when all the ’Dini fur started to ruffle up?”
That set them both off again until Ashiant, huffing and coughing, pulled himself back to sobriety, but his eyes still twinkled and he continued to grin.
“Actually, sir, even a process of elimination, based on what types of G-stars they ignore, might help us establish the criteria they’re looking for. Even minute differences—the period of variability, sunspot cycles, size—in a G-type primary can have incalculable effects on the satellites in its system. It certainly has proved so in species adaptations.
“On another subject, Captain—which I didn’t have time to pass on to you before the meeting—Flavia’s message this morning contains some interesting items. The first being that they, too, have devised a beacon to be set outside any Hive-suspect M-5 system: to warn vessels off and to send a message back to the nearest Prime to warn of any outgoing Sphere.”
“Great minds, huh?”
“I’ve received specs, sir. Captain Soligen thought you might like to glance over them in case they have modifications we could use.” Thian handed over the hard copy and the software. “Or the other way round,” he added tactfully.
“Indeed and we will,” Ashiant replied as he glanced through the material. “Though the one your brother and Tikele designed seems to be similar.”
“Flavia also informed me that, with Earth Prime’s express permission, they are going to approach the Hive-occupied planet.”
Ashiant gave him a hard stare.
“There are good reasons to take the chance,” and Thian grinned, “the main of them being to give the KVS under Captain Klml the opportunity to pull the Genesee ploy.”
“Steal another Hiver ship?” Ashiant said, almost exploding. “Whatever do we need with another one?”
Thian chuckled, as much at the captain’s reaction as the one which would surely await the triumphantly returning crew aboard it.
“Captain Klml is of the new Mrdini generation which hasn’t seen much direct contact of the kind that allows a color to gain prestige…”
“Damned untried young scuts,” Ashiant murmured, shifting restlessly in his chair, “they could precipitate more trouble…” Then he cleared his throat as he remembered all too vividly the morning’s near breach between Human and ’Dini. “Ah, well, I suppose fighting’s more recent in their culture than…Is ‘counting coup’ the action I mean…”
“I’ve heard the phrase,” Thian replied, not remembering where or in what connection.
“Go on. Tell me how this ’Dini plans to gain prestige so I’ll know how to prevent it in this squadron.”
“First Flavia got Earth Prime’s permission. And I assure you, as Flavia did me, that Captain Soligen would not contemplate such a move unless she was very sure of success.”
“Well,” and Ashiant simmered down, “Vesta’s one helluva fine captain, even if she does have some odd ideas of opting for young and virtually untried crew. I assume all you Primes are restricted by the same rules?”
“Yes, sir!”
“Then let me know the outcome of the…what did you call it…”
“The Genesee ploy.”
“Osullivan must be pleased by that. Too bad he’s stuck at a desk now. And how is Captain Klml intending to get its prize back to our occupied space?”
“Flavia seemed to feel the captain would be able to do so under the ship’s power. We were able to establish the disposition of certain controls on the panel. She’s known them. And we know what fuel is used…”
“That’s fine until the damned thing gets in more traveled space…”
Thian nodded, grinning. “I believe the plan is to decorate the sphere with ’Dini designs to let all and sundry know who is bringing this one in.”
“Do ask your Prime to send out an all-ship warning. Wouldn’t do to have a trigger-happy missile crew trying out the new weaponry on a ‘friendly’ hostile vessel! And can you get onto the proper authorities to forward all documentation on known G-star variations, whether the planetary systems have been explored or not. It may well be that the tedious process of elimination will provide the information we need.”
When Thian, who had always prided himself on his eidetic memory, found himself confusing figures of the very complicated spectro-analyses of G-type stars within an hour, he traded off with Rojer. Clancy was about to have to take a turn when Jeff Raven decided his T-1 and T-2 staff had better things to do with their time than mentally transfer such complex data. So the rest of the material from Human astronomical files was ’ported out. Laria ’ported even more from the Mrdini libraries.
Everyone’s pretty excited about the theory here, she told her brother. You sound in good form, Thi. Things going well for you, Roj and Clancy?
Why? D’you miss us? he asked teasingly.
Oddly enough, I think I do, she said.
How’s Kincaid?
Kincaid is in fine form, brother! Then there was a ripple in her mental tone that signified a giggle. Vanteer, too. Then she signed off, leaving him to digest that information just as the cargo officer announced the arrival of a small
pod from Clarf Tower.
The comparative analysis of G-type stars continued until a special board had to be set up for that information alone. Each ship in the Fleet wanted to access files to support their own theories and constant, lengthy ship-to-ship conversations were interfering with necessary operational messages.
* * *
Over the next few weeks, although neither Thian nor Ashiant had mentioned the Genesee ploy, most of the Fleet knew that it either was about to happen or had happened. The news that the maneuver had been successful, that the KVS had destroyed the space field of the Hivers at Waterloo as well as the three scout ships that had tried to launch from the planet, was anticlimatic but gave an excuse for considerable celebration on all eleven ships.
Barely had they recovered from that than the Washington’s sensors picked up a reading that suggested the Hiver they were pursuing had sent out its scouts. The target was a G-type sun which the Alliance had first thought the Hiver would, once more, pass by since its spectro-analysis didn’t seem that promising.
Instantly crews were scrambled to the Washington’s fast scouts and Thian ordered Rojer to accompany the Revere, commanded by Captain Vergoin.
You’ll get yourself in a pod the moment there’s trouble, Thian told his brother.
Aw, Thi…Rojer began and then, remembering his grandfather’s stern warnings, subsided. Yeah, I will, but what about the destroyers? Who’s going to keep Prl and Ktpl in check when they get close to the Hiver?
Captain Spktm. It’s transferred its command to its first officer and is on board the KLTS.
Spktm does mean business.
We all mean business!
Thian sent Clancy, with a similar reminder about saving his Talented skin, to one of the two Human-crewed destroyers. All four larger ships were ordered to shift themselves at top speed after the lighter, faster vessels. The Nebula, the two Constellations and the four Galaxy-class would need more time to attain the requisite speed to catch up and support any action.
We’re ahead of the Hiver scouts, Rojer told his brother several days later, and they didn’t even see us coming in on the ecliptic. His tone was one of high good spirits. Are those Hiver queens so utterly oblivious to anything but their goals? Are they so arrogant they think they’re totally invulnerable?
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