Lyon's Pride

by Anne McCaffrey

  Thian was called back by Earth Prime later to receive the official commendations and replies from the Alliance and High Council as well as new orders.

  The Fleet was now to join Squadron D, using all available Talent to make the ’portation, and track down the third Sphere with all possible speed. There was great weight being given to the theory that the three spheres had been looking for a particular G-type star, as close a replica to the one which had turned nova as possible. The High Council did not care to wait until the remaining Sphere found such a star and a new homeworld planet.

  Once that Hive Sphere had been dealt with, the Fleet was to return, making in-depth surveys of all potentially habitable planets and disabling Hiver colonies, using the Genesee ploy whenever possible to remove Sphere ships from use.

  “What’s the High Council after, might I ask?” Ashiant inquired of Thian in an agitated fashion. “A fleet of Sphere ships? We’ve got more than we need right now. We should blow ’em up. Save time and effort.”

  “Use ’em as decoys?” Thian threw out as a possible solution.

  “I think this ‘know your enemy and you can defeat him easier’ is going a bit too far.”

  “Perhaps I misinterpreted, sir,” Thian said, running over the wording in his mind. “Disabling the Hiver colonies could merely mean making certain they had no further space capabilities. Shall I reconfirm?”

  “Please do.”

  I doubt the High Council meant to bring more Spheres back, Jeff Raven said, but his tone was uncertain. But with ’Dinis you’d never know, would you? I’ll get back to you.

  When he did, he was chuckling. Seems the ’Dinis would like to have an intact Sphere for each of their colonial worlds as trophies. Admiral Mekturian pointed out that the two operational ones presently in our possession could be displayed wherever necessary. I will never understand ’Dini logic or honor. The Admiral is more sensible and repeats that the Fleet is to destroy Hiver space-travel capabilities until other remedies can be effected to prevent their colonial aggrandizement.

  Other remedies?

  That’s what’s being discussed. There’s a powerful lobby that would prevent the Alliance, and not just the Human element, from doing unto the Hivers as they have done to others. Why reduce ourselves to their level?

  What else could be done, Granddad? Not, Thian added hastily, that I believe the annihilation of any species could be justified.

  Ah, now, Thian, the discussions are ongoing and heated. Both Gktmglnt and Admiral Mekturian are insisting that nothing be engraved in granite until both investigatory units, the Main Fleet and Squadron B, have returned from their voyages, laden, we hope, with information enough to suggest a sensible, humane and ‘dinified course of action.

  If we’ve to stop and investigate every bloody M-5 system on the way back, sir, Thian began…

  By then some form of common sense might have resulted from the current shambles. Once more I am relieved that FT&T is involved only in the mechanics, rather than the politics, of this issue. And, there was definite amusement in Jeff Raven’s tone, as a messenger, I am too far removed from those I deliver them to, to suffer the fate often meted out to the bearers of adverse replies. So, grandson, I say unto you, bring back as much information as you possibly can about the bright new worlds that have not been Hiverized and can give the hot-blooded another focus for their energies.

  Wouldn’t a colonial explosion be following Hiver tactics?

  Really, Thian, your sense of proportion is slightly skewed by distance. Humans and ’Dinis respect other life forms and any planet bearing identifiable sentients is to be scratched off the list. Oh, but put up one of those warning beacons that’ll inform the Alliance of incoming Hive traffic. There’re still a lot of those damned Spheres loose in this galaxy.

  The official segments of that long exchange were duly reported to Captain Ashiant and then repeated to the other captains and first officers, in Basic and in ’Dini, so that there could be no misunderstanding of either directive.

  Thian excused himself then, to give the brass the chance to discuss the orders privately.

  Outside the Talents’ quarters, the corridors of the Washington still echoed muted sounds of celebration although the Nebula-class ship was now swinging around the rescued planet on its way out of the system. Thian knew that the science officers would be busy at every available station, recording whatever scrap of surface information could be learned during the circumnavigation. Probes had returned with samples which would be analyzed and assayed. He watched as the planet turned under him even as the Washington turned round the planet to the original sight he had had…had it only been two days before? The forest fire had gone out, doused by a rain system which, unfortunately, resulted in smoke obscuring that area, so the cause of the conflagration remained a mystery. The creatures which had fled the fire were now browsing by the lake which had saved them. None appeared to be more than a variety of large ruminants, grazers, and several equally big predators, and none acted with any sentience.

  “And not a single creature will ever know or care about the fate we saved them from,” Greevy said softly from the open door to his room. When she had come off duty the night before, they’d done some private celebrating. All her patients would recover and she was no longer fearful for the progress of several of the ’Dini burn victims.

  Thian held out his arm and she came across on bare feet to stand in under it. She liked the fact that she fitted just there. He closed his arm and pulled her against him.

  “Are we on our way out of this system, Thi?” she asked, noticing the rotation.

  He nodded. “Orders came in. If that door opens, be prepared to get ’ported back in.”

  She started to release him and he pulled her back against him.

  “All the brass’s there and they’ve a lot of talking to do, so I don’t think we need worry. Besides, Alison Anne,” and he looked down at her, “I’d rather stop playing hide-and-seek…”

  “Thian, you know perfectly that your folks will have someone better in mind for you than a T-5 empath who’s…”

  Thian put one finger across her lips. “Don’t you poor-mouth yourself in my hearing, Lieutenant Senior Grade, sir, ma’am!”

  “Look, you were a raw kid…”

  I’m no raw kid now, Alison Anne Greevy, Thian said, turning to pull her full against him and pushing her head up to catch her lovely blue eyes, and I have far more need of a comfortable T-5 empath whom I happen to love, respect and admire for certain earthy and caring qualities I haven’t found anywhere else. If we can still stand each other’s company at the end of this mission, I’d say we had a good chance of enjoying a good life together. And I’ll probably opt for full service as a Naval Prime. I’d be the first…if I can talk Granddad into creating the position.

  Alison could and often did shield her thoughts from him but not the wistful hope in her eyes.

  “If you’re thinking of Flavia Bastianmajani, don’t,” he said and kissed her, loving her with mind, heart and soul. “She had other ideas even when we first met.”

  “She did?”

  Thian threw his head back, laughing at her indignation. “She’s probably as assiduously pursuing her own way as I have been mine!”

  “A trained T-1 like Flavia?”

  “Sometimes, Alison Anne, you astound me.”

  “Well, I like to be able to do just that, I can tell you, Prime Isthian Lyon, sir.”

  “Good. Come, astound me now. I think I’ve some free time to fill.”

  * * *

  When Thian was called, late that evening, to make contact with Earth Prime, it was to ask permission to exchange the damaged Mrdini destroyer KLTS with the KLLM currently in Squadron D. That was agreed, though the other two ships comprising the Squadron were to be sent back to be refitted.

  I’m told there’s an adequate brig on board the Valparaiso, so you can send those dissidents back and rid yourself of unnecessary baggage, Earth Prime added.

&nbs
p; Thian had not liked that aspect of his responsibilities but it was now no secret that several attempts had been made to tamper with the Washington’s missile guidance systems. Suspects had been interrogated by the NI officers, with Thian watching in a covert observation booth. In all but one case his Talent wasn’t needed and in that one, he had felt both distress and pity that the ensign, a young woman of otherwise impeccable record in her duties in the engine complex of the Washington, felt it her duty to Humankind to destroy the first of the Nebula-class design because a ship that huge and powerful was against the wishes of the God her native planet revered.

  How she had slipped through the careful screening of any candidate to the Space Academy became the subject of a dedicated search of both Naval Intelligence and the medical board. She was placed in the brig under maximum surveillance. She protested vehemently about the “paid,” godless saboteurs that also occupied the accommodation. They complained because she prayed both loud and long, trying to bring them to see the “light” and save their “souls.” Only bouts of laryngitis silenced her. And that, according to the officer in charge of the facility, never lasted long enough.

  * * *

  All the Fleet elements were now making their majestic way out of the system so blithely unaware of its escape from annihilation. One day a developing sentient species might wonder about the ring of debris about the outer moon.

  In their ready room, Thian, Rojer and Clancy were toting up the potential power they could access to ’port the Fleet to Squadron D’s present location.

  “Well, it’s not that far,” Rojer was saying in an attempt to encourage himself. Gil and Kat were lounging on the couch beside him, playing one of the finger games that often absorbed them, with a piece of colored string.

  “With ninety T-2s and -3s to spread out, plus the sixty 4s—and don’t forget they’re mainly kinetics, too—strategically placed…”

  “There’s none on any of the ’Dini ships,” Clancy reminded them.

  “So we haul them over last…”

  “That wouldn’t sit well,” Rojer said. “Look, Thian, you and Clancy haul the Washington. Give me ten 2s and twenty 3s and I’ll ’port Spktm. It’s the mass of the Washington that’s going to be the worst to ’port. Even Constellations are easy after that.”

  “Or, I stay here in the Washington and send to you.”

  “Who’s the T-2 on Squadron D?” Clancy asked.

  Thian and Rojer gave him a weary look. “Stierlman!”

  “Oh!”

  Rojer lifted one shoulder in a shrug. “He hasn’t lost anything sent him…yet.”

  “Well, we sure don’t aim the Washington at him all of a sudden,” Thian said.

  Semirame Kloo and Alison Anne arrived, off duty now, and Thian absently ’ported in more drinks and finger foods for them.

  “It’s getting the experienced Talents in the right places to buffer the new ones who’ll never have had a chance to merge.”

  “Then whyn’t you do a drill merge first?” Kloo said with a wicked grin at Thian in memory of a certain mock drill she’d pulled.

  “Who? How? What?” Thian asked although he mind-touched his approval of her suggestion.

  She tapped out a sequence on the terminal and a spatial view of the disposition of the Fleet came on screen. She sniffed, and tapped at the destroyers in flank positions. “Change ’em over. Switch the Athene with the Comanche. Just as an exercise.” Then she chuckled mischievously. “See how long it takes the crews to figure out what happened. Could be a bit of fun.”

  “I think,” Thian said, standing up, “I’d better check such a Fleet maneuver with Captain Ashiant.” He was grinning with sheer devilment as he asked Ashiant for an immediate interview.

  “More trouble, Thian?” Ashiant demanded, striding into the Talents’ ready room almost as soon as he had broken off the call.

  “No, sir, not trouble, just sorting out how to make the jump to join Squadron D with most efficient use of the Talents we’ve got. I’d like to have a trial merge and, say, switch the Athene with the Comanche.”

  “And see how long it takes them to realize they’ve been moved,” Rojer couldn’t resist adding.

  Ashiant looked from brother to brother, his broad face expressionless, hands behind his back. “Might prove salutary at that. Proceed.”

  Thian waited a moment.

  “Oh, I’d like to remain here,” Ashiant added and then grinned, the cloth of his shipsuit beginning to wrinkle with his slow chuckle.

  Immediately the two Primes swung onto their couches. “We’ll try it, merging with just the Talents on each of the destroyers,” Thian explained. “Me with Athene and Rojer with the Comanche.”

  “No prior warning?” Ashiant asked.

  “Just the code word. Ready when you are, Rojer.”

  Three, two, one, SAKI, the brothers broadcasted, and instantly felt the response of Talents: scrambling a little to obey the unexpected and unusual summons.

  Switch!

  Captain Ashiant, Commander Kloo, Lieutenant SG Greevy, and T-2 Clancy Sparrow stared at the display on the screen.

  “Caught it!” Ashiant cried in triumph, clapping his hands together. “No more than a ripple. Now, let’s see how…”

  “Captain Ashiant, there’s been a fluctuation of some kind around the Athene and…” Vandermeer’s voice broke off. “Sir, would you come to the bridge, please?”

  “On my way, First.” He turned back to the Talents just as the bridge door swooshed open, twisted his thumb upwards in an approving gesture and unexpectedly winked.

  “Captain, it’s very odd, and I don’t know how it could have happened,” the Talents heard a perplexed Vandermeer saying, “but I could have sworn the Athene was in the starboard flank position…”

  “Incoming message from the Athene, sir…” the com officer announced.

  “Full marks to the Athene bridge crew, First,” Ashiant said in a calm voice, rippling with an undertone that the Talents had no problems identifying as suppressed amusement.

  “Incoming query from the Comanche, sir…”

  “Tell them to hold their current new positions. A drill has been in progress. Full security was in force. Put the Comanche on…Ah, Captain Derynic, your bridge crew needs a bit of sharpening. The Athene reported the change of position a full two minutes before you did. I want every crew fully alert. We may have defeated one Hive Sphere but we’ve another one we know of out there, and we still are not positive they have no intercolonial communications of a nature we have yet to understand. Yours is the conn, First.”

  Ashiant returned to the Talent ready room. Once inside and the door closed, he enjoyed a hearty chuckle.

  “I think that’s a drill that’s proved more efficacious than most I’ve ordered,” he said, coughing a bit into his hand as he finished his laugh. “Did it prove conclusive for you as well, Primes?”

  “Yes, indeed,” Rojer and Thian chorused.

  “With a little more practice none of ’em will hesitate,” Thian added. “Now, sir, our problem becomes more a matter of protocol: which captain’s ship goes first of the bigger ones. We’ve just proved we can swap destroyers with only their indigenous Talent merging.”

  “It’s the mass that’s the problem?”

  “Not as much as whose nose’ll be out of joint by being left to last.”

  “That’s no problem at all, Primes,” Ashiant said. “I’ll give the orders and they’ll be followed. Captain Spktm on the LSTS goes first, then Captain Germys and the Genesee. I’d want all the destroyers next, then the rest of the Galaxies, and the Washington last. How does that sound?”

  “Fine, sir. We’ll need to rearrange some Talents to more critical positions…”

  “Any way you need ’em…”

  “And it’ll take two days to complete the ’portation.”

  “That all?” Ashiant seemed mildly surprised.

  Thian wasn’t sure if the surprise was favorable or not.

  “With resp
ect, sir,” Commander Kloo said, “the mass to be ’ported is considerable.”

  “I wasn’t complaining, Kloo.” Ashiant turned to Thian. “There is a Talent along with Squadron D, isn’t there? To give you an assist?”

  “Yes, sir, we’ll be in contact with him as soon as we’ve rearranged personnel. That’ll take the rest of today.”

  Ashiant nodded and returned to his bridge, leaving the Talents gazing at each other in puzzlement.

  “I don’t think he really understands what’s involved,” Alison Anne said thoughtfully.

  “I’m not at all that sure I do, either,” Thian said. He gave himself a shake and briskly started compiling lists of which key Talents would have to be moved and to which ship.

  * * *

  When Thian made contact, the mind of T-2 Stierlman on board Squadron D’s Galaxy-class ship, the Valparaiso, exhibited such surprise and consternation at the task to be performed that Thian immediately deleted the man from his range of key links. Stierlman’s job at his end only required holding a firm mental tone as a beacon. The very mention of the proposed merge weakened Stierlman’s touch to the tentativeness of a Tower novice. Thian’s sister, Petra, would have been of more use. How had Laria stood the man’s indecisiveness for as long as she had?

  The distance, Prime, it’s the distances involved, Stierlman rabbited on. They keep getting longer and longer. We’ve no right to intrude so far from our homeworlds. We really don’t. They’re so far away.

  Then you’ll be relieved to hear that the Valparaiso is scheduled to be returned to Phobos Base for refitting.

  She is? And I can return with her? Hope strengthened his mental touch.

  Most certainly. I would insist on it, Stierlman. You’ve been on such a long tour. Thian gritted his teeth as he ’pathed that reassurance, but he needed Stierlman able to operate for just two more days.

  But how will we get back? We’re such a long way out.

  Oh, no problem, Stierlman. This fleet’s Talent-heavy, which wasn’t accurate even though Thian felt that he’d reassigned the right people to the right positions. We’ll be with you tomorrow. What’s your current time?