Lyon's Pride (38 page)

“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 respect, 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?

Ah…oh…1635
.

Inform Captain Steverice that the Constellation-class AS
LSTS,
Captain Spktm, will be 'ported to join you at 0800 your time tomorrow
.

What do I have to do?
A thin line of barely contained fear trembled in the mental voice.

Nothing, Stierlman
, Thian said kindly.
You're already there and we've only to join you
.

Two days later “we've only” was a choice of words that Thian regretted. There'd been no mishaps with any of the 'portations but it had been a draining process for the T-1s and T-2s who bore the brunt of each merge. The fact that each merge had different components also added to the strain on the merge foci. The second day, after a hasty conference, Thian 'ported back specially selected 3s and 4s from those whose ships had already joined Squadron D. Rojer had gone to the
LSTS
to strengthen future links, since Stierlman was useless. Thian had reluctantly sent Alison Anne on the
Genesee
with orders for her to report to the
Valparaiso
and find out what was wrong with Stierlman.

He had occasion to wonder if he shouldn't perhaps have brought the
Washington
across first and managed from there. But he had no cogent reason why that would have worked better. Especially once he managed the final and major merge that 'ported the Nebula-class ship.

Now, if anyone wakes either Roj or myself for any reason short of a Hiver fleet materializing in front of us, I'll kill 'im. So help me, I…
Thian sighed with immense relief as his heavy, hurting head touched the softness of his pillow and was immediately asleep.

T
HOUGH Alison Anne swore herself blind that Thian had slept fourteen hours without moving, that his 'Dinis had been up and about and eaten and were giving their usual tutorials, Thian was positive he had only just put his head to the pillow when she shook him awake.

“I am sorry, Thian, honey, but Rojer says you've got to talk to Earth Prime, too. It's real urgent.” She separated the last words to emphasize them, her face so bad-news-blank that he didn't want to “look” in his present half-conscious state. He drank the stimulant beverage she handed him, grateful that it was cool enough to drink off quickly.

He grabbed the clean shipsuit she handed him and, slipping his feet into the soft-soled shoes he preferred, strode across the lounge to the ready room. He had worked the kinks out of his shoulders and his neck by the time the door opened for him. Both Rojer and Clancy were on their couches; Semirame Kloo leaned against the wall, arms
crossed on her chest, watching their faces, which were blank with concentration. She glanced briefly away from them as Thian entered and jerked her head for him to take his place fast.

He had already picked up the thread of mental message which the two were receiving.

…inform the captains to prepare. I know the missiles are heavy work but you're going to need all you can stuff on board…Thian! Good morning
, said Earth Prime, aware of his entry into the discussion.
Briefly, I'll repeat what I've detailed to Rojer and Clancy. Those warning beacons the Squadrons have been setting in the heliopause of Hive-occupied worlds are going off, one after another. Captain Soligen informs us that Squadron B is in pursuit of two and worried about another one or two coming up behind them. With only two Galaxy-class and two destroyers, one of them minus significant numbers of its ordinary complement, she is not really equipped to tackle two or more Hivers and their complement of over-armed scouts. Nor does she have the new Hive-hull-piercing missiles
.

Did that mad 'Dini captain set off in the captured Sphere?
Thian thought with a groan.
Did Captain Klml have any armament? Did Flavia
tell
it where we figured the missile controls were?

Easy, Thian. Flavia and the others 'ported Klml into Clarf space a week ago. Laria says it arrived, scared the short hairs off half the 'Dini population, but let's deal with your current situation.
Thian had never heard quite that tone of voice from his grandfather before and concentrated on this briefing.
With alarms going off all over the Alliance, the High Council is reluctant to send additional units to support you, despite the fact that you'll obviously have a fight on your hands even with the two squadrons already in your quadrant. But, before you give Captain Ashiant the good
news, can you give me any information on this totally unexpected mobilization of Spheres? High Council is…rather…upset, you might say.
Thian grinned, reassured by that flicker of Earth Prime's usual wry delivery.
What's this Rojer was telling me about a new homeworld sun?

That looks a much more valid theory now that the Hivers have reacted. I'm also afraid that the theory that Hivers do not have communications just got knocked down a wormhole
.

Jeff sounded as if he'd let off a long whistle of amazement.
The High Council is going to be scared shitless
.

Not as badly as I am, sir. This Fleet sets beacons, too, you know, and Commander Kloo just handed me a note which confirms that those four beacons have gone off. With the two or three Captain Soligen can account for, we can now add another four, AND the one we're chasing
.

Seven, possibly eight? And they can communicate with each other? Why now?
Jeff sounded exasperated.

I think, sir, we've made the mistake of presuming too much about the Hivers
.

Obviously. Let's get back to this homeworld theory
.

The Hivers' homeworld sun went nova. They sent out the three Hive Spheres to find the right sort of primary with an M-5 planet to replace what they'd lost. The way we're seeing it now is that the original three Spheres the 'Dinis came across were an advance group, spreading out to look for just the right primary, which is why they bypassed so many likely
colonial
M-5s. The Great Sphere was following with everything else needed to set up the new base. So let's operate on the theory—because I don't want to
presume
anything I can't prove about the Hivers—that this Sphere Three is the lucky one and has located the primary they want with the sort of planet they need. They are either inviting others to come see and/or want
additional groups to secure the world. Or, and I like this possibility less, Three knows it's being pursued and has broadcast for assistance, it being the last exploratory ship left. Or all of them!

Oh!
There was a pause while Jeff Raven assimilated that information.
Well, we—the Alliance—certainly can't let them establish a new home base. Look, inform Captain Ashiant of the situation within the Alliance. Assure him that we will supply whatever new missiles and material you can 'port out there but he's got to make do with the two Fleet elements in the quadrant. The High Council is adamant that all other Fleet units remain deployed within the Alliance to counteract any Hive intrusions. I'll do all I can, personally and professionally, to help you, Thian
.

Thank you, sir
.

Damn it, boy, I didn't think I was letting you, any of you, in for a WAR!
Jeff sounded more indignant than alarmed for their sakes.

Sir, we won't let you down!

Remember this, Primes, and Clancy, and I've said this to Flavia, you Talents are to preserve yourselves!

That we will, you may be sure of it.
Thian put a good deal of strength in that assurance.

I'd better be
, was Jeff Raven's final word.

*   *   *

Rojer and Clancy regarded Thian with sardonic expressions as they all sat at the end of that 'pathing.

“And how are we going to do
that
, bro,” Rojer asked, “when we know the mortality rate of escape pods in a Hive encounter?”

Thian started to chuckle, then his amusement so overcame him that he fell to one side on the couch while the others regarded him as if he'd lost his wits.

“Rojer…you should…know…what's so funny.
You did it yourself.”
We use a variant of the
Genesee
ploy! It's the only logical course of action! Hell, we know the insides of a Sphere ship like we know a Tower. All we have to do is get close enough. And not all that close either
.

Semirame Kloo was actually the first to perceive what Thian was thinking and stared at him with an awed expression. “That's no way to fight a war, Thian Raven-Lyon!”

“Who was it said that all's fair in love and war! Hell's bells, Rame, why should more than the enemy die in a war they started?”

“The 'Dini won't look at it quite the same way,” Clancy reminded him. “They achieve
honor
destroying Hiver ships.”

Thian dismissed that. “They still have the scouts to take out. That'll give them glory enough. If I knew the insides of a scout as well as I do a Sphere, we might be able to work out something inside 'em, too.”

“D'you think Ashiant will go along with this bright plan of yours?” Kloo asked skeptically.

“Well, I think it'd be best if we let them all steam a bit. It wouldn't do for me to act, as Grandmother says, like a cocky kid. But didn't the 'Dinis approach us to form a mutual protection Alliance because we managed to defeat the Sphere with no casualties on our side?”

“What was it you said to Granddad, Thi?” Rojer asked, cocking his head at his brother. “About presuming something we don't
know
for sure?”

“For one thing, Thian,” Clancy put in, “using our kinesis to shield against Hiver missiles has a finite limit…our individual strengths. I'll be frank. I'd about run out of the energy to keep up the necessary gestalt on the
Franklin
before the engagement ended.”

Rojer nodded.

“Shielding ought not to be so great a problem. Look,
let's inform Captain Ashiant. Even my solution's going to need more naval tactics than I know.”