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 Genessee ploy whenever possible to remove sphere ships from use.
`What’s the High Council after, might I ask?’ Ashiant enquired 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 honour. 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 poive4\4l 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 spedes 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 `Din fled 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 ster 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 lifeforms 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.