`Would you oblige?’ Osullivan said, gesturing at Rojer’s couch and grinning with invitation.
`I don’t see why not, sir. I’ve been everywhere else I could `port a device. But what about the corrosive gas `You can use as many as you need,’ Metrios said expansively. `When the captain made his suggestion, we found a coating that will somewhat retard corrosion.
I think! I hope. First one you have to bring back, we’ll run an analysis on and see if we can’t identi the combo used.
`I’ve altered the visual schematics, Doplas said eagerly, `so that we can get dimensional read-out and identify any gross design alterations.’ Rojer found the process more time-consuming than tiring but he was very glad when that watch was over.
Five probes had been affected by the gas and he had deposited them in a gas-proof container in the ship’s lab. While it was not as large as the Great Sphere, his first day’s investigations had delineated only a very small segment of the total ship. But there was enough to cause every science and specialist officer on all three ships to spend the rest of the day analysing and rendering drawings. The gas had done its work thoroughly: only such stores as had been encased in metal survived.
As Rojer `ported the probes further inboard, printouts became blurred where the gas was thick. There came a point of no input.
Sufficient had been gathered to give the squadron some idea of the interior layout of the vessel: someone called it a `spaghetti-macaroni network of tubes, tunnels and conduits’. There were features in the ceilings and along the floors of the queens’ quarters which gave rise to considerable speculation. Was each of the queens responsible for one aspect of the ship’s operations? Or were the controls mutual?
`The Rowan said she met a “Many Mind”,’ Rojer said, trying to sound impartial while reporting his grandmother’s action, `a nexus of the queens which is what she immobilized when she was focus for her merge.
`So it’s likely the queens moved in concert?’ asked Osullivan.
`That’s consonant with the hive mentality: all working for the same objective,’ the xeno officer replied.
Lieutenant Sedim Mehmet had been asked to sit in on a primarily engineering conference.
`Those control panels are undamaged,’ Metrios said, switching the screen to that set of printout. `But I’d need a ladder to reach `em and which would control what!’ `Don’t seem to be any touch-type arrangement, Yngocelen remarked. `But perhaps when back-lit we’d identi controls.’ `The queens’ palps are odd-shaped,’ Mehmet reminded them. `Palps end in different-sized triangular joints.’ `The p,’ Osullivan said, `is not so much the shape as the function.
On that they were all agreed. Captain Prtglm seemed to sink deeper onto its stool, spreading its bulk noticeably. Rojer thought it was depressed by this current impasse. Gil and Kat said their Great Captain had already achieved many battle honours but it wanted one more significant honour to add to a career that had spanned over a hundred human-length years. Rojer could sympathize with that wish, knowing that Prtglm’s colour would bask in glory for centuries more if it could bring back to Clarf an empty Hive ship.
Rojer and some of the lesser staff members were politely thanked and dismissed from the conference.
Since it was likely he’d be called to send back a report at the conclusion of the meeting, Rojer took the opportunity to grab something to eat. The sort of mental work he did made him ravenous. Rather than appear to eat more than was considered polite on ship, Rojer often secreted food in his cabin for emergencies. He always had something for Gil and Kat, too, and so they were indulging in an illicit feast when his comunit clicked on.
`Require Talent assistance return,’ said Prtglm’s unmistakable tones. `Talent to return, too.’ WE COME, Too?’ Gil asked and Kat was hanging on Rojer’s response.
RJR SEES NO REASON NOT. PkTGLM NEVER NOTICES YOU ANYHOW. While Rojer knew Pkgtglni was a Great One, he had been slightly peeved that it was too great a personage to notice his dear friends. He took Gil and Kat across to the KTTS whenever possible because they did enjoy visiting among their own kind.