Afra tasted the wine with due solemnity and a little smile of appreciation.
`Rojer is all right?’ the captain asked.
`He’s asleep,’ Afra replied, `with Flk and Trp to ease him with good dreams.
`May I say how heavily this despicable incident rests on my mind?’ `You have in many ways, Captain,’ Afra said solemnly, `and we have been aware of each, even if we have not properly thanked you for the depth of your concern. Rojer will recover. He certainly bears you no rancour. Ah,’ he said, changing the subject as stewards entered with steaming dishes, redolent with delectable aromas, `I hadn’t realized how hungry I am.’ `You were very considerate to bring in those supplies or, I can assure you, my cook would have been hard put to present you a decent meal.’ `This is a feast,’ the Rowan said, holding up her glass for more wine. `Where does this vintage come from?’ `You can’t guess?’ Afra asked in polite surprise.
`Then it has to be Capellan,’ she said with a mild grimace. `It has always amused me that such a methody planet produces such fine vintages.
Let that be a surprise. It’ll cheer you up, I know.
The next morning Afra and Rojer left for Deneb where Rojer would undergo such ministrations as his grandmother, Isthia Raven, thought advisable to ease his mind. The large carrier also left with the `Dini pairs needing hibernation and the four crew members whom the morale officer had ordered to take furloughs. The Rowan remained aboard the Gerlessee. She had not discussed the punitive proposal with Afra although she supposed he had picked up references to it from the captain – who was full of the prospect of some action – or any of the elated officers and crew. He said nothing beyond telling her that he would inform Rojer if he felt the knowledge would be therapeutic.
The Rowan also awaited the decision of the High Council though she had some assurance from Jeff that there was little doubt the proposal would be accepted.
It would salve the conservatives that the planet would be left unharmed and placate the militants that all space capability was destroyed.
The decision was affirmative but she would have to await the arrival of Thian Lyon as FT&T replacement and an additional T-1 to assist in the seizure of the refugee ship. Even the Rowan had to admit that the sphere ship had too much mass for her to move even with the assistance of more gestalt power than Callisto Station ordinarily provided.
If it makes you feel any better, my dear, her husband informed her, the T-2s replacing your good self at Callisto are working their balls off desperately awaiting your return.
Do `em good, the Rowan replied smugly.
Does you good, too, my darling, to find that you are nnnot, after all, moving mountains all by yourself Jeff teased her.
Ha! who are you sending?
He gave her a phantom hug and an enthusiastic kiss and a figurative pat on the head for the work she had cut out for herself but he didn’t budge on the identity of the third T-1
I suppose it’s as well that Thian wasn’t here when Prtglm had its brainstorm, she said, knowing she couldn’t tease the information out of him.
Prtglm would have gotten no more help from Thian than he did from Rojer. Less. thyan would have seen the missiles immediately `ported out of danger. Possibly even despatched Prtg/m back to Clarf with a blistering note about exceeding orders.
He’d’ve been exceeding his if he did, the Rowan replied tartly.
love, you can’t have it both ways.
I can try!
Until Thian on Squadron A’s `Dini KLTZ had reached a point where he could be `ported to the Genessee, the Rowan busied herself reviewing the fascinating tapes Rojer had gathered by probe. Before, the Hivers had been featureless creatures in a death-dealing sphere, now they were still featureless – as humans reckoned such matters – but the work ethos, the discipline, the minutiae of daily life in some of the orders of Hiver creatures, was depicted: and at least one of the worlds the Hivers had chosen to populate. The Rowan spent more time than she intended on such records. Then, resolutely, planned how to destroy the planet’s spacefaring capability. The two half-finished ships would be easy to demolish, but the third ship was tightly sealed.