The boosters were intended for carrying fission-pumped laser warheads to a safe detonating distance. But a booster was a booster, and could accelerate any mass that it was properly attached to. Warheads needed to be deployed rapidly, which meant having boosters capable of imparting fearsome acceleration; it also meant that reconfigured for a slower burn, six of them could comfortably gun a moderate-mass vessel up to the kind of velocity usually associated with interplanetary journeys—one the size of the Eskimo, for instance.
The crate itself was sped on its way by another two of the same boosters added to its regular propulsion, which still translated into several days before intercept with the Eskimo. The Trojan’s final course vector set it up to rendezvous with the accelerated Eskimo a further week after that.
* * *
Walsh was on the Control Deck, rechecking that everything was on schedule and generally keeping an eye on things, when Colonel Nyrom appeared from the Communications Room.
The takeover of the ship had gone more smoothly than they had dared hope, with the number of SA who had agreed to come over exceeding expectations. The dissenters, including a higher proportion of crew, had yielded without too much trouble and were now detained and out of the way for the duration. The scientists didn’t much matter, because after their initial show of protest and bluster, they’d prattle for a while, as was already the case, and then get back to the things that concerned them, pretty much regardless of who was in charge. Walsh had never had much time for them when he was an Army man. Lots of smart ideas and blueprints for how the world should be run, and always with themselves in privileged positions of influence. But always from behind the throne. They needed strong men to hide behind and do the dirty work that they didn’t have the guts to do themselves. This operation wouldn’t be any different.
He turned and raised an eyebrow inquiringly as Nyrom approached. Since there was no doubt who was running the ship now, they could speak openly.
“Regular communications from the Varuna and the Surya are being blocked,” Nyrom informed him. “No confirmation signal yet.”
“Already?” Walsh frowned. It could only mean that Zeigler had made his move there. Official notification would come from Party headquarters, currently aboard the Eskimo. “It doesn’t really affect us yet,” he said curtly. “We’ll hear in good time.”
Nyrom waited to be sure that Walsh had nothing more to add, than said, “And there was another thing, Captain.”
“Yes?”
“Delucey did an exemplary job supervising the launch procedure for the booster crate. He’s worked conscientiously and efficiently throughout. I’d like to put a request through right away for promotion to lieutenant-commander. We’re going to be needing more junior officers soon—and good ones.”
“I agree. See to it.”
It was clear that Walsh wasn’t in a talkative mood. Nyrom took his leave and left the Control Deck.
Walsh moved a few paces to run a cursory eye over the displays at the First Officer’s station, then turned to contemplate a screen showing the external view inward toward the ship’s hub. He hadn’t liked even the delay between takeover of the base on Earth and arrival of the backup force that was in the plan, and had said so when it was formulated. But the political experts behind the throne had theorized that the population there would be easier to handle if there was still essential survival-related work waiting to be done. The feelings of vulnerability would make them more compliant. Walsh hadn’t been overly convinced, and behind the glib talk he suspected they knew more about charts and statistics than the nature of real humans. But he was a soldier, and that was the way it had been decided. And now Zeigler had brought the date forward further still. He would be isolated there if anything went wrong. Walsh could only suppose that he had his reasons. They had better be good ones, he told himself.
PART THREE
The Gods
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Having taken over the ground installations and the Surya, Zeigler was effectively in control of the mission. Thinning down his forces to physically seize the Varuna beyond placing guards in the Control Center and Communications Room was not necessary, since with its power module down at Serengeti the ship wasn’t about to go anywhere, and without cooperation from the ground it could accomplish little else. Its occupants were not equipped to resist armed boarders, and the ship could be taken over fully when the time was convenient.