Voyage From Yesteryear

Bernard was watching with interest over Stanislau’s shoulder. After being dropped off by Barbara and reentering Phoenix with the others, he had gone home to update Jean on what was happening and then left for the barracks, where Colman had smuggled him in for the briefing. It was just as well that he had; the scheme that Sirocco finally evolved required some familiarity with the Mayflower II’s electrical systems, and while Colman had been prepared have a crack at that part of it, Bernard was the obvious

choice. So Bernard was going up to the Mayflower ii too. He would explain everything to Jean later, he decided.

Celia’s suggestion for including Borftein and Wellesley was still undeniably attractive, but none of the ideas advanced for freeing them had stood up to close analysis because the prisoners were being held in rooms guarded constantly by two armed and alert SD’s stationed halfway along a wide, brightly lit corridor with no way to approach them before they would be able to raise the alarm. Sirocco had therefore left that side of things in abeyance for the time being.

Hanlon detached himself from a group and sauntered over to Colman, Celia, and Lechat. Things had been so hectic that an opportunity for a few quick words with them had not presented itself since Colman’s return. “Well, I see there’s no need to ask how things went on your side, Steve. I take it that Veronica’s in safe hands now.”

Colman nodded. “Her friends showed up, and she’s in Franklin. It all went fine.” He turned his head to Celia. “This is Bret. He got Veronica off the base.”

Celia managed a smile. Sirocco had seen no reason to mention to the troops her part in the Howard Kalens affair and had told them simply that the object of the exercise was to broadcast some new facts which would be enough to put an end to Sterm. “Fm not sure what Fm supposed to say,” she told Hanlon. “I’ll never be able to thank you both enough. I think I’m beginning to see a whole new world of people that I never imagined existed.”

“Ah, well, it’s not over yet,” Hanlon said. His eyes twinkled for a second as he remembered something else. “Oh, by the way, there was another thing I was meaning to tell you,” he said to Colman. “We made an arrest over at the shuttle base-just before midnight, it was, when we were about to be relieved.”

“Really? Who?” Colman asked.

“Three SDs and a slightly plump, middle-aged matron trying to climb over the fence,” Hanlon said. “The woman was stuck on the top and making quite a fuss. Now, what do you imagine they could have been trying to run away from?”

“I have no idea,” Colman said, grinning. Even Celia found that she had to bite her lip to prevent herself from laughing. “So what happened? Did you send them back up?”

Hanlon shook his head. “Ah, why be vindictive? We got her off and sent them all on their way. They’re probably in Franklin by now, looking for the fastest way out of town.”

At that moment Stanislau emitted a triumphant shout, and Bernard straightened up behind him to look across at Colman. “He’s done it!” Bernard exclaimed. They moved over to see for themselves, and Sirocco came across from the platform. The rest of the mess hall quieted down. The screen in front of Stanislau was showing the day’s duty roster for the entire infantry brigade.

“Is that just a copy file, or are you displaying the master schedule?” Lechat inquired.

“It’s the master,” Bernard said. “He’s got overwrite privileges too. I just watched him try it.”

“This looks like what we want, chief,” Stanislau said to Sirocco, and pointed to one of the entries. Sirocco leaned closer to peer at the screen.

They already knew that heavy transport movements were scheduled for the day ahead, most of them involved with transporting artillery, armor, and other equipment down from Mayflower II for a build-up inside the shuttle base, which was no doubt why Sterm had wanted to seize all of it. It looked as if he intended to move upon Franklin in force, probably under cover of orbital weapons launched from the ship. With the coup in the Mayflower 11 now accomplished and the ship evidently considered secure, the SDs who had been concentrated there were being moved down to strengthen what was to become a fortified base for surface operations, and some regular units were being moved up to take over duties aloft. Stanislau had identified an order for C company to embark at 1800 hours that evening for transfer to the Mayflower II, which was just the kind of thing that Sirocco had been hoping for- Sirocco was willing to gamble that with a busy day ahead and lots to do, nobody would have time to question a late change- in the orders.