“Hanlon’s got him,” Bernard said to the screen that was showing Kath. “He looks as if he’s all right. They’ve got Swyley too. He seems okay.”
Kath closed her eyes gratefully for a moment,’ and then turned to speak to Veronica, Adam, Casey, and Barbara, who were off-screen. “They’ve found Steve, He’s all right.”
Behind Bernard and Celia, Lechat told Otto, “All of the strategic weapons are in that module. The remainder of this ship represents no threat whatsoever.”
“We are aware of that,” Otto said.
“We had to try,” Wellesley insisted from beside Lechat. ‘We could not risk informing you that such people had seized control of those weapons. The decision was mine and nobody else’s.”
“I think I’d have done the same thing,” Otto told him.
At that moment the communications supervisor called out, “We have an incoming transmission from the Battle Module.” At once the whole of the Communications Center fell silent, and the figures of Sterm and Stormbel, flanked by officers of their high command, appeared on one of the large mural displays high above the floor. Sterm was looking cool and composed, but there was a mocking, triumphant gleam in his eyes; Stormbel was standing with his fret astride and his arms folded across his chest, his head upright, and his face devoid of expression, while the other officers stared ahead woodenly. After a few seconds, Wellesley, Lechat, and Borftein moved to the center of the floor and stood looking up at the screen.
Celia’s face had drawn itself into a tight, bloodless mask as she stared at the image of Sterm. “We’re getting a channel from the Battle Module,” Bernard whispered to Kath,
“I know,” Kath told him. “He’s through to Otto ‘and Chester as well via one of our relay satellites. It’s a three” way hookup.”
“A good try, Wellesley,” Sterm said from the large screen. “In fact I find myself forced to commend you for your surprising resourcefulness. Unfortunately from your point of view, however, we now see it was in vain.” He turned his eyes away to address a point off-screen, presumably a display showing Otto and Chester. “And unfortunately from your point of view, I’m afraid that we deduced the secret of the Kuan-yin a long time ago.”
“Bernard,” Kath said quietly from the console screen.
He turned his head back to look at her. “Yes?”
“Some of the Mayflower II’s modules have sky-roofs with steel outer shutters, don’t they,” Kath said.
Bernard frowned uncomprehendingly. “Yes , . Why
What-”
Kath’s voice remained low but took on a note of urgency. “Make sure all of them are closed. Do it now.” Bernard shook his head, mystified, and started asking questions again. “Just do it,” Kath said, cutting him off. “There might not be much time.”
Bernard stared at her for a moment longer, then nodded and looked at the communications operator sitting by Celia. “Can you get Admiral Slessor on line here?” The operator nodded and sat forward to begin entering a code.
From the center of the floor Wellesley asked, “What do you want?”
“Good.” Sterm nodded approvingly. “I detect a cooperative disposition.” He turned his face toward the Chironians. “I take it that we are all beginning to understand one another.”
“We’re listening,” Otto replied tonelessly,
“Perhaps it would be of benefit if I were to summarize the situation that now exists,” Sterm suggested, “We com
mend a complete strategic arsenal, the potency of which I do not have to spell out to you, and the only weapon capable of opposing us is now neutralized. Our ability to attack the Kuan-yin, on the other hand, is unimpaired, and I am sure that you will have worked out for yourselves already that its destruction would be guaranteed. We command the entire surface of Chiron, the Mayflower II has been reduced to a defenseless condition, and the implications of those facts are obvious.”
Sterm allowed a few seconds for his words to sink in, and then made a slight tossing motion with his hands as if to convey to those watching him the hopelessness of their position. “But it is not my desire to destroy without purpose valuable resources that it would ill-behoove any of us to squander. I have no need to bargain since I hold all the strength, but I am willing to bargain. In return for recognition and ‘loyalty, I offer you the protection of that strength. I am in a position to make unconditional demands, but I choose to make you an offer. So, you see, my terms are not ungenerous.”