White, James – Sector General 05 – Sector General

Only a few scraps of debris from the power unit and guidance system

remained—enough for identification purposes but not for reconstruction—and the

shock of the collision had shaken the overall coil structure apart.

On the screen the widely scattered hibernation compartments came together again

into a not quite complete coil: There were several sections missing,

particularly near the stern. Then the stem, its power and guidance systems, and

the entire support structure disappeared from the display leaving only the

incom­plete coil.

“The central core of that vessel is a mass of pulverized wreckage many

light-years away,” Dermod continued briskly, “and we have decided that trying to

salvage and reconstruct it would be an unnecessary waste of time and materiel

when there is a simpler solution available. This requires the presence of a

second Emperor-class vessel to—”

“But why do you want—?” Conway began.

“I am in the process of explaining why, Doctor,” the Fleet Commander said

sharply. The image on the screen changed again and he went on, “The two capital

ships and Descartes will take up positions in close line-astern formation and

lock onto each other with matched tractor and pressor beams. In effect this will

convert the three ships into a single, rigid struc­ture which will replace the

alien vessel’s central stem, and the branching members which supported the coil

will also be non-material but equally rigid tractors and pressors.

“In the landing configuration Vespasian will be bottom of the heap,” Dermod

continued, with a tinge of pride creeping into his voice. “Our thrusters are

capable of supporting the other two ships and the alien coilship during

deceleration and landing, with Claudius and Descartes furnishing lateral

stability and taking some of the load with surface-directed pressors.

After touchdown, the power reserves of all three vessels will be sufficient to

hold everything together for at least twelve hours, which should be long enough,

I hope, for the alien to leave its ship. If we can find somewhere to put it,

that is.”

The image flicked off to be replaced by the face of the Fleet Commander. “So you

see, Doctor, I need Claudius to complete this—this partly nonmaterial structure

and to test its practic­ability in weightless conditions before working out the

stresses it will have to undergo during the landing maneuver. Of equal urgency

are the calculations needed to extend the combined hyperspace envelope of the

three ships to enclose the coil and Jump with it out of here before this damn

sun gets too close.”

Conway was silent for a moment, inwardly cringing at the thought of some of the

things which could go catastrophically wrong when three linked ships performed a

simultaneous Jump. But he could not voice his concern because ship maneuvers

were most decidedly the Fleet Commander’s and not the Doc­tor’s business, and

Dermod would tell him so with justification. Besides, Conway had his own

problems and right now he needed help with them.

“Sir” he said awkwardly, “your proposed solution is in­genious, and thank you

for the explanation. But my original question was not regarding the reason why

you wanted Clau­dius, but why you needed my help in the matter.”

For a moment the Fleet Commander stared at him blankly, then his expression

softened as he said, “My apologies, Doctor, if I seemed a trifle impatient with

you. The position is this. Under the new Federation Council directive covering

extrater­restrial rescue operations by Rhabwar, I am required in a large-scale

combined medical and military operation of this kind to obtain your approval for

additional personnel and materiel, specifically another capital ship. I assume

it is forthcoming?”

“Of course,” Conway said.

Dermod nodded pleasantly despite his obvious embarrass­ment, but the lines of

impatience were beginning to gather again around his mouth as he said, “It will

be sufficient if you tape a few words as the physician-in-charge of the case to

the effect that Claudius is urgently required to ensure the present safety and

continued well-being of your patient. But you were calling me, Doctor. Can I

help you?”

“Yes, sir,” Conway said, and went on quickly, “You have been concentrating on

joining the coilship sections in proper sequence. Now I have to begin putting

the patient together, with special emphasis on the joining of segments which are