Prologue

"Aggy, I need to see you urgently; I have some very distressing news which needs to be passed on to the relevant people without having the moves exposed."

The Commodore considered the image of his fellow Grenob in the viewer of the PDA; Marcel Thoreau was one of the few people who, outside the Flock, possessed another of the Flock crafted hand com devices which were hand made in the very secure hold of R2, one of the FURS in "The Queen's Own".

"Marcel, do I need to take action stat?"

"No, no, it's just the need to pass the information up" replied Marcel hurriedly but with a slight laugh.

"Where are you?"

"My office."

"I'll send a UVA to your pad, should be there in twelve, thirteen."

"Suits, but you know those things terrify me."

"McCock clear."

The Commodore slipped the PDA into its belt holder and activated his internal ship's com to vid the OW in the CIC;

"Dispatch the pinnace to pick up the Grenoble Mil Sec at the Bollard House pad stat; he should be waiting. Thank you."

Thoreau was half out of the flush mounted deck hatch as he saw the pinnace on landing approach to the pad. He sighed in relief at recognizing "Vector's" pinnace and smiled wryly as Aggy had got him back for that Partheon 'invoice'. He waited until the pinnace settled, flashed its lights and opened its hatch before he moved out of the stairway. He stood on the hatch control and as the green indicated seal, turned and entered the pinnace where he secured himself into a seat.

"In and tight" he called and heard the disembodied reply

"Thank you, Commander" as the pinnace hatch whirred sealed and the boat lifted off.

"You got me good this time, Aggy. Demned UVAs, give me claustrophobia" shuddered Thoreau. A faint twitch moved McCock's lips as he shook the extended hand. They walked quietly down the passageway from the boat bay ready room to the Captain's quarters and Thoreau followed McCock in.

"I see you haven't reversed Maureen's mods to the ready room's vids" Thoreau commented as he settled in the lift chair beside the coffee table cum work desk.

"No, we know what she did but it's easier to replace them rather than try to reverse the changes; she certainly did a job on them" replied McCock as he passed the coffee percolator.

"By tbe by, I've got a chest of Jamaican Blue if you're interested?"

"Marcel, HM is not pleased with you. You supply Hernandes and us but not her Comptroller."

"When HM's Comptroller restricts donated goodies to the immediate household and not pass them around to his grace and favour sponging mates, then I would suddenly locate the top stuff."