Chapter 9

Rowan was alone in the Dungeon having as usual arrived early. He had just replenished his coffee from 3003, sat himself down and punched up desk top com when the alarm lock sounded off. Someone – very high up- had been trying to get him before he had arrived, putting a lock on his com to open the link as soon as he punched in and that spelt major trouble.

It was.

The features of a stressed out Aide – de – camp to Admiral Dame Diana Halliday, Captain Percy Gantry, appeared on the screen. Silas had never been much taken by Percy's casual elegance even from Academy days –Silas had been two years ahead. Despite a fast technical track after the general fleet duties putting him about four years senior to Percy, Silas recognized that he was almost dead ended whereas Percy whose brilliance was undeniable and reliable was headed for his flag and probably his fleet if he didn't commit a disaster meantime.

"I don't know what you've done. I don't want to know what you have done. Diana wants McCock, whoever he is, and your good self here instantly preferably yesterday. She is in a vicious mood; metaphorically breaking up the furniture breathing fire and brimstone. She even beat me in this morning."

"McCock is out with "Pendragon" and won't be back for another two days. Will she want me to come over by myself?"

"I'll get back to you ASAP" and broke the connection.

"Silas, she wants an informal talk with you in Flag Officers' ante – room at seventeen hours. She knows you'll be in civies but at least polish your shoes and comb your hair before you get there!"

The connection broke down. How did he open up my com? Rowan wondered and suddenly sat bolt upright at the security implications.

Rowan spend the rest of the day tearing com security a new one, frantic with concern his files could be accessed. After a few very worrying days, cursing Aggy with every second breath, he was finally reassured that only Diana herself could access his com line remotely but couldn't get into the hard drives that were key protected. Rowan didn't believe that one little bit and that year the computer budget for the department went ballistic as did accounting when they received the accounts. Coms separate from hard drives and stand alone, no shared common access, com computers for each section.

" ... and I don't care if you are the Good Deity Almighty no one but no one gets access to my computers."

Push did not come to shove as Rowan had let it be clearly known he would put his parchment on the line over it. Some months later, he was quietly informed that remote flag officer access had been removed from all bureau computers but it remained so in the Yard.

"Pendragon" was delayed; she'd broken down with multiple Alpha node blow outs due to a flux surge which got away from a relatively new Machinist Mate. The subsequent inquiry found that the surge had been caused by contaminated reactor mass but that wasn't for several months; McCock had been on board and of course you knew what that meant – Murphy would strike without warning.

The delay was fortunate for McCock as it allowed Admiral Halliday to collect herself, somewhat.

The department found itself avoided by everyone and contacts were minimal, unavoidable, and strictly professional.

'Shell' informed every one each morning, that today's inspection had not revealed any evidence of the plague.

The Crypt reverted. They became more nerdish than ever, not looking at anyone, answering monosyllabically and not seen from dawn to dusk. Maitland couldn't remember if there was a toilet block in there.

"Pendragon" reported in. Expected to clear the outer ring an hour after midnight and dock by daybreak.

The feet dragged as they left that evening.