Chapter 12

Fat slob, thought Sir Laurence observing the sole occupant of the dingy office and then rapidly revised his thought at the elephantine grace of a heavy weight lifter.

"Mr Thoreau?" enquired Sir Laurence.

"Sir Laurence," waving his visitor to lift chairs at a small side table, "you are visiting me in my role as Commander, Grenoble Defense Force Reserve, Military Secretary of the Grenoble government –in- exile and not as a merchant factor? 'Unofficially official'" as he indicated the other's civilian clothing.

As they settled themselves comfortably, he went on.

"Coffee, or I have some excellent Blakowitz double malt if you prefer?"

In response to Sir Laurence's finger at the pot on the table, he poured and waved

"Cream, sweetener?"

Sir Laurence shook his head, sniffed appreciatively at the aroma and tasted the contents of the proffered mug.

"Bridge brew, unspoilt, and strong enough to strip the barnacles off any wet hull." nodded Sir Laurence.

"Now, Aggy. What matter of such significance brings the Second Space Lord on a private visit to Grenoble's Mil Sec? Aggy is my only – how can I say- my only client as Mil Sec. He is the only regular member of GDF. Oh, there are numerous reservists, myself included, but only the one full time member."

"I must bring this up, distasteful as it is to me; your absolute discretion is necessary – oh there are no state secrets involved, its for the boy's protection."

"Fully granted. I was astonished at the task he was given. Automation of the vessels of your fleet. No, he has never breathed a word to me, and I see him quite often, twice a week, at the Partheon Club gym with his coterie; but as a merchant factor I have many contacts in industry in the city as well as my commercial contacts from shipping throughout the near universe. It's been what? Five or six years now and the team was very low level so it wasn't regarded as being of any great importance strategically by many. In a way, is isn't really, as there were no weapons or propulsion plants involved. Only a few people realize the importance of skilled people."

"We couldn't get funding for it from Parliament – they don't believe there's a wicked war a'coming so we had to work within existing budget and what resources we had. We were very fortunate Aggy had an interest in the problem. There is a lot of entrenched tradition."

"Could you get me a copy of his paper? I know of it, but its close held, and even I couldn't obtain it through channels".