Chapter 45

Bringing the fission pile on line for the first time was a non event. The power plant was then statically tested as provided in the manual for start up after a major shutdown. When Mathews expressed himself satisfied Paul Avers suggested moving HCL under her own power to the proposed anchorage off the moon. Giving Paul an astonished stare, he said

"There are portions, valued portions, of my anatomy which it would be painful if removed. If you think ... a small wager sir, we get a hail from "Offspring" in the next minute."

It was two minutes, thirty five seconds but only because McCock had brought "Offspring" almost alongside before hailing. Hugh and Paul to their total disgust were ordered onto "Offspring" with two of the Renmarks while the Flock came through the air lock like a herd of charging cape buffalo.

The Flock settled in, displacing Mathews and Clarson, and Sally McGraw was Chief of the Boat/Coxswain. Power from the pile was brought on line and environmental activated. While Sally ran through the manoeuvring check list, Slow established coms and fired up the temporary nav computer. Power was put onto the nodes and McCock gave the command to manoeuvring speed ahead. The only indication of movement was on the screen and the nav holo. The helm was tested and HCL answered. Course was adjusted to the anchorage and speed increased slightly.

The armed pinnace departed and if a warship could have emotions, reluctance was prominently displayed. The other vessels hove to near the moon. The Renmarks repaired aboard their frigate and the Flock bedded down in the HCL which had been victualled and supplied prior to leaving B hold. During the next days, speed trials were completed except for the maximum power run. During the speed trials Denny tested the 'hole in space' and defensive sidewalls. The frigate's detection gear in passive could not detect HCL until two third's inside energy range where as using normal defensive shield HCL only avoided detection to just inside energy range. When transitioning from 'hole in space' to defensive shields about a half second of radiation was detectable out to twice energy range. In active ranging, hole in space was as effective as on passive causing eyes on the frigate to light up. Denny then joined them and demonstrated how, when using the fact that there was a hole, to look for that specific appearance; HCL was detectable at about a third the way into energy range. Apart from that transition leakage, the operater had to be alert and experienced to achieve those results causing frowns on Renmark and RMN foreheads. Denny had 'found' several RMN officers on the Renmark.

"Just making a liaison visit to an ally." The grin on the speakers face gave the lie to that one and Denny was not going to call a frocked RMN captain on it.

Cowboy fired his point defense lasers at a target drone towed by the frigate. He expressed satisfaction. Inert missile firings brought Murphy out of his hiding place by jamming a magazine feed intermittently. McCock and Cowboy spent hours suited up observing feeds until they found a spring lock which bound during yawing movements to the left. A temporary fix – a sheet of folded silicon jammed in the lock race and held there with a tied length of cable – was found and the trial satisfactorily completed.

With the frigate in company, HCL made her alpha translation and her nodes reconfigured to Warshawski sails. Higher translations to the delta band were made before McCock ordered the return to n-space. The nodes seamlessly transitioned back to impellers.

After a further as thorough check as could be made, the order was given for the maximum power run to commence. McCock had planned the run so that after turnover a more sedate deceleration would leave a low powered run of several hours to reach Gorgipest space harbour after dark with the tug handling the channel passage. At the outer harbour the armed pinnace would join and the Renmarks depart.

It was not possible for the Flock plus one not to feel exhilaration at the full surge of maximum power to just beyond the redline on the impellers; the pile would continue to provide asked power up to the point it went critical; then there would be more power than anyone would need. At coming down from maximum and then turnover there was a feeling of intense satisfaction.

The return was as planned.

HCL was berthed in B hold again and after progressing carefully through the check lists, systems were placed on standby. External power was connected with the external emergency connections and alarms for the fission pile were powered up.

The Flock collected the record chips and made their way to the accommodation area where the Avers were waiting for them. The effects of a prolonged zero gravity were immediately suffered and the Avers' help gratefully accepted. (Hugh and Paul had rotated themselves and relatives through the frigate with just this eventuality in mind.) No long stays in the fresher. Bed rest. Next day as they went through the events and reassessed the records, Avers cheerfully answered to the name of "sadist". For the next four days, the Flock were constantly supervised controlled directed and metaphorically sat upon. During this there was the contrast of rigidly programmed times of exercise with gradually increased strain and equally controlled rest. Fifth day saw them in the gym doing warm ups and progressive weight training. No contact exercise allowed; VERBOTEN; FORBIDDEN. The Flock's minor frustration at the restrictions were forgotten as the data were collated and reports of positives and the few negatives were dispatched to Rowan.

The SBA Avers were plotting. They would be seen huddling in corners and corridors going silent when the Flock appeared. They appropriated the Crew's gym. They asked for a command chair; they removed materials for making mock ups. They were seen coming and going out of HCL; McCock stood down hard on that one and only let up when reassured by Hugh that Hugh personally accompanied them.

Finally the Flock were released from thrall and they headed off to "The Green Man" for several days' social intermingling. Hugh had told McCock to go with them as the SBAs did not want McCock going off for some EVA whilst not fully recovered. The non recovery was news to McCock but he went with the flow.

'Mina was there waiting for Denny and the pair quietly wandered off. McCock joined Toby and Tony Galbraith at the bar where they had been conversing with Mine Host. Polack and Cowboy drifted off to a group at the food board. He looked around the room seeing several familiar faces who returned the salutary nod. He caught the tail of the conversation. He turned and looked at Mine Host and asked politely,

"What was that you said?"

"I'm selling up. I'm from Old Sol, country called Eire. This war is going badly for you people, Argyll, Bombay, Patrick, Valley, Millstone, Helena. I'm neutral in this. Made a lot of friends here, but it's my family here I'm worried about. If it does go truly bad for you, I'll have a place for you – probably a stone cottage surrounded by sheep but it will be safe."

Some long time, much later, on the far side of the system, a chip finally caught up with McCock from Mine Host on Old Sol confirming his offer and thanking McCock for the friendship. What Mine Host did not know was that MFH had purchased "The Green Man" for the Avers' and the Flock's trust. The catering Avers were offered employment to fit in with retirement from the Navy. There had been a surge in the number of Avers joining up and rejoining with a decrease in retirees. Their social structure was being stretched and McCock discreetly provided a touch of relief. Besides it was a very good business deal.