Chapter 48

The voyage to Helena was uneventful. The time was put to good use shaking down the crew to "A" and "F" watches. Each watch rotated a member to do the mess duties for the watch.

Just before beginning translation back into n space, HCL was brought to Action Stations. McCork was in his command chair; the Flock were in their chairs; Sally was at the helm and the Avers were in their positions. Sally had attempted to change with the longer experienced Alan Avers but he had firmly refused,

"Sally, true I have more Navy time than you and more helm time in total but you have one hundred and twenty times more than I at this helm. On this boat you are the more experienced."

McCock had heard the acknowledgements and seen the green on his chair screen.

"Prepare for translation. Helm, take us down slow."

Closely watching the screen just before reaching the boundary between the alpha layer and n space McCock ordered,

"Retract sails" and allowed HCL to pass with still some momentum. The ususal wrenching was much diminished. Once through,

"Period one sweep, 'hole in space'."

Acknowledgements were made.

"Threat levels?"

"None on the board, Sir."

"Tactical, put Period on random as discussed."

"Period random programme locked in."

"Put the sweep up on the screens."

At the extreme edge of the screen depicting the effective range of Period was an outline which was familiar to them from the old maps; the yards of Helena. The hour went forever.

"Configure impellers. Ahead one quarter."

"Impellers up. Answering bells. Ahead one quarter" responded Sally.

HCL advanced. The silence on the bridge was broken only by the beep indicating Period was making another sweep. The screen map became wider and more details emerged.

"EW picking up detection signals. 'Puter suggests this could be the approach beacon. Pre war records. Suggest turning left ninety for one minute and then resume previous course. We should clear it that way."

"Helm left ninety, one minute, then resume original." The assistant helmsmen had reached for the timer and as HCL reached the new heading started it. The second count beep sounded and the same hand reached and tapped the mute button.

"Bloody noisy thing" to no one in particular.

The difference between the Flock plus one and the Avers was very evident. The Flock were tense; the Avers more relaxed, they had had more experience; this is what they had got paid for.

Each active sweep brought more information.

"Passives coming up, Sir" reported Harryoh.

"Thank you Tac."

The timer sounded and Sally put the helm over to resume original course.

Some minutes later, Slow reported,

"Passive shows vessel coming out of shadow right side orbital yards still moving to our right."

"I see it. "Shriek" identify."

When the AI responded there were some perplexed Avers – this was new. A female voice sounded over the bridge,

"No transponder. Freighter two kilotonnes. Turning away. Transponder identifies as Allman lines "Casca Dawn"."

The outline on the screen crept lower down as HCL advanced. "Shriek" came up.

"Target. 305 degree same plane, three hundred and fifty thousand clicks tracking 200 degrees. Four eighty gravs. Harbourian. Destroyers, four."

"Tactical?"

"Came from behind the planet. 'Puter shows the base over that side but lower plane. This target is planar with us. Mark it Sir?"

"Yes, designate DD. We are well inside their passive. That Allman probably doesn't have the gear but the DDs do. Despite the no reaction let the 'puter keep a watch. We could double think ourselves here so let's believe we are a hole – in – space until some one makes a move that doesn't look perfectly innocent."

More minutes passed, Slow reported

"DD on passive. Last active had them approaching half energy range."

"Helm left ninety same plane,"

Sally acknowledged.

"Tactical. Active period report on DD". Beep.

"Period indicates DD still continuing same track."

"Hummm, they go into hyper and we don't know where they are going. Doubling back? If they translate close then we have them on passive. I want more warning. Anyone have an objection they can see to increasing sweeps to random between four and seven minutes? Tactical, make it so."

Slow entered in the alterations watched by her shadow Harryoh,

"Period random sweeps between four and seven minutes intervals Sir."

...

"Lost DD on active Captain."

"Thank you; plot an orbital path for us this plane please."

"Plotted Sir."