Chapter 57

The convoys went on and 119 thought of it self as being the forgotten people of the RMN. This of course was not true; transfers and replacements of personnel occurred; compassionate leaves had been granted; promotions promulgated; and repairs and maintenance were forever needed. There were from time to time side trips to the Amiranti Empire.

Commander Wallace had received his orders to take "Victoria" back to Mountserrat for refit of a fusion bottle which had become a worry to his Chief Engineer. The Squadron was to escort a convoy to Old Breslau for exchanges of cargo; "Victoria" would then independently proceed directly to Gregor and transit to Mountserrat; 119 would wait two days for the convoy and then escort it to down to Gregor. Another convoy was to be escorted to Paracelsus via Old Breslau after a four day lay over. Shelly and probably 'Mina would be in Gregor.

The convoy had not yet joined up. "Victoria" in company with "Vector" was escorting a packet of five merchantmen trundling along at two forty gravities. "Victoria" led the group and "Vector" trailed as they had done since "Vector" had joined with her two.

"Target, zero three four degrees, zero seven zero degrees, range one point two mega klicks, stationery, unidentified."

Lieutenant Carmody, First Lieutenant of "Victoria" had the watch. He scratched an imaginary itch in his left ear,

"How long have you had her?"

"About a minute now, Sir."

"I'll let the Captain know, he's up and about. Captain, Bridge, unidentified bogey starboard bow high stationery, 1.2 mega ... Sir." broke the link and told the bridge

"The Boss will be up when he has finished his breakfast."

"Captain on the bridge." Carmody vacated the commander's chair and moved to join his Captain at the larger EW screen.

"She has not moved in the forty or so minutes we have had her, Sir. I went to one minute sweeps just before you came up."

"Sir, I've just got an Amiranti transponder, "Nachtlicht", point five megatonnes, registered Breslau."

"She's moving, Sir, looks like two four zero, one three zero, yes, that's confirmed, two hundred sixty gravs. That should put her at about one twenty five kay clicks when she crosses ahead of our track."

"Sir, second target moving away from "Nachtlicht", two nine zero holding the plane, I make it four eighty grav; uummm, even if we went to full military power we'd not catch him – sorry Sir, unidentified, he looks about four kay tonnes."

"Designate "Nachtlicht" bogey 1 and the streaker bogey 2. Any chance 2 is an Amiranti? No? Ask the Convoy Commodore to increase to two eighty please. I want to be close to her when she crosses. I intend to challenge and inspect. First watch, Nav? Peter warn Mr Bracken for a boarding party with four in armour. Get everything we have on "Nachtlicht" and as much on pirates captured and handed over. A 'merchie' wont have us for a while yet. I'm acting on the belief that bogey 2 was a pirate and bogey one has just been taken. If I'm wrong then Augustus might be a bit annoyed but not too much as he doesn't like pirates either. Inform "Vector" please, she is to continue with the convoy."