Chapter 64

The disaster at Gorgipest had burst over the faxes on Settlement. The Brown Hollow government fell. The old team were back at the Admiralty. People with relatives or friends on Gorgipest were worried. There was a number of women on Settlement who had partners and friends on 119. They were worried almost literally sick at the lack of news plus the added worry of a babe orphaned before its birth and the prospect of children never knowing a father. There were glaring gaps in the knowledge of the women about the others.

For one of them, the news came quicker than for the others. Shelly knew immediately when she saw the grim faces of Diana, Silas and the Chaplain who had married Cowboy and her. Rowan gave what little comfort he could,

"It was quick, Shell. He took out a Harbourian BC and a CL got a broadside into "Vector". "Vector" blew apart. No survivors."

"The others?" Shelly quietly asked,

"They are uninjured. MFH got messages from their people in 'Pest but we don't have any more details yet."

"Well at least he will have some uncles and an aunt. Can we tell Trudi and 'Mina? I'll com them now, please."

She talked to them without mentioning Cowboy. Then accompanied by the Chaplain she made her way to the centre to sit with her son.

Trudie realised first; she hurriedly commed 'Mina who was just realizing she was puzzled about the lack of mention of Cowboy. Trudie got 'Mina to sit by her phone while she commed Diana who had been trying to reach them. Diana didn't know where Shelly had gone – Trudie did, collected Mina and joined Shelly and her son. As darkness fell, her friends took Shelly to her home and stayed with her for some time. They alternated residences for while until the trio decided for their mutual support whatever happened, they would reside together for as long as this war lasted. They purchased a three apartment building with secure grounds in which the women and their children could relax and have a place for the men folk when they returned. They were pleased they had implemented that decision early because the details of a modern charge into the "valley of death" sent the faxes into further paroxysms following the headlines of Cunningham at Comalee.

Several days after Admiral Higgins's report, one of the first decisions to be made by Sir Thomas Cassimatis was one of the most painful.

"There is nothing there to protect according to Admiral Higgins and his tapes support that view. Until the rest of this mess can be stabilized, I don't have anything spare for what is a low priority task and it would have to be a BC squadron at least because I don't know what the Harbourians have left behind or are doing with it."

Sir Thomas had no sooner made that decison when the Foreign Office contacted him reporting that privateers sailing in Madigar registered ships with Madigarian letters of marque had recaptured Gorgipest and had declared it "salvage". Could Sir Thomas cast any light upon this particularly in view of the lurid stories appearing in the faxes. The privateer commodore's name is HMS McCock and the FO regards the initials as unfortunate.

Sir Thomas got an aide to do it. Sir Laurence had not yet resumed duties but was expected in the next few days. His secretary, Lt Sally McGraw, had moved back at Sir Laurence's request. Sally had a vested interest in finding out, so a certain part of her work was directing her subordinates to follow up the leads. Personnel files from this office. References to the Naval Histories to learn the fate of the ships of 119. Enquires of Cdr Thoreau led to Marine and Navagation and Treasury. Register of Mountserrat Companies and Register of Foreign Companies provided more information. The facts in Settlement were collated just in time for Sir Laurence's return. The completion required knowledge of the events on Gorgipest. Discreet courteous enquires of MFH who seemed to be the source of what knowledge there was, was met with an equally courteous response which in effect said "Blow smoke".

Sir Thomas became a bit concerned when Sir Laurence specifically identified Aggy and the Flock. According to the 'faxes one of the V and Ws was lost with all hands. It was rumoured the Captain had been Sabajhi Indira. His wife could not be found for comment. The Crown Solicitor was consulted. All this had taken time, actually extra time, because the Admiralty and the Foreign Office were stretched almost beyond their limits dealing with the aftermath of the Brown Hollow government and the Naval disaster which followed.

Sabajhi Indua jr was just crawling when the matter of Gorgipest and salvage was passed to the Navy Board. MFH had on two occasions approached the Admiralty Court to have Gorgipest condemned as a prize. Each time the Crown Solicitor had intervened claiming prerogative. The faxes had got hold of it and the adverse headlines had distracted the government and things had been let slide. The Crown was forced to fob off the faxes by asking the Supreme Court for an opinion.

The two wives were in contact with their husbands and Slow. Sally had reopened private coms with Harryoh Avers. The women got together socically at "The Residence", and were served food and beverage by slender persons of Indo-chin origins who also attended the grounds and periodically wandered about carrying little black boxes. The ladies shared their information which did permeate further but not much further. The ladies were far better informed then the Navy Board.

The Navy Board had no idea of the extent of the full activities at Gorgipest.

The Chief Justice continued,

"Unconfirmed reports claim that the Commodore has organized the imprisonment of the Republic of Harbouria Marine battalions and the crews of the transports. Further much later reports claim that he is directing salvage operations and ship construction.