Chapter 15

"Navy Harbour" this is "Gorgon", I am powered up, request clearance for the outer marker, I have onward clearance; information golf; over.

"Gorgon", you are cleared for the outer marker via the inner marker and the departure channel. Be advised "Vance" and "Washton" have just entered the approach channel but you will be clear at the inner marker; call control at the outer 4315 over.

"Cleared for the outer marker. 4315 at the outer. Moving now "Gorgon" clear."

"Navy control, "Gorgon" for the hyper."

"Gorgon", you are clear, no known traffic."

"Gorgon."

"Sir, "Gorgon" closed up for translation. Coxswain on the wheel. Ready to answer bells."

"Very well, Number One; take us up."

"Navy Harbour, this is "Grendel", ready, request clearance for the Gate. Information hotel. Over"

"Grendel", you are cleared direct for the Gate. Approaching the Gate call Wormhole Control on 4723 over."

"Cleared direct; Wormhole 4723. Moving now. "Grendel" clear."

"Wormhole Control this is "Grendel", approaching the gate."

"Grendel", take Blue Route, call Departure 4565 approaching Alpha35."

"Blue Route, Departure 4565 Alpha35, "Grendel" clear."

""Grendel" approaching Alpha35."

""Grendel", zero three zero, zero eight zero, decrease to one hundred gravs, call at the outer marker."

""Grendel" zero three zero, zero eight zero, one hundred gravs, outer marker."

""Grendel" outer marker."

""Grendel" at the inner, three three zero, zero nine zero, decrease to twenty gravs, you are number five behind the Brandies, maintain double separation, he's a rogue."

""Grendel" at the inner, three three zero, zero nine zero, twenty gravs, number five, double separation."

"My ship, Number one," called Polack, "Nav on my screens please; paint the bugout track on the screen. Engines, we are number five behind a rogue so be ready for anything.

"Helm, three three zero, zero nine zero, ring for ten gravs."

"On three three zero, zero nine zero, answering to ten gravs, Sir."

"Engines, we are number three, rig sails in order, on my mark."

"Number three, Sir."

"Rig forward sail five, four, three, two, one, Mark! Rig after sail, two, one. Mark! Stand by to furl sails. Mark! Hold impellers. Nav, raise Gregor and get instructions. We'll coast for a bit, at the moment we wont hit anything. Engines will you spread the screens and be ready for anything, we could need impellers in a hurry; the one ahead of us wandered off into the departure lane."

Engineers as a breed don't have much imagination, they don't want one issued considering what they play with; but they could appreciate the effect of a runaway at the Junction.

"Sir, Gregor clears us direct to the hyper limit and could we expedite; max to the limit is two fifty gravs."

"Thank you, Nav. Engines, rig impellers stat and take us to two fifty gravs. Helm, ring it down, please. Nav, get cle... , good man. Number one, take us through hyper and four eighty gravs to New Breslau."

"Captain Kowalski. Welcome to the Palace" Admiral von und zu Reiperbahn returned the salute and ushered Polack to a seat at the coffee table in his palatial office. The officer seated there rose and offered his hand and said,

"If you call me 'Papa Gus' I'll do you a mischief, Polack. I'm Gus and he is Chien-lu. Now the official reason, then the cover and then the real reason for this visit; Elizabeth's too cunning not to use you for an official visit just to show off one of her personal destroyers. Then you can show me the vids of Trudie and Gus-gus."

They settled and they doffed their headgear. Polack placed the monogrammed hand addressed envelope on the table before them.

"As you guessed, we are here to show the flag and say what clever boys we are with this magnificent super destroyer in the Queen's personal service and as a reward for unspecified services your in-law gets to pay his personal respects to his wife's family and perhaps make peace offerings.

The ostensible reason is that the Sovereign wishes to greet the Emperor by sending a Personal Communication and the envelope can be left lying about on Chien-lu's or your desk for a while.

The real reason is actually in the letter. Aggy McCock wants me to use my marriage ties to obtain a one on one with you to present the sales pitch, that's Slow's definition by the way.

Chien-lu, it is not that my superiors do not trust you, it is because they do not know the politics here; we have a good idea but we are not certain. Elizabeth apologies for her temerity in putting you both in this situation but the knowledge is critical and the Emperor makes the decision."

Von und zu Reiperbahn would not put his Emperor into a corner, so he rose, retrieved his headgear, smiled courteously at Polack, bowed to his Emperor,

"I'll let you get on with the family matters and I'll catch up with them later."

"I do hope that was necessary" said Gus reaching for the envelope after his Principal Advisor had departed. He walked to the desk, sat in the chair, slit open the envelope, extracted and read the letter. He read it through, gazed thoughtfully at Polack for a moment and reread the letter. He placed the folded letter in an inside pocket and put the small packet from the envelope into his chest pocket.