Chapter 32

Keith Grant looked about the table and gave a barking laugh,

"You know when it's the correct answer; even the junior knows. This will at least give us something to do and I for one don't want to lie down. I'm afraid we might have to just to survive or at least our families to survive, but..."

McCock looked at them and gave his orders,

"Henry, intel and assessment to Mountserrat.

Evan, find Hugh; as many UVAs preferably 90s as we've got to be divided up between the ships; at least one armed cutter each — we've got them to spare.

Tim Avers, hand over to your First and ship in "Victoria" to advise on Cosmic Space. Des, similarly "Washton"; Algy with Captain Denholt.

Denny, in company with "Washton", go to Sol, and observe the Chencon fleets; use the U90s to get a planet wide idea of what the rest are doing.

Felix with "Vance" in company with "Victoria" and to command that section. Felix, go to Harbouria and shadow any couriers by ship or U90s; leave a trail of U90s so you can get back to the base ship over Harbouria. If you think the destination important enough, leave a U90 with a NOB ie a USN S for satcom attached and N for beacon fitted.

Denny, Felix, liase with Sir Henry regarding communications.

Evan, after you track Hugh down and get him started, tell the Ladies they can't have the Barge; we will need "Shriek" and her for back up until the frigate comes on line. Get Angie to find a space yacht for the Ladies; I wan't them to have a bugout boat to get off Mountserrat if they have to.

Polack, get that frigate on the line, yesterday; we are going to need her.

Slow, similarly "Vector", I know I've got your COHAC and his deputy, you Algy in case you hadn't guessed, and just because you are off on a mission, you are not off your Crusher as I expect that to continue — all the officers on "Warburton" have passed their's ... Slow, get the "Shriek" trained people and give each of them an armed cutter to crew and train; they are going to be the nucleus of your HAC squadrons.

Henry, Gnat squadrons as per your ideas.

Get to it, people."

McCock was back on "Trader" in his office reading the reports on the production of UVAs and Keys. He was interrupted by Evan who started by saying,

"None of the Ladies or the children were injured; the party was ambushed while inspecting a residence but we lost a female Ghorkhali — head shot. We have two prisoners. Havildar is here to report." And directed a drawn faced Ghorkhali to the chair at the small table and then raided McCock's bar for a stiff one to the Havildar.

"I'll have one of those, please Evan and something for yourself?"

"I'll stay with the soda, if you don't mind, Boss".

They both joined the Havildar,

"Sushil, isn't it? Good, make your report. Take your time."

"Sahib; we had been at the site for about an hour and a half with the party moving about inside; I had sent my Naiks in each direction to inspect the grounds and surrounds; the boys were bored and the bigger ones went with the Naiks; Master Gus and Master Sabahj had stayed with their mothers. Sir Lancelot and his assistant had been inspecting the out buildings. The Ladies, three body guards and I were waiting outside the main gate. A ground shuttle pulled suddenly into the drive way and a shuttle van pulled up behind it. The passenger in the ground shuttle fired through his window hitting Naik Paneru in the chest and knocking him to the ground; the van disgorged gunmen who began firing; the passenger fired at Sujani as he was getting out and hit her in the head killing her instantly. He then grabbed Memsahib Kowalski and put a garrotte about her neck and dragged her into the ground shuttle. I could not fire for fear of hitting her. The stupid kidnapper turned to push the Memsahib into the ground shuttle; Master Gus' kuhkri struck him behind the left ear and embedded into his brain and a split second later Master Sabajhi was there and cut the left arm off. That walking stick of Sir Lancelot's? It's a rifle stick and from about fifty metres he blew up the van's engine, killing the driver and blasting its passenger back out again as he was trying to get back in. The other guards had killed the four others. Masters James and Peter had sprinted to the ground shuttle and found Memsahib had the driver's head in a strangle hold. The driver was trying to pull her arms away and Master Peter leant through the hatch and chopped his arms off at the forearms. Miss Peebles had the blown out passenger restrained and says he was probably the leader. Masters Gus and Sabajhi were trying to retrieve the kuhkri from the fellow's skull. Miss Peebles gave them a hand, or rather a boot, to get it out. We called the Barge and returned; we brought Sujani with us. The Barge connected to No5, is it?, here and then went back to "Vector". Memsahib Trudie doesn't know what to do about Master Gus — whether to hug him or to smack him. The others appear to be calm, even Memsahib Cerise although she did seem perturbed at being the target of an attack until Memsahib Nan said that this was her second attack. We did not alert the authorities and we came back in blackout."

"You will want to take Sujani back to the village?"

"Please, Sahib."

"Evan, make arrangements for the Barge to take Sujani home with such escort as Sushil requests. Thank you, Sushil, carry on, please."

McCock lapsed into deep thought and then commed Sir Henry who was at his desk(?) in A tween. McCock joined him and they discussed the attack but agreed more information was needed. McCock noted that Sir Henry had a sleeping cabin organised in the tween deck and twitted him about it. Sir Henry laughed,