Chapter 35

"Aggy" as Hugh Avers buttonholed McCock outside the Purser's Office the day after the Board Meeting, "on the matter of work force. I've been hearing that the Navy Yard here has been slowing down and has put out feelers for voluntary redundancies. I also had a word with the people on the farms who are basically surplus to requirement and there are some families who have expressed interest in removing the families from the war zone to somewhere neutral and who will look very seriously at it if there is work going with it but they don't wish to emigrate."

"I've been giving that some thought too" replied McCock. "Looking at the political situation while I was there, it was evident that the two biggest players were Noramcon and Chencon with not much difference between them; I can't see either of them directly taking each other on but they are very likely testing the other through surrogates. While we were there, reports of small shooting wars were frequent, basically tribal, but the protagonists had to be getting a prodigious amount of consumables from somewhere. What say we get Nan to get a feel from Foreign Office because I would prefer to reopen Pachristmas, despite the dirtside facilities being primitive to say the least as the Island and the Yard is under the control of Noramcon and has been for centuries. Chagos Island has the better facilities but is under the jurisdiction of Enkland who is only a medium size power. I'll get Nan onto it now. Thanks by the way for the tour the other day." The men nodded at one another and McCock turned into the Purser's Office to instruct Sally.

"Sally," McCock began "Would you ask Nan to question her Foreign Office contacts and perhaps even the Ambassador on Old Earth as to which Yard we should open first with our people who are wanting a safe haven." He went on to explain his thinking on this as he had to Hugh.

"I'll see her when she gets away from Bollinger's Intel meeting; and Angie left an 'urgent' for you to com her asap — I was just going to raise you but your com isn't working again(?)."

"No Sally, it is not switched to receive while I am on "Trader"; that's what I have you for. You can always com me when you want to."

"I can? Well puhlease give me the secret handshake or whatever it is that I have to use or do I have to use a ball peen to attract your attention."

"Sarcasm does not become you, Sally. You have always been able to com me. Give me your PDA and I'll demonstrate."

Sally dutifully handed over her PDA to her boss who entered a code. Immediately, McCock's PDA began beeping, stopping when he closed the case.

"Aggy" began Sally dangerously "that PDA was locked down and you have never given me any direct code to you." Her voice was rather tight with exasperation or was it downright annoyance.

"Here, let me show you" and repeated the procedure allowing Sally to read the code while his PDA beeped. He closed Sally's PDA and said,

"Here you try it". She did and it worked.

"Someday, Aggy, such minor details might not slip your memory."

"Yes Sally, like someone forgot to tell me about five sons and three on the way. Not that I regard such a thing as my family as being of minor import. Sally, that really hurt and I will have regrets for a long time — however on the positive side, Nan and you have given me my life back in more ways than one, so I will be able to enjoy their company, Diety willing, for a long time."

"Aggy, the Nancarrows will have to have a 'mea culpa' meeting with you and tell you what happened. In the meantime we have to look after your welfare as your value to us has increased exponentially emotionally; we never thought we would be a part of your life and that was our problem.

Anyway, enough soul searching; for now that is. Angie. Call her."

"Yes boss." McCock extracted his PDA and from memory entered a code.

"Aggy, you were looking for Mark D missiles? Of course you were; I've probably located some."