Chapter 44

"Hello, Aggy" greeted Sir Henry as McCock entered "Vector's" CIC, "to what do I owe this pleasure?"

"Your report this morning made the point "Dowager Lady" is expected. Why should we be interested in a small freighter tramping about local space? Apart from the fact they are connected with an attack upon my ladies."

"After "Widow Lady" departed, I had a good look at the vids from Fergusons and went over Lloyds register; ran some figures through the 'puter and made a couple of holos." Sir Henry fiddled about the 'puter control panel making his selection and two holos appeared above his station. He rotated the images towards them, explaining

"This is a reconstruction from the vids and this one is from my estimates based on the information in Lloyds and you can see that there doesn't appear to be a difference. Now, "Dowager" is a sister ship and according to Lloyds identical.

Here is a vid from the general harbour berth which shows "Dowager's" No3 hold and you can see the tween deck is significantly smaller. That doesn't necessarily mean anything but Sidney says his team and the handler did not mix with the crew having their own quarters. He doesn't know his way about a ship so wasn't helpful where he was quartered. He does say that his briefing material was in the 'puter in those quarters.

The handler is still loose on Gorgipest without a team and should in the scheme of things be recalled if only for debriefing.

I've got an itch to look at that room but the itch isn't intense enough to make me want to mount a raid — but something might come out of left field to make me change my mind. I want to put up the surveillance again and see what presents. Suit?"

McCock thought about the news,

"Well, it will give you something to do while we wait for events. I have to admit I am getting more and more worried by the inactivity from Harbouria. For Diety's sake, we are at war with them and for months they have done nothing and we are not in a position to do other than sit on the defensive awaiting events; events that aren't happening."

"Aggy, it might just be the combination of the destruction of their home fleet and the coup d'etat by now President Brooken has paralysed government. There has been no reports, mentions or anything about either a new Secretary for their navy or CNO's appointment. What mention is that their Octagon is not doing much. No indication of any navy coming to replace home fleet and that I find very interesting. We know of their R&D base but not where it is and we know of the outlying strengths — well best educated guesses. That Harbourian squadron turning up here. My only explanation is paralysis at the top but at present I have no evidence to support that supposition but it is the only wag I've got. Endure, Aggy, endure."

"Silas, it is truly good to see you again. Trojan, Kahawa for Admiral Rowan."

McCock had returned to "Trader" to meet the distinguished visitor from the Navy Yard.

"How are the others?" enquired Rowan.

"Working hard" smiled McCock "may I com them to come over? I would never be forgiven if I did not ask them to see you. Our friendship goes back a long way, Silas and we do not forget our friends."

"Please do, I was hoping to touch base with them" replied an almost relieved Silas " and Sally, if I could."

McCock touched the desktop com and spoke,

"Sally, can you come up to the Captain's Cabin. A visitor has arrived to see us." He then extracted his PDA and made a com link,

"Silas has come down and wants to see us. We are in "Trader" now. Thank you."

McCock waved Silas to the side table and joined him. Both took an appreciative taste of the coffee,

"Marcel still good I see" commented Silas. McCock acknowledged. Sally came through the door like an unrestrained whirlwind but halted uncertainly to look at Silas trying to judge her welcome. Silas solved her dilemma by rising and moving to her with a warm smile spreading over his features and his hand outstretched. Sally flung her arms about his neck and fiercely hugged him without saying a word. She stood back and looked at his face,

"You need a holiday, you are looking tired."

Rowan laughed,

"I have needed a holiday ever since I first came in contact with Aggy."

"He can be a strain, at times" Sally agreed taking a filled mug from Trojan and sitting herself beside McCock, became practical, and asked "and what is the reason for this visitation? You might just fool him, but remember I worked in that Puzzle Palace for a decade and I know how it works."

"The Crypt is gathering and I'll hold explanations until they arrive, please you. In the meantime, I have been asked to pass these onto you."

Rowan had extracted two chips from their containers, passing them to each of them as he spoke. The recipients inserted the chips into their PDAs. Sally's face broke out into a broad grin as she read whereas the features of McCock's face became ever more neutral as he read. Sally completed her task first and sat back with a very satisfied expression on her face. McCock continued his reading to the end of the document, put his PDA onto the table in front of him and gazed thoughtfully into nothingness. No5 hatch cycled and moments later came the sound of booted feet hurrying up the stairwell. Slow led the way barely giving Rowan a chance to get to his feet before embracing him; the men were no less pleased to see him but were a little less demonstrative than their female companion — they just shook his hand until it threatened to drop off. Trojan meanwhile had acquired seating and just as mysteriously produced filled mugs for all on the side table.

Sally passed her PDA to Slow while the menfolk were greeting Rowan and her face cracked into a wide grin; Slow passed it onto the men whose eyebrows went up; They all looked at McCock who still stared into nothingness. Sally told them,

"He hasn't read it yet. He got another chip from Silas to read and he hasn't said a word yet."