Lyon's Pride (27 page)

I know it's trite, but she'll only be a thought away. You certainly can reinforce your position. If the relationship is to grow, it will. And I personally think it will. She's already improved a hundred percent since she came to Aurigae
.

*   *   *

As far as everyone was concerned, 0800 came earlier than usual to Iota Aurigae the next morning, but all the travelers were fed, packed and gathered at the personnel carriers minutes before the appointed time. And the generators were up to maximum.

Dad says he has something special in mind for you, Thian and Rojer
, Damia said as her sons and Flavia made themselves comfortable in the carrier, the boys' 'Dinis secure in their smaller slings.

He loves to have something special for us
, Thian said
with a resigned groan.
If you're born into this family, you're likely to tour the galaxy
.

You're only ever a thought away
, Afra put in.
Ready?

Steady! Go!
Rojer couldn't resist saying, and heard his parents' laugh as his “go” was perfectly timed with the 'port.

*   *   *

Thian and Rojer were only allowed to help Flavia out of the capsule before Earth Prime announced they were to be sped to the
Washington
where it had already passed out of the Sol system. Jeff Raven, bringing them up to speed on the so-called
Washington
riots, said that the scope of the demonstration had proven the wisdom of all the precautions.

There had been numerous attempts to damage the hologram—missiles exploding on target but doing the massive hull no damage “because of its unusual construction and tough design which proved that it was advanced enough to go against even a Hive Sphere.” Adherents, trying to protect that launch, had been as numerous as the protestors and nearly as cunning in their attempts to protect the great state-of-the-art ship.

We managed quite a show for all when the
Washington
was duly christened by Gktmglnt and Admiral Mekturian, down to the firing of thrusters to disengage from the building gantries and then the inner rockets to begin its majestic voyage of pursuit
.

Grandfather, I didn't know you were poetic!

I'm quoting, Thian
, replied Jeff.

Who staged the effects?
Rojer wanted to know.

Everyone got in the act
, Jeff said, slightly smug.
Haven't had that much fun since your grandmother and I took on the Hiver scouts over Deneb more than a quarter of a century ago. You'll like the
Washington.
Once you
learn your way around her. Your first task, however, is to get her the hell out to the poor destroyer the
Maine,
which was left behind by C Squadron to keep on the Hiver's trail. D Squadron left her behind because the two Hiver ships split up. You'll have to bring the other ships of Squadron A in one at a time over the next twenty-four hours. Even with all the help the Prime merge can give you, that's going to be an exhausting task. Flavia, Zara, Asia and every Prime in the family are ready to assist, so don't hang about. You'll enjoy your luxury quarters. The
Washington
's quite a beauty
.

*   *   *

Grandfather wasn't kidding, was he?
Rojer said to Thian as they climbed out of their carrier into a hangar four times the size of any other one, including the commodious one on the Refugee.

“Permission to come aboard, Captain,” Thian said, nudging Rojer sharply with his elbow, because he'd seen who was in the welcoming committee.
Ashiant himself. Brother, are we getting the treatment!

“Permission to come aboard, Captain Ashiant,” Rojer blurted out.

“Permission granted, Primes, and very glad to have you two aboard,” Ashiant said, stepping forward as Thian and Rojer stood on the deck. He then helped the 'Dinis scramble out. “The rest of your team is reported on its way so we can get the
Washington
…” and there was great satisfaction and pride in Ashiant's voice as he named his new command, “out to where she's supposed to be most effective.”

“
GREAT PLEASURE TO SERVE WITH YOU AGAIN, CAPTAIN SPKTM
,” both Rojer and Thian said to the large 'Dini, to whom their friends were making proper obeisance.

“
THIS ONE ASKED FOR YOU, THN, RJR. WITH YOUR HELP WE
WILL OVERCOME
,” Captain Spktm replied, bending its poll eye in a complimentarily flattering fashion.

“Prime Thian, you will notice a few friendly faces have followed me to the
Washington
, but we'll leave that until dinner, when we've made the initial push,” Ashiant went on.

He can't wait, can he?
Rojer said in private amusement to his brother.

Nor can we
, added Earth Prime.
Work now, play later, boys
.

Another carrier was deposited in the cradle beside theirs. Clancy Sparrow sprang out, repeating the traditional request to board. Ashiant welcomed him and Clancy's 'Dinis made their courtesies to Spktm.

As Captain Ashiant nodded to ratings standing nearby to handle the duffels of the new arrivals, he gestured for the Talents to follow him and Captain Spktm, Clancy bringing up the rear.

“You'll want to learn the intricacies of the
Washington
's many decks and facilities, Primes…” and he gave Thian a long look.

“I was afraid you'd hold that against me forever, Captain Ashiant,” Thian said with a broad grin.

“Well, it made naval history,” and Ashiant turned to Rojer. “Has your brother ever told you how much protocol he shattered the first hour he was aboard my old command?”

“Sir, you should have heard what Dad had to say about it, and he's not even Navy,” Rojer said mendaciously but with a broad smile.

“It's good to know
you
will not try to outdo him.”

“Me, sir, no, sir.
That's
not what I do best.”

“And what do you do best, Prime Rojer?”

“Classified, sir.”

Ashiant regarded Rojer with the same cynical look he had once leveled at Thian.

“I see that this trip is going to be instructive…for
all
of us,” and there was warning in that mild remark.

There was only the one short walk to a turbo-lift and then another dog-leg down a carpeted corridor clearly in officer territory before Ashiant stopped at a double door, guarded by two marines who immediately braced to attention.

“These accommodations were specifically designed for the use of Talents, Primes, so if you'll press the palms…” and Ashiant nodded to the security pad. Thian, Rojer and Clancy laid their hands on it.

“Sir, you will need access, too,” Thian said, “she's your ship.”

Ashiant nodded and placed his palm on the pad as well. “I appreciate the courtesy.”

Then Thian pressed once again and the double doors slid apart. With considerably more poise than they were inwardly feeling, the young men walked into a large lounge, the captains following.

“This is sinfully luxurious,” Thian said, glancing around at the appointments of the room. Doors, slightly ajar on either side of the lounge, showed sleeping accommodations, but there were two doors in front of them that were not open, and one set catercornered on the left-hand side.

Now Ashiant strode across the lounge. “This,” and he opened it with a palm pressed to the door's pad, “is your
Washington
Tower, if you will, and this,” he opened the second room, “a ready room, while that,” and now he pointed to the catercornered one, “is the access corridor to the bridge. So you're right on top of everything.”

“This is all much more than we had any right to expect, Captain,” Thian said, making a bow of appreciation.

“Earth Prime's orders,” Ashiant replied with an expressionless face, which altered to a smiling one. “No more than you deserve for the services you supply an entire fleet. If you'll assemble the rest of the team you have aboard immediately,” and he gestured to the intercom system in the Tower room, “we can get going.”

“Right, sir,” Thian said.

“Just leave those duffels there, lads,” Clancy said as the ratings arrived with their luggage.

“If you'll proceed to the bridge, sir,” Thian added, opening that door, “we'll organize the advance. Oh, sir, who's the
Washington
's engineering officer?”

Ashiant regarded him with surprise. “Tikele, of course.” He pointed to the screen. “When you've the chance, check the roster. I brought as many of my officers with me as I could.”

Captain Spktm followed Ashiant, murmuring that it would join its own ship when the Primes were free to 'port it there.

“Rojer can oblige you right now, sir, as I imagine you'd prefer to be on the
LSTS
on her jump,” Thian said, giving his first order in his new position.

“Sure can, Captain, if you will be good enough to return to the hangar and your carrier,” Rojer said, and strode to the Tower room.
Boy, have we landed in gravy, bro?

WHAT?
And Thian 'ported in beside Rojer, peering around the place.

Enough nonsense!
said Earth Prime, his tone slightly peevish.

Rojer slid onto the couch beside him, which happened to have been made to his height so he settled comfortably in it. Clancy and Thian took two of the remaining six couches and settled themselves.

As soon as Rojer had 'ported the Mrdini captain to its
Constellation-class ship, Thian took him into the merge, then Clancy, and announced the merge's readiness to proceed.

First came Jeff Raven, assuming the focus position while the Rowan slipped in right beside him. Sublimated in her mind, Thian recognized Flavia, Zara, Asia, the undistinguishable current complement of both the Blundell Cube and Callisto Tower, then the familiar touches of his parents arrived, Laria and Kincaid, David of Betelgeuse, the T-2s of Altair, Capella and Procyon Primes, his Uncle Jeran and Aunt Ceran and even the only faintly familiar touch of his Uncle Ezro on Vega…and other Talents as the teleportation force gathered more strength than it had ever before had and launched the immense bulk of the
Washington
in a long-drawn breath to where the tiny mote of the
Maine
patiently followed the strong ion traces of a Hive sphere's course.

Then one by one, the other vessels—two Constellation class, four of the Galaxy and four destroyers—were 'ported fluently to take their assigned positions in the fleet. Despite the restrictions of the merge, Thian activated the forward screens in their Tower room and saw, no longer quite a mote, but decidedly small in comparison, the lean shape of the
Maine.
He wondered if her crew were aware of their mighty neighbors but he was too integral to the merge to inquire.

Abruptly, most of the merge, having acquitted their part of this gargantuan transportation, disengaged. Only the Earth-Callisto element remained.

Thian, you can tell the
Maine
now
, that merge said,
that they are relieved of their duty.
The merge was amused.
Captain's name is Bremerton
.

Still elated by the contact with so many energies, Thian had no trouble making the contact. Bremerton's mind was
wide open with the relief he was experiencing at the arrival of his replacements.

Eleven ships at once?
was Bremerton's half-stunned, half-exultant response. Thian had the distinct impression of sudden physical movement along with peripheral mental jolts of relief and joy.
Oh, my God, you are. Fleet's here! Look lively. Fleet's here. Open a channel to the
Washington,
Sparks. We're about to be relieved!

Captain Bremerton, we can 'port you back to Base as soon as you're ready
, Thian said.
Though I hate to rush you, sir, the merge is on-line and waiting
.

Clancy was nearest those controls so he cut on the bridge screen. Despite a crisply neat shipsuit, the tired face of a relatively young captain was visible on the
Washington
's main com screen, saluting smartly.

“Clark Bremerton, Captain Ashiant, and my respects.” His face developed a broad smile comprised of respect, awe and amazement. “I'm sending my log over for your records but I can't say that anything unusual has happened, sir. No deviation is noted in the ion trail since the split-up three weeks ago and the Hiver we're following hasn't altered speed.”

“Good work, Captain. I won't keep you as I imagine you, the crew and the
Maine
are looking forward to home.”

“Indeed we are, sir,” was the heartfelt response.

“Your log's been transferred. On your way,
Maine
.”

Ashiant saluted smartly and the salute was being returned by an obviously grateful Bremerton when his image on the forward screen faded.

“Your turn, Primes,” Ashiant said into the chair com.

And about time.
Thian heard the unmistakable voice of his grandmother Rowan.
All this naval pomp and circumstance is time-consuming
.

Thian felt the pressure of the merge in his mind and the
Maine
disappeared. So did the constriction of the merge. Beside him, Rojer gave an exaggerated sigh of relief while Clancy stretched until his sinews cracked.

“Do we know where we
are
?” Clancy asked.

“Since I'm the engineer,” Rojer began and slipped off the couch and over to the console. It was so shiningly new, not so much as a scratch on any surface but, it was also familiar, and he had their main screen showing the vista before them: an expanse of stars of all variations in color and pulsation.

“Far, far away from every star we know and recognize,” was Clancy's thoughtful comment.

All three were startled at a discreet rap on the door.