Their Lordships Request: A Harry Heron Adventure (12 page)

             
"
I
know
what
you
mean.
He
'
s
probably
the
only
person
around
who
does
understand
the
thing.
This
ship
will
have
the
most
advanced
system
going
and
will
be
almost
self
aware
as
I
understand
it.
"
The
Admiral
shrugged.
"
A
far
cry
from
when
we
first
ventured
beyond
our
own
system.
"
He
grimaced.
"
Well
I
'
d
better
get
back
to
my
desk.
Work
to
do
and
ships
to
repair.
Get
your
Weapons
Commander
to
call
on
me
–
my
Writer
will
make
space
for
her.
I
have
some
information
on
the
Primary
she
'
s
overseeing
built
she
will
need
but
I
can
'
t
put
it
on
the
links
or
through
the
usual
channels.
"

             
"
I
'
ll
get
her
onto
it
straight
away.
"
Captain
Heron
accepted
the
handshake
and
then
saluted
as
the
Admiral
turned
to
leave.
He
would
have
to
interrupt
Valerie
and
smiled
at
her
probable
reaction.
Valerie
Petrocova
didn
'
t
trust
civilian
constructors
and
fitters
and
firmly
believed
that
if
she
or
her
team
weren
'
t
watching
every
component
something
would
be
badly
or
incorrectly
fitted.
She
was
probably
right
he
thought,
especially
at
the
moment
and
in
the
light
of
what
was
happening
in
the
privatised
suppliers
of
components
to
the
Construction
Yards.

             
He
keyed
his
comlink
as
he
strode
toward
the
office
allocated
to
him.
"
Valerie,
could
you
come
to
my
office
immediately
please.
Couple
of
things
I
need
to
discuss.
"

-

             
"
Gentlemen!
"
Captain
Robert
Blackwood
rapped
sharply
on
his
table.
"
Your
attention
if
you
please!
"

             
The
assembled
group,
the
civilian
dress
of
the
Merchant
service
Masters
in
distinct
contrast
to
the
naval
uniforms
of
Spartan
and
her
consorts
'
officers,
stilled
their
conversations
and
settled
back
in
their
seats.

             
"
My
clerk
will
shortly
be
passing
to
each
of
you
copies
of
your
sailing
orders
for
this
voyage.
We
will
be
sailing
as
a
convoy,
even
though
it
is
now
all
peace
and
tranquillity
with
our
French
neighbours.
"
He
paused
as
a
murmur
of
discontent
ran
around
the
merchant
Masters,
and
then
continued,
"
I
am
aware
some
of
you
do
not
see
any
need
for
this.
But
I
can
assure
you
their
Lordships
have
excellent
intelligence
there
are
a
number
of
'
privateers
'
still
operating
from
various
ports
along
the
West
African
coast
and
even
on
the
East
African
seaboard.
Furthermore
some
of
you
are
carrying
a
large
number
of
convicts
to
our
destination
and
both
the
government
and
the
Admiralty
feel
you
should
be
sailed
in
company
with
a
large
ship
as
escort
to
ensure
any
attempt
at
mutiny
is
dealt
with
quickly
and
effectively.
"
He
surveyed
the
group,
and
asked,
"
Have
you
any
observations
you
wish
to
make
at
this
stage?
"

             
A
burly
Master
spoke
up.
"
Aye,
Captain,
we
all
know
the
reasons
they
give
for
this
convoying
in
London.
But,
what
with
the
French
suing
for
peace,
many
of
us
feel
we
can
make
a
faster
passage
unescorted
and
unencumbered
by,
begging
your
pardon,
your
sluggish
ships.
"
There
was
a
rumble
of
agreement
to
this.

             
"
Sadly,
sir.
"
Captain
Blackwood
glared
at
the
man.
"
It
is
not
the
French
alone
we
must
have
regard
to.
There
are
pirates
and
others
to
contend
with
on
our
voyage
south
and
the
news
of
the
projected
peace
may
not
reach
all
outposts
as
swiftly
as
we
may
prefer.
I
am
aware
many
of
you
consider
your
ships
to
be
faster
and
handier
than
mine,
but
we
will
have
two
frigates
in
company
and
I
assure
you
they
will
afford
protection
and
the
ability
to
ensure
this
convoy
remains
intact.
"
The
threat
was
thinly
veiled,
but
not
missed
by
those
to
whom
it
was
addressed.
"
Now
gentlemen,
your
orders,
"
he
added
as
the
Clerk
began
to
distribute
a
number
of
sealed
packets.