Part 26 (2/2)
The queens on Xh-33 went to war on the Main Continent yesterday and d.a.m.ned near exterminated themselves.
WHAT? That news brought Thian wide awake and he increased his efforts to get into his s.h.i.+psuit.
Please have Weiman and Grm bring all their data and visual records. 'Path me when they're ready and I'll a.s.sist in the 'port.
No need, sir. I can do it easily enough in gestalt with the Was.h.i.+ngton'^ generators.
It is urgent!
I believe it.
Thian was at his com unit, tapping in Lieutenant Weiman's quarters.
”A war?” Such news had as electric a shock on Sam as it had had on Thian.
”Grm is also needed and you're to bring everything you have on Arcadia's queens and any other research you two might have on the Hivers. Please go immediately to the boat bay and get into the personnel capsule. I'll alert the watch officer as soon as I've roused Grm.”
”It's here,” Sam said apologetically. ”We were correlating some data and . . .” His voice trailed off.
”Great. How long do you need ?”
Thian could hear Sam's gulp. ”Ten minutes, sir?”
”You're a star,” Thian said with sincere appreciation.
Still groggy with insufficient sleep, Sam and Grm found themselves on Earth, in Blundell. The yard supervisor greeted them effusively, hurried them into the great blocky building and turned them over to Gollee Gren.
”Do you have any details about the war, sir?” Sam asked, stumbling along the corridors as the Prime's top a.s.sistant escorted them past security and to the high-speed elevator.
”Visual and data files,” Gren said, ”are awaiting you. I'd prefer i E HIVE.
you to see them first before I comment. Prime Raven has called for a meeting with the two High Councillors and other experts at two o'clock.”
”But... but... but. . .” Sam began, and followed him into the elevator, absently keeping Grm's material from slipping out of the Mrdini's arms.
Gollee turned and grinned at him. ”a.s.similate what you can in the time you have . . . and if a correlation is obvious, make notes of it. We're all trying to absorb what happened yesterday.”
When the doors opened, he waved to the security guards who had come to attention.
”Lieutenant Weiman and the Mrdini Grm,” he said, looking up at the ceiling. ”From the Was.h.i.+ngton, at the request of Prime Raven. I am their escort.”
The guards relaxed. Another came forward with two scintillating disks, which she planted first on Sam's chest and then on Grm's upper arm. As Sam looked down at it, the surface dulled.
”That admits you to this floor only, Lieutenant, Grm. If you need anything, use the com unit in the room,” she said, saluting as she stepped back and gestured down the short hall. ”It's set up with what we thought they might need,” she added to Gollee Gren.
”Grand, thanks, Monnie. This way, gentlemen.”
The room had the dead feeling of a high-security facility.
”Yes,” Gollee said with another grin, noticing Sam's happy reaction.
”It's a grand room,” the lieutenant said, glancing around a s.p.a.ce that was quadruple the size of his office on the Was.h.i.+ngton. A full com unit with viewing screens above it occupied one wall, a wide st.u.r.dy round table with eight chairs were in the center and comformable chairs and a long couch stretched along the other wall. A serving unit was to the left of the entrance.
”You haven't had a chance to eat yet, have you?”
”We should get to work immediately,” Sam said, starting to arrange the files he had brought.
”I suggest you eat first, Lieutenant, Grm,” Gollee said with a grave bow. ”This will be a very busy day and you'll need to sustain yourself. Especially before you see the recording of the . . . queens' war on Xh-33.”
”That bad?” Sam asked softly.
Gollee nodded slowly.
”Coffee,” said Grm firmly, ”black, and porridge.”
”Good choice,” Gollee said, and dialed it up.
”I'll have the same,” Sam said, his tone wary.
When they were served, Gollee left them to eat. ”There are other preparations to make for this afternoon's conference. If you'll excuse me?”
”Of course,” Sam replied, and turned to his meal.
Five minutes before the two o'clock meeting, Gollee collected the two xenbees. He saw the haunted look in Sam's eyes, the droop of Grm's poll and knew that the queens' war had affected them as deeply as it had everyone who had seen the recording. The viewers might have been spared the sounds and smells of the carnage, but the omissions hardly mattered in the overall effect.
”It's nearly time, Lieutenant, Grm.”
”Yes, yes,” Sam said, hastily bundling up the scattered sheets of the hard copy, his files and notebook. Grrn kept dropping files until Gollee gave it a helping hand.
”This way, please,” Gollee said, and to Sam's surprise, indicated the end of the corridor. ”Prime Raven will 'port you himself from this point.”
He nodded to them both and strode back to the elevators.
The next thing Sam knew, he was in a huge office, facing a conference table that had individual units built into its surface. There were twelve conformable chairs, four of which were already occupied. He noticed the Chief Xenbee in charge of the Heinlein Base's queen installation and bowed to her, but he didn't recognize the others except that they were all Fleet officers. For a scared moment, Sam wondered if this fie low was where the a.s.sa.s.sins had made their attempt on the lives of the Primes and the High Councillors.
”Actually, no.” The quiet, slightly amused voice turned Weiman's attention to Prime Jeff Raven, whom he recognized from newsvids. He was talking to the equally recognizable High Councillors, Admiral Mekturian Tohl and Gktmglnt. ”Lieutenant Sam Weiman and Grm are from the Was.h.i.+ngton,” Jeff said to the others. ”Mr. Weiman, perhaps you already know Lieutenant Commander Whila Gallahue from the Heinlein Base.” When Weiman nodded, he continued, ”So I will make you known to Lieutenant Commander Jan Voorhees of the Asimov, to the HGHL xenbee, Stg, and to Lieutenant Verla Mitab from the Xh-33 Moon Base.”
As they were acknowledging the introductions, a slender elegant woman seemed to glide into the room from nowhere, causing Sam some consternation, as he was facing her point of entry.
Jeff smiled, holding out his hand. ”I'm sure you all must know my wife, Angharad, Callisto's Prime. No cause for alarm, Mr. Weiman, the Rowan is the only other person who can enter my sanctum sanctorum without invitation.” He guided her, with an air of conscious pride, to the nearest seat. ”Please, ladies and gentlemen, take your places. We have much to discuss.”
When they all had taken seats, the two minor 'Dinis slipped reverently into the Mrdini-suitable chairs on either side of the High Councillor, tilting their poll eyes deferentially away from such an august neighbor. Jeff Raven remained standing.
”This meeting was convened at the behest of the High Councillors and in this room for security's sake. I turn it over to Admiral Tohl.” With a courteous bow to the Admiral, Raven sat down beside the Rowan.
”I trust you all”-the Admiral glanced round the table needlessly, for every eye was on him-”have had time to a.s.similate the details of ... the war.” He grimaced. ”Most unfortunate, especially as that sort of madness could spread to the other four continents of Xh-33.
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