was the only thing they wanted or needed, and they're long gone. There's no sign of them, and Mr. Briggs is as thorough as Christine. If they'd left a single ship behind, he'd have spotted it. It's obvious that they've moved their ships to where they're needed against the Teronis." He raised his voice. "Sharon?"
There was no response.
"Damn it," he said. "The one time I wish she was listening, she's doing something else. Okay, David, I'll let you do it."
"Do what?"
"Tell the bridge they can stop searching for the Navy. It's not there, and it's time we kept our rendezvous with Mr. Lafferty."
"They won't listen to me," said the alien.
"Sure they will," said Cole. "Tell them I'll confirm it if need be, but I can almost guarantee they won't bother asking."
"What makes you think so?"
"Because you're out of your bulkhead. That means you have inside information that it's safe."
"Approaching planet, sir," said Christine's voice.
"Approaching the planet, goddammit!" muttered Cole to himself. Aloud he said, "Where does he want us?"
"Coordinates have been fed into our computer. It seems we meet inside an extinct volcano."
"Okay. Patch me through to the planet on every available frequency."
"Done."
"Lafferty, this is Wilson Cole. We've got your coordinates, but the Teddy R can't land. It was built in space and will die in space, hopefully not in the immediate future. I'll bring a party down in two shuttlecraft."
"Not necessary," said Lafferty's voice. "I was going to take you, but I suppose it's just as easy to lead you. You sure no one's followed you?"
"Pretty sure."
"That'll have to do."
"Not to worry," said Cole. "No one's bothered us since we left Singapore Station, and this system is some of the least desirable real estate in the Republic."
"Tell me that in an hour," said Lafferty.
Jacovic's image suddenly appeared. "That was piped all over the ship, sir. What do you think he's got?"
"Beats me," said Cole with a shrug. "Maybe he's found some uranium or plutonium that the Republic missed."
"I found better," said Lafferty's voice. "First I had to make sure no one was tailing you; that's why I directed you to Cicero VII. Now you can follow me."
A ship emerged from within the volcano and began making its way toward an asteroid belt between Cicero VIII and IX.
"Follow him, Pilot," said Cole.
"You're going to need a shuttle or two when we get there," said Lafferty.
"Son of a bitch likes guessing games, doesn't he?" said Cole.
"I request permission to accompany you in a shuttle," said Jacovic.
"Granted," replied Cole.
"Thank you, sir," said Jacovic as his image vanished.
Cole left his office and began making his way to the shuttle bay. When he reached the airlift he met Bull Pampas and Braxite, his one remaining Molarian officer.
"Should we draw our weapons from the armory, sir—or should we use those from the shuttles?" asked Braxite.
"We're visiting allies, not enemies," answered Cole.
"If there's an attack, we could be virtually helpless," continued the Molarian.
"There won't be," said Cole. "The Republic hasn't had a presence here in years. Besides, Jacovic's coming with me, and Christine's shift is almost over. That means Val will be in command. Do you really think she's going to let anyone attack us?"
"How deep into the duty roster do we go, sir?" asked Pampas.
"Five per shuttle," answered Cole. "I assume you and Braxite were at the top of the list?"
"Yes, sir."
"Interesting," said Cole. "You were at the top the last time too, Bull."
"Val puts me at the top every time," replied Pampas uneasily. "She says I'm the only crew member who can last a full minute in the ring with her."
"She's probably right. Okay, I'll be in one shuttle and Jacovic will be in the other. He stays in orbit until I give him an all-clear signal. You're in charge of the crews; split 'em up any way you choose."
Pampas saluted. "Yes, sir."
"One more thing, Bull. I assume we're going to be among friends down there—but
There was no response.
"Damn it," he said. "The one time I wish she was listening, she's doing something else. Okay, David, I'll let you do it."
"Do what?"
"Tell the bridge they can stop searching for the Navy. It's not there, and it's time we kept our rendezvous with Mr. Lafferty."
"They won't listen to me," said the alien.
"Sure they will," said Cole. "Tell them I'll confirm it if need be, but I can almost guarantee they won't bother asking."
"What makes you think so?"
"Because you're out of your bulkhead. That means you have inside information that it's safe."
"Approaching planet, sir," said Christine's voice.
"Approaching the planet, goddammit!" muttered Cole to himself. Aloud he said, "Where does he want us?"
"Coordinates have been fed into our computer. It seems we meet inside an extinct volcano."
"Okay. Patch me through to the planet on every available frequency."
"Done."
"Lafferty, this is Wilson Cole. We've got your coordinates, but the Teddy R can't land. It was built in space and will die in space, hopefully not in the immediate future. I'll bring a party down in two shuttlecraft."
"Not necessary," said Lafferty's voice. "I was going to take you, but I suppose it's just as easy to lead you. You sure no one's followed you?"
"Pretty sure."
"That'll have to do."
"Not to worry," said Cole. "No one's bothered us since we left Singapore Station, and this system is some of the least desirable real estate in the Republic."
"Tell me that in an hour," said Lafferty.
Jacovic's image suddenly appeared. "That was piped all over the ship, sir. What do you think he's got?"
"Beats me," said Cole with a shrug. "Maybe he's found some uranium or plutonium that the Republic missed."
"I found better," said Lafferty's voice. "First I had to make sure no one was tailing you; that's why I directed you to Cicero VII. Now you can follow me."
A ship emerged from within the volcano and began making its way toward an asteroid belt between Cicero VIII and IX.
"Follow him, Pilot," said Cole.
"You're going to need a shuttle or two when we get there," said Lafferty.
"Son of a bitch likes guessing games, doesn't he?" said Cole.
"I request permission to accompany you in a shuttle," said Jacovic.
"Granted," replied Cole.
"Thank you, sir," said Jacovic as his image vanished.
Cole left his office and began making his way to the shuttle bay. When he reached the airlift he met Bull Pampas and Braxite, his one remaining Molarian officer.
"Should we draw our weapons from the armory, sir—or should we use those from the shuttles?" asked Braxite.
"We're visiting allies, not enemies," answered Cole.
"If there's an attack, we could be virtually helpless," continued the Molarian.
"There won't be," said Cole. "The Republic hasn't had a presence here in years. Besides, Jacovic's coming with me, and Christine's shift is almost over. That means Val will be in command. Do you really think she's going to let anyone attack us?"
"How deep into the duty roster do we go, sir?" asked Pampas.
"Five per shuttle," answered Cole. "I assume you and Braxite were at the top of the list?"
"Yes, sir."
"Interesting," said Cole. "You were at the top the last time too, Bull."
"Val puts me at the top every time," replied Pampas uneasily. "She says I'm the only crew member who can last a full minute in the ring with her."
"She's probably right. Okay, I'll be in one shuttle and Jacovic will be in the other. He stays in orbit until I give him an all-clear signal. You're in charge of the crews; split 'em up any way you choose."
Pampas saluted. "Yes, sir."
"One more thing, Bull. I assume we're going to be among friends down there—but
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