Hunter Legacy 5 Hail the Hero by Timothy Ellis Page A

not in vain.
Don’t beat yourself up about the losses. It’s part of command.”
    “Your station is becoming a hub of
activity here, as traffic between the sectors gets back to normal. It’ll be a
shame to move it now. Are you sure you want to do that? Let me know. I’m sure I
can convince Sci-Fi sector to allow it to remain here.”
    “Enjoy the celebrations. That’s an
order!”
    He grinned at me briefly, and the vid
ended. I started one to send back.
    “Walter, thanks for your email. Order
accepted.” I gave him a grin. “The station can stay where it is.
However, make sure it’s well away from the jump point, and not in the line
towards Bad Wolf. I’ve taken possession of another station, one the size of
Sydney station. It will be heading your direction as soon as I can organize it.
It’ll go to the center of the Nexus system, just off the traffic routes between
the jump points. You can advise the merchants of the new station, and where it’ll
be. I’ll let them have first choice of moving to the new station if they wish,
or establishing themselves on both stations. Let David know, so he can make
preparations for moving there, and duplicating the administration section. It’ll
need some work first, so there’ll be no hurry to do anything.”
    “I’m ordered to Dallas, and assume
there’ll be a delay in leaving there. At this point, I have no idea when you
can expect me back. But I’ll send the stations on soon, regardless of when I
can leave. I’ll advise you further when I know anything. Hunter out.”
    The next email was from General Price.
    “Congratulations Vice Admiral. Job
well done. I have to admit I had my doubts about you at first, but your conduct
has been exemplary. Proceed to Dallas, and offload the Americans. Leave the
Avon troops with General Wellington. I’ll have further orders for you when you
get there. Price out.”
    Marshall Bigglesworth had the last word.
    “Vice Admiral. Congratulations on a
job well done. I’ve heard nothing but good things from Admiral Bentley. I look
forward to meeting you soon, as do a few others here on London. Bigglesworth
out.”
    I wondered what he meant by that. London
wasn’t in the general direction I intended going. Even if I was ordered back to
Avon, London wasn’t on the way.
    I sighed. It would be good to get back into
my own uniform. It would be even better to get back into civvies for a while.
    I called a meeting of senior officers for
nine.

Nine

    I looked around the room. Seated at the
conference table were General’s Wellington and Smith; Admiral’s Bentley and
Dingle; Commodore O’Neal; Captain’s Johansson, Dunning, and Channing; and
Commander’s Greer and Young. Alsop and Alison sat at the other end.
    “End of this road,” I said with a
smile. “I have orders to take the American pilots to Dallas.”
    “I also have orders for Dallas,”
said Susan Bentley.
    “Admiral,” I said to Dingle,
“You’ll command the Sci-Fi ships, under General Wellington. Give her all
the support she needs, as Governor of the system. You report to General Price,
through Commander Alsop. I’ve had no word about the status of this system, but
for now, assume it’s quarantined. You’ll need to put ships at the Azgard jump
point to stop people jumping in. I have assets there at the moment doing the
job, but they’ll be gone within two days. So work up a deployment plan that
blockades this planet and system. You won’t need to worry about the Miami jump
point yet. The Americans have a sizable fleet still there. If that changes,
someone will let you know. Although at some point, Sci-Fi sector will need to
take responsibility for that jump point as well.”
    “Yes sir.”
    “Captain Johansson. Harrison Ford,
Mark Hamill, and Backblast, will form the primary escort for the Diplomatic
Mission which is on its way. You’ll wait at the Miami jump point for their
arrival. In all other respects, which don’t interfere with the Diplomatic
Mission,