Retribution by Dave O'Connor Page A

before. But he only did so when he went very deep. She was pleased for him.
    She got out from under the cover as quiet as she could and pulled on her gown and sat next to him. Recalling her own recent spiritual experience she too was soon in meditation. But unlike Dave she was soon flying at such a rapid exhilarating speed not through the emptiness of the void but through a spectacular star scape – a kaleidoscope of light. She had never experienced anything like this. The vista was moving at such speed she started to get anxious but then recalled Dave telling her of his incredible experiences after his awakening. ‘It’s the Shakti unleashed. It’s been coiled all these years within you. Once awakened it wants to explode. Don’t fear it, ride it!’
    Ride it she did. She became aware at the inner horizon of a constant bright blue light. One moment it would be masked by some other image but soon enough it would become visible again. She was drawn to it. She focussed on it and soon the other images dropped away and the blue light became bigger, closer and more beautiful than she first imagined. She let out an audible sigh of bliss.
    Dave awoke from his rapture on hearing Rihan sigh. He had not heard that before other than in their lovemaking. He slowly turned his head and opened one eye to confirm that there was a dark shape next to him. He smiled and closed his eye. He felt overjoyed that she too was in rapture. He completely forgot about his question.
    Another fifteen minutes passed before first Dave and then Rihan came out of meditation. While Dave was disappointed he never got an answer to his question he was so grateful for the experience. He felt his face with the open palms of his hands and could feel how relaxed his face was. The tension in his forehead had drained away completely. ‘Always a good sign’ he thought to himself.
    He waited till Rihan opened her eyes. Her face was relaxed and she was beaming. “Good morning” he said softly.
    “Good morning” she said and leaned over towards him. He reciprocated and they kissed softly. ‘A perfect start’ thought Rihan.

Chapter 14. Resolute at Tumos 0730, 2 June
    The Admiral was already seated at a table eating his breakfast when Dave and Rihan came into the mess. They joined him. Phil swallowed and wiped his mouth with the napkin. “I have some ideas…about our problem” he said with a smile. “Can we talk about these up in your office after breakfast?”
    “Of course Sir” said Dave. “You look like you got a good night’s sleep.”
    Phil smiled. “I did. That’s a mighty comfortable bed.”
    “Good to hear it Sir.”
    Half an hour later they met in Dave’s office.
    “Here’s what I’m thinking” said Phil. “First, you were right yesterday Rihan. We don’t know for sure whether our Supreme Council knows about this offer, nor whether it authorised these strikes. I will endeavour to confirm this but it will take some time. It will take at least four days turn around in comms alone. I’m going to have to be discreet. The Fleet Admiral won’t be too pleased if she finds out I’m checking up on her.”
    “Now if the Council doesn’t know about it then I will make sure they do pronto. There may be some ‘political games’ being played back on Earth in which case we may be able to diffuse this with a judicious leak. But the odds are that this is a fully authorised directive.”
    “I will buy some time with the Fleet Admiral by reporting back that the Resolute is damaged and needs time to refit and that it’s the only ship with a fair chance of pulling off this mission and surviving. I won’t file that report till we have Mani’s prognosis on how long this refit is actually likely to take. So it will be next week at the earliest before I receive instructions from the Fleet Admiral. She will most likely tell me to conduct these strikes with other assets but she may agree to wait. I don’t really know. But either way we’ve bought