Their Lordships Request: A Harry Heron Adventure by Patrick G. Cox Page B
Authors: Patrick G. Cox
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developments, " the Captain nodded. His comlink chirped. " Never stops. OK, Richard, I ' ll let you get on. " He answered the link and listened to the request to attend a meeting in the Chief Constructors office immediately. He acknowledged the message and said to the Commander, " I wonder what disaster they plan to spring on me now. If you have nothing scheduled for the next hour, I ' d appreciate your company. It ' ll give you an introduction to the daily struggle to stay on track. "
***
The Chairman of the Consortium, Ari Khamenei, leaned back in his chair and contemplated the progress made to date on his – and the Board ' s – plans to achieve control of government in several key democratic states and increase their influence in several more. In some areas progress was swifter and easier than anticipated, in others obstacles had to be cleared so further progress could be made. One such obstacle was the Independent Fleet Commission. All efforts so far to gain control of any seat among the commissioners had failed. True, the acquisition of WeapTech, the now privatised weapons and systems development arm of the Fleet brought with it the ability to cream off lucrative developments and remove them from the military – diversions that benefited the Consortium ' s Security forces and left the military vulnerable in any future conflict. And conflict was something he was sure would have to come.
The Chairman looked up as a man entered the office in a uniform not unlike the Fleet ' s. He carried the rank markings of an Admiral and accepted the greeting and the proffered seat carefully. " What news? " the chairman asked.
" Good progress has been made on the four ships we are rebuilding as starships; they will be ready within months. And work has started on the first of our new class of those, " the Admiral replied. " I have only one concern. If news of this project were to reach the Fleet they could demand its handover to their control. It is, after all, being paid for out of money loaded onto the projects your surrogates are building or refitting for them. "
-
Chapter 7 — 1802: Sea, sky and stars
As if Cape Tourino was some sort of line in the sea, the small convoy now found itself making slow progress southward in milder air and under easy canvas. The stormy weather north of the Biscay area seemed to have given way completely to lighter winds and warmer air. Harry found a way to escape the constant aggression of Eamon Barclay. He took to spending at least some of his off watch periods in the Dog Watches in the Foretop. From which position he had a wonderful vantage point to study the sea, sometimes distant glimpses of the coast and to contemplate the stars spattering the heavens. He also took his sketchpad with him and spent time sketching the men as they worked; the rigging and, occasionally, the scattered ships they escorted.
" You ' m quite the artist, sor, " a seaman engaged in splicing a new eye into a rope end remarked as Harry put the finishing touches to his sketch of one of the swivel guns mounted in the fighting top. In his sketch he included the pair of Bullocks who would normally serve the gun in an engagement and the result was a very accurate record of how the gun and its crew would appear in such a battle.
" Thank you, Yates. It makes a record for my family of how we go on. " He smiled. " Though I fear my mother will worry at the thought of our being in danger of attack. "
" Aye, sor, " Yates grinned a broken toothed response. " Though the Froggies and the Dons ain ' t like to stir it fer a bit an ' not where we ' m bound. "
The strains of a fiddle drifted up to the top and Yates glanced down. " Sounds as if yon lad Fergie ' as ' is fiddle out.
***
The Chairman of the Consortium, Ari Khamenei, leaned back in his chair and contemplated the progress made to date on his – and the Board ' s – plans to achieve control of government in several key democratic states and increase their influence in several more. In some areas progress was swifter and easier than anticipated, in others obstacles had to be cleared so further progress could be made. One such obstacle was the Independent Fleet Commission. All efforts so far to gain control of any seat among the commissioners had failed. True, the acquisition of WeapTech, the now privatised weapons and systems development arm of the Fleet brought with it the ability to cream off lucrative developments and remove them from the military – diversions that benefited the Consortium ' s Security forces and left the military vulnerable in any future conflict. And conflict was something he was sure would have to come.
The Chairman looked up as a man entered the office in a uniform not unlike the Fleet ' s. He carried the rank markings of an Admiral and accepted the greeting and the proffered seat carefully. " What news? " the chairman asked.
" Good progress has been made on the four ships we are rebuilding as starships; they will be ready within months. And work has started on the first of our new class of those, " the Admiral replied. " I have only one concern. If news of this project were to reach the Fleet they could demand its handover to their control. It is, after all, being paid for out of money loaded onto the projects your surrogates are building or refitting for them. "
-
Chapter 7 — 1802: Sea, sky and stars
As if Cape Tourino was some sort of line in the sea, the small convoy now found itself making slow progress southward in milder air and under easy canvas. The stormy weather north of the Biscay area seemed to have given way completely to lighter winds and warmer air. Harry found a way to escape the constant aggression of Eamon Barclay. He took to spending at least some of his off watch periods in the Dog Watches in the Foretop. From which position he had a wonderful vantage point to study the sea, sometimes distant glimpses of the coast and to contemplate the stars spattering the heavens. He also took his sketchpad with him and spent time sketching the men as they worked; the rigging and, occasionally, the scattered ships they escorted.
" You ' m quite the artist, sor, " a seaman engaged in splicing a new eye into a rope end remarked as Harry put the finishing touches to his sketch of one of the swivel guns mounted in the fighting top. In his sketch he included the pair of Bullocks who would normally serve the gun in an engagement and the result was a very accurate record of how the gun and its crew would appear in such a battle.
" Thank you, Yates. It makes a record for my family of how we go on. " He smiled. " Though I fear my mother will worry at the thought of our being in danger of attack. "
" Aye, sor, " Yates grinned a broken toothed response. " Though the Froggies and the Dons ain ' t like to stir it fer a bit an ' not where we ' m bound. "
The strains of a fiddle drifted up to the top and Yates glanced down. " Sounds as if yon lad Fergie ' as ' is fiddle out.
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