technology to improve our scanners. We can fire a phased tachyon burst on our side when we send a probe through the black hole. If the probe picks up the burst, it will send a signal back through the black hole. Then we will know the way home.”
Rand looked dubious. “What happens if we don’t get a signal?”
“Then there isn’t a way back,” Pan said flatly. “It is a good idea, though. The probe will tell us that, one way or the other, pretty quickly.”
Liz leaned toward the screen, her face intense. “If it shows a way back, we come back. If it does not, I still rescue our people, then we restart on that side. Even if we cannot come back, we will have established another foothold for the federation.”
“We, Liz?” Cort asked.
“Yes, sir. With your permission, I would like to command the task force.”
“You are welcome to join me, Liz. However, I will be in command.”
JJ asked, “You are going, General?”
Cort looked coolly at JJ’s image on his video screen. “Yes, and I want a colony fleet ready, JJ. We will set up some sort of forward base on our side of the wormhole. We can’t travel a year at a time just to get there and run out of something.”
H’uum spoke from Heroc’s World, clicking, “General, I have a three ship colony group ready to depart for Pabis-3. I could divert them to this mission and leave the wolfpack company here. Without having to shield for humans, they can arrive in two months and begin setting up your base. When you arrive, they should be ready with anything you need.”
“Do they have escort ships, H’uum? We don’t know what you will find there.”
“No, Rand, but I can send two with them.”
Cort addressed H’uum. “That’s good but send four escorts with them. JJ can send you some system ships to pick up the slack. Is there any room for additional human armor? It would be nice to have extra equipment close by if we need it.”
“I have plenty of transport ships. Colonists I am short of, but I can send as much of your equipment as you need.”
Cort now knew that there was a good chance some or all of his missing Marines were still alive, but they were also unarmored and unarmed. There might also be some former military among the abductees. Certainly the Marines would be an asset, and the others could well be. Thinking about the table of organization and equipment for his units, he considered his needs.
After making a few notes, he looked up. “H’uum, send four of your medium freighters here to Solitude. General Rage will have three heavy companies of CONDORs, two more of light FALCONs, and additional weapons and medical gear waiting for one of them. Another will be filled with four HAWCs, base equipment, building printers, and block carbon. The last two will be filled with everything we can imagine we might need. JJ will give you an armory pattern kit as well. When your ships arrive there and find an appropriate base, set up their housing, then the armory, then build your colony. Doctor Pan will also send some probes to be deployed at the wormhole. Put a beacon there too, with encrypted coordinates for your base.”
“Yes, General.”
Cort stared at JJ’s image in the video conference. “I’m going to leave you now so I can talk to my wife about this before one or more of you messages her, if you haven’t already. You know what I want, so get my gear and people in place.”
Cort was in a flight on his way back to the isthmus retreat when his comm activated.
“Ares here.”
“General, it’s Jade Jones. Do you have a moment?”
Admiral Jade Jones was the most capable administrator in the Ares Federation. Cort’s problem with her was that she tried too often to ‘administrate’ him. She went so far as to enlist Kimberly when she thought he was going too far. “What is it, JJ?”
Not one to beat around the bush, the admiral said, “Your last
Rand looked dubious. “What happens if we don’t get a signal?”
“Then there isn’t a way back,” Pan said flatly. “It is a good idea, though. The probe will tell us that, one way or the other, pretty quickly.”
Liz leaned toward the screen, her face intense. “If it shows a way back, we come back. If it does not, I still rescue our people, then we restart on that side. Even if we cannot come back, we will have established another foothold for the federation.”
“We, Liz?” Cort asked.
“Yes, sir. With your permission, I would like to command the task force.”
“You are welcome to join me, Liz. However, I will be in command.”
JJ asked, “You are going, General?”
Cort looked coolly at JJ’s image on his video screen. “Yes, and I want a colony fleet ready, JJ. We will set up some sort of forward base on our side of the wormhole. We can’t travel a year at a time just to get there and run out of something.”
H’uum spoke from Heroc’s World, clicking, “General, I have a three ship colony group ready to depart for Pabis-3. I could divert them to this mission and leave the wolfpack company here. Without having to shield for humans, they can arrive in two months and begin setting up your base. When you arrive, they should be ready with anything you need.”
“Do they have escort ships, H’uum? We don’t know what you will find there.”
“No, Rand, but I can send two with them.”
Cort addressed H’uum. “That’s good but send four escorts with them. JJ can send you some system ships to pick up the slack. Is there any room for additional human armor? It would be nice to have extra equipment close by if we need it.”
“I have plenty of transport ships. Colonists I am short of, but I can send as much of your equipment as you need.”
Cort now knew that there was a good chance some or all of his missing Marines were still alive, but they were also unarmored and unarmed. There might also be some former military among the abductees. Certainly the Marines would be an asset, and the others could well be. Thinking about the table of organization and equipment for his units, he considered his needs.
After making a few notes, he looked up. “H’uum, send four of your medium freighters here to Solitude. General Rage will have three heavy companies of CONDORs, two more of light FALCONs, and additional weapons and medical gear waiting for one of them. Another will be filled with four HAWCs, base equipment, building printers, and block carbon. The last two will be filled with everything we can imagine we might need. JJ will give you an armory pattern kit as well. When your ships arrive there and find an appropriate base, set up their housing, then the armory, then build your colony. Doctor Pan will also send some probes to be deployed at the wormhole. Put a beacon there too, with encrypted coordinates for your base.”
“Yes, General.”
Cort stared at JJ’s image in the video conference. “I’m going to leave you now so I can talk to my wife about this before one or more of you messages her, if you haven’t already. You know what I want, so get my gear and people in place.”
Cort was in a flight on his way back to the isthmus retreat when his comm activated.
“Ares here.”
“General, it’s Jade Jones. Do you have a moment?”
Admiral Jade Jones was the most capable administrator in the Ares Federation. Cort’s problem with her was that she tried too often to ‘administrate’ him. She went so far as to enlist Kimberly when she thought he was going too far. “What is it, JJ?”
Not one to beat around the bush, the admiral said, “Your last
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