VII
Captain Thrane snuffled into his walrus moustache. "Must admit, not looking forward to taking the Robin into Halven space. She's a tough old tub, but 50 years out of date and she's going to look shabby up against their navy patrols."
"It's hardly a navy," Simla replied, "They've only got 20 ships and most of them aren't much younger than the Robin."
"Ah, but refitted regularly and maintained."
"That'll be a criticism of me then," Yaf said.
"Not personally, Yaf," the Captain said, "But you must admit you politicians have kept us on a tight budget."
"Because we didn't have any need for flashy navies then. But you watch now. And I can see an Admiral Thrane in the offing, Ripos."
"No, no, I'm sitting behind no desk. It's the bridge of a starship for me."
"I think some braid would suit your epaulettes ," Simla simpered, stroking his shoulders.
"Don't you flirt with me, young lady. Princess of Old Earth or no', I'm the master on this ship." The Captain turned to a holo monitor, pretending something urgently required his attention.
"It occurs to me," Yaf said, "that an army of your Shaps would prove a match for these Riaz."
"God, you're slow today," Simla answered, "We thought of that from the start, but Elfi says it took ten years to develop one Shap and even putting him into mass production might take an age. We might not have that much time. But it's in hand."
Captain Thrane turned back to them. "Speaking of your little doctor friend, she's certainly a friendly sort. Well missed by my officers."
"Don't worry about Elfi, I'm sure she's got a plenty of memories with her for those boring hours."
".And she'll have a planet full of farmers to keep her occupied when she gets to Pendor," Yaf contributed to the discussion of Elfi's morals.
Later, Yaf and Simla floated in the padded zero gravity lounge and played ball with Shap, who had an unfair advantage as he had inbuilt thrusters.
"This is boring," Simla said eventually.
Yaf caught the ball thrown by Shap, twisted his body in mid-air and returned it. "So what do you propose we do for the duration of the voyage?"
Simla dimpled. "I think you should court me ... properly. Dinner, dancing, gifts. .the ship has all the facilities."
"I have a better idea, I think we should work out a way to beat Shap."
"You're sex mad!"
"I was thinking more of winning your hand."
"Do you have ambitions to be the Great Father's son in law someday, Yaf?"
"Hardly. I'd gladly resign from politics tomorrow. I have a notion to explore the universe, open up new colonies."
"Oh, Yaf, that's always been my dream too. Would you have room for a wife?"
"Only if we can sort Shap. He's not going to let us have sex or get married, so he has to be fixed."
A message sounded from the intercom, "Princess Simla and First Minister Alrickto the bridge please. Priority message from Pendor."
They swam to the hatch and gave themselves a few moments to adjust to normal gravity before hurrying to the bow of the ship where the Captain awaited them.
"It's your Doctor Elfi," he boomed, "says she has to talk to you. In private." He ushered them into his office and left.
Elfi's image was already on the holo monitor. "Yaf," she said quickly, "You must never use the astral projection amulet again."
Yaf was confused. "What? Why?"
"Because it's inherently dangerous. Even now it may be too late. I've reviewed all your scientific research and I must say it's very slapdash. Your people haven't paid much attention to safety at all."
"What do you mean? They told me it was fine."
"Hah," she spat out, "They didn't even understand the basic principles. What you do with your astral projection is phase shift between dimensions. How it's done with such a small, low-powered, device I haven't quite figured out yet, but the fact is that it's essentially uncontrollable."
"I've never had any problems."
"It's cumulative. You're using the amulet to shift out of phase and then your mind to control what you do when you're there. But the human brain isn't designed to work out of phase with the rest of the universe. Every time you've phase shifted you've decreased your ability to control it. Eventually your brain synapses won't be able to manage the process and you'll phase out completely."
"Oh, Yaf," Simla shrieked.
The color drained from Yaf's face. "Bloody hell! If I'd known ..."
"Your scientific establishment is a 100 years our of date," Elfi said smugly.
"Fire the lot of them," Yaf said angrily.
"That's bolting the stable door," Elfi replied, "I'd recommend some rapid retraining instead. I'll get the latest scientific materials from Old Earth and set up some programmes."
Yaf calmed down by breathing deeply. "Thanks, Elfi, do what you have to. But I'll have their guts for garters when I get back anyway. They always swore they were on the ball."
"Scientific pride, dear boy, is the worst sort there is. Anyway, I've warned you, no more phasing."
"Oh yeah, absolutely."
"Bitch," Simla wailed, when Elfi's image had disappeared from the monitor, "she's killed my ghost."
Not far into the Halven system Captain Thrane invited them to the bridge again.
"Twelve ships for a reception committee," he growled, "More than half their damn fleet, bloody show offs."
"I am displeased," Simla said imperiously, "Pendor put their entire navy at my disposal and this is the best the Halven can manage. The Great Father will be informed."
Her words worked and the proud old Captain puffed his chest and stood erect. "All hands to stations," he ordered, "There may be more of them and they may be in better condition, but we'll show our mettle. Helm, increase speed to L3 and execute pattern Zeta Epsilon to bring us into the dead centre of their formation. Let's show them what we're made of."
The Robin surged, its sleek but battered hull a pale reflection of the gleaming Halven ships. The manoeuvre it was attempting involved a loop over the top of the approaching fleet, bringing it into the hole in their formation. This was against all normal procedure as welcoming parties normally took position around an approaching guest. The radio blared with complaints and Captain Thrane grinned happily. "That got their attention."
But the voices on the communicators turned from anger to panic and the Robin's bridge crew looked intently to their instruments to see what was causing their concern.
"It's another ship," the First Officer declared, "approaching from the sun."
"Oh, they're playing a little game themselves," the Captain said, "having their flagship come in at a tangent to make an impression. That damn Admiral Woln, I should have know he'd try some kind of fancy stunt. "
"It's not the Halven flagship. It's .. it's .. huge!"
The Captain glanced down at his command monitor and bellowed, "Battle stations!" He turned to Simla and Yaf, "I think your aliens have arrived. Please go to your quarters."
Simla tried to protest but Yaf took her arm and led her away.
The well-drilled Halven fleet wheeled efficiently to face the intruder but even what they managed in numbers was dwarfed by the sheer size of the Riaz ship.
"Orders, Captain?" the First Officer demanded.
"Stand off them, they'll have their own battle plans and we'll only get in the way. Stand defensive unless they ask for our help."
The battle, if it could be called that, was over quickly. The Halven ships tried to form a shield between the invader and their planet but were swept aside with unbelievable ease. Their own weapons seemed to have no effect on their massive opponent, the energy blasts bouncing off the alien hull in bright sparks of impotence, while its thunderous cannons ripped their ships' hulls to shreds in seconds of sustained fire. The Halven ships wheeled around their giant foe bravely, returning to attack again and again, but were picked off one by one. Eventually those few left decided to try and make a run for it, but the behemoth kept on coming and blew them to dust. Captain Thrane watched his monitor, impotent, as humanity's finest fleet was decimated before his eyes. At last he could bear it no longer. "Full steam ahead! Bring all guns to bear!"
The First Officer turned from his console. "The debris from the Halven ships is blocking our line of fire, sir. There may be survivors."
"Damn! Bring her round to port."
But even as the Robin circled round the debris field the enormous Riaz ship turned away and accelerated away into the void, disappearing from the Halven system.
"They didn't attack Halven," the First Officer cried.
Captain Thrane thumped his console angrily. "No need, with our only fleet destroyed, the Twelve Worlds lie defenceless. They've crushed us with one blow."
In Simla's cabin Yaf and the Princess had watched the brief battle silently and hand in hand on their monitor.
As it ended Yaf gave her hand an extra hard squeeze and said, "We knew that might happen."
Simla stifled a sob. "But to see it. So many lives ..."
"They've dropped their bluff and made their intentions clear."
"But that reception fleet wouldn't have been gathered if I hadn't been visiting," Simla insisted.
Yaf tried to comfort her. "You can't blame yourself."
"I was sent to prepare them to fight, not die."
"Your mission's ended, if the Twelve Worlds don't rally now, they never will."
"Rally round what? There aren't fifty warships on the entire Twelve Worlds. They've squashed us like bugs."
Yaf put his arm around her shoulders. "These are the times when we must find the iron in our soul. We cannot afford to despair. We must pick ourselves up, rebuild, fight back."
She shrunk in his embrace. "Pretty speech. I hope it impresses the Riaz."
"That's not my Simla, Princess of Old Earth."
"There may not be an Old Earth left by the time I get back to it."
A deflated Captain Thrane came into the cabin. "You saw?"
They nodded solemnly.
"I'd have joined the battle, but ..."
"No need to explain, Captain."
The Captain pulled himself erect. "Your orders, First Minister?"
"Send commiserations to Halven and set course back to Pendor. Does that suit you, Simla?"
She ignored him, still grieving, whispered, "Oh, proud Halven."
"Simla?"
She pulled away from Yaf's arm. "I have to get back to Old Earth."
Yaf nodded in understanding but said "This attack will disrupt all passenger traffic. We should return to Pendor and see if we can get together a military escort for you."
"A military escort," she laughed wildly, "what good's that going to do against those monsters? We're finished, finished."
Yaf turned to Shap. "Shap, I'm going to strike your mistress, but it is not an assault, it is for medical reasons. Will you permit this?"
The metal man hesitated and Simla took the opportunity to swipe Yaf on the back of the head. "Don't torment the poor thing, you swine, and I'm not hysterical. It's just perfectly obvious that no military escort is going to be able to defend me against the Riaz, so I don't see the need for one."
"Maybe so, but I have to get back to Pendor and there doesn't seem to be any other ships available."
"I must speak to the Great Father then. Captain, may I use your transmitter?"
Thrane looked abashed. "I must give priority to informing the Twelve Worlds of what has happened here, Princess. But as soon as the transmitter is free, of course ..."
"I'm sorry, of course, you must do your duty. Has there been any word from Halven?"
"They are disbelieving, obviously, but their sensors will have picked up what happened."
"Send them my apologies for cancelling this visit, but I'm sure they'll understand." Suddenly she stopped.
"Perhaps I should stay. Show sympathy. Guide me, Yaf."
The First Minister paused. "It would be a gesture and appreciated, but I think they'll understand your need to get home."
She stared unblinkingly at the stars. "Still, I should do something." She turned to the Captain. "Sir, can the Robin take atmosphere?"
"I could land her if I wanted to, though she wasn't built for it."
"Would you be kind enough to fly as low as safety permits over their capital and have your gunners spell 'Old Earth Stands' on the skyline?"
Captain Thrane felt a lump in his throat but managed a proud salute before retreating to his task.
"You have a flair for the dramatic," Yaf said.
"I am a Princess of Old Earth, we have little but dramatic flair left."