Polaris, page 14
"Captain says he commandeered a jet car and should be here soon," O'Hanrahan told the group. "Also, Dickson and Makem didn't respond to the 'all call."'
"Don't know where they could be?" mused Lornton. "Anybody seen them?" he asked the Polaris personnel assembled. All shook their heads.
Collova city police arrived first, in force. Heavy laser pistols in hand, they surrounded the non-Larandrans. The security men from Polaris attempted to explain the incident as the police made ready to arrest the visitors. Witnesses interrupted the police to corroborate the story. Still, the police prepared to take the men and women of the Space Service to the police station.
An imposing blond figure, easily forty centimeters taller than the crowd of Larandrans, pushed his way toward the messy women's section. The people from Polaris instantly recognized the giant as a Ganymedan and a friend. They also knew that with Hal Nater would be their Captain.
Nater was allowed to pass, and in a moment had arrived at the police perimeter. Traynor followed in the wake of his tall aide and began conversing with a police officer. The Captain's remarks received instant action from the police officer. The man stepped out of the way, allowing Traynor and Nater to enter the ring. The officer also passed other Polaris crew members to a total of ten. He quickly sealed the break in the ring before the mass of people interested in the activity could break through. Traynor was immediately directed to the officer in charge.
"What's happening? What's going on here?" Traynor demanded of the officer.
"Excuse me, sir," the man answered. "But who are you?"
"Traynor. Captain USR Polaris," was the reply. "These are my people you're attempting rest."
"You're their commander?"
"That's right. And who are you?"
"Lieutenant Atvar of the Collova Police Force," the man replied pleasantly. "We aren't arresting them. Just taking them in for questioning."
Hildy Bennett noticed the small knot of people kneeling farther back. Ii appeared to her someone had been injured. She tugged at Nater and the two headed back toward the group. An officer made an attempt to stop the couple, but Nater, a man demanding respect with or without a laser, made it apparent to the young man that they were passing. The Ganymedan nurse was aghast when she recognized the two victims.
"How're they doing?" Bennett demanded of Liz Beaumont.
"Major, am I glad to see you," Beaumont sighed, relieved. "They'll be OK, I'm pretty sure. You might check 'em over though. We dressed them as best we could. Do you have any dianzamene capsules? Mercy's not hurt bad, but she's in a bit of pain." Bennett reached under her tunic to the belt of her skirt and removed a pouch. She extracted two capsules of the synthetic wonder drug, dianzamene. Dianzamene was non-addictive, good for any pain from the smallest headache to the most serious of battle injuries. She gave one to Mercy Thompson, who had regained consciousness, and offered the other to Kevin Johnson.
"No thank you, ma'am," Johnson declined. "They made us operate with worse from the pain simulator at the academy. And I don't like drugs."
"It's your leg," she replied, smiling.
"How's Mercy?" Johnson asked. "Not bad?"
"Just fine," replied Bennett.
"They told me, but I wanted to make sure," he Continued.
"Hear that, Mercy?" Bennett turned and winked at the girl. "Looks like young Mr. Johnson has quite an interest in you." Johnson's face became as red as his hair, to the amusement of the Polaris's nurses.
Captain Traynor stepped into the field of vision of the two young people on the floor.
"Major Bennett, how are they?"
"Fine, Captain," she answered.
"Mercy, how're you feeling?" Traynor asked softly, kneeling beside the injured girl.
The Captain's attention caught the young woman unprepared. After several moments of confusion she stuttered out an answer.
"F-fine sir. Thanks to Kevin."
Traynor smiled at her. "Very capable young man, wouldn't you say?"
"Yes, sir. I would." She smiled.
A stir in the crowd caused Traynor to rise. The crowd parted and six people stepped through. Traynor recognized five of the newcomers as Polaris personnel. Kran and Shanesey led the way, with Vlres, O'Leery and Peterson bringing up the rear. The only unfamiliar person, a short, balding, overweight man, marched between them. The three Polaris crewmen in the rear had laser pistols, drawn and pointed at the fourth man.
"Good day, Captain," Major Kran said. "You are safe."
"Yes," replied Traynor. "Who's the fellow with you?"
"This here fella and a friend, tried to do us in," Shawn O'Leery laughed. "His friend tried a mite too hard."
"This is one of them?" Traynor asked
"Affirmative," Vlres responded.
"Well now," Traynor said. "I think we'll find out what this is all about." Twenty angry Space Service members crowded toward the Larandran assassin.
The city of Collova was decked out in its finest. The ceremonies of independence, held at the fairgrounds, attracted the majority of the population of the city, along with a great number of people from other parts of Larandra. The people filling every inch of space at the fairgrounds were dressed in their best clothes for the celebration.
A huge platform, even larger than the one at the space port, had been erected for the Ceremony. Several hundred seats had been arranged On the platform, for the representatives of the USR, the members of both houses of Larandra's legislature, the many high-ranking officials invited to the ceremony, and of course, the Premier, Vice-Premier, and speaker of the People's House. Traynor was seated in a chair alongside the three most important members of the Larandran government.
Eight seats were empty in the Polaris personnel section. The seats designated for Reg Dickson, Millie Makem, Kevin Johnson, and Mercy Thompson, along with Peterson, Millerand, O'Hanrahan, and Trout were noticeably vacant. The remaining crew members wore their dress whites.
Dratvin Pasteur was the first to step to the microphone to address the people of Larandra and, through the radio links, the governmental bodies of the member worlds of the United Space Republic.
"Friends, countrymen, people of Larandra. Today is the culmination of our struggle to throw off the yoke of colonialism! No longer are we at the mercy of the Interplanetary Council!" His words brought instant crowd approval.
"It has been a difficult fight, my friends," Pasteur continued. "An uphill struggle against many obstacles. There are forces working against the advancement of the colonial planets into self-sufficient governments. These forces believed they had control of the Interplanetary Council. The vote on Larandra's independence has shown them the error of their thinking. Do not believe for one minute, however, that this power has given up the fight."
Pasteur continued for over twenty minutes blasting the Council and the power behind the Council. Never once did he identify this elusive power specifically, but through his implications, everyone was well aware that he was speaking of Earth. The crowd absorbed his every word, cheering wildly.
"And now, my friends," he ended his speech. ""I must go. I would like to stay for the entire ceremony, but the duties of my office are never-ending." He picked up his papers and started for one of the ramps off the platform.
The master of ceremonies thanked him and introduced the representative from the United Space Republic, Alexander Traynor of the Po1aris. Traynor reached the microphone as Pasteur reached the top of the stairs. Miraculously, one of the missing security men appeared at the bottom of the steps and started up.
"Don't go away yet, Mr. Speaker," Traynor said into the microphone. "The festivities are just getting started." Pasteur started for another exit, but a Polaris man appeared there also. A glance told the Larandran that all his exits were cut off by Traynor's men.
"Friends, greetings. Congratulations, Larandrans!" The crowd noise forced Traynor to pause. When the people became quieter, he continued. "Friends, I had a speech planned for you today, but events of the past thirty hours have made me reconsider.
"Yesterday, while exploring this fabulous city of Collova, my crew and myself came under attack by then unknown assassins. Several of my crew were injured, including two critical cases and two others not seriously injured; all were transported to Polaris.
"Why these assassins attacked us we had no way of knowing. Only through the brave and commendable actions of my crew are we still here."
Pasteur made an attempt to jump off the platform. Hal Nater, Shawn O'Leery, and David Lornton prevented him from leaving, and escorted him to the microphone. Several members of the crowd made motions to come on the platform and defend Pasteur, but the awesome figure of Hal Nater, laser pistol in hand, quickly showed them the error of their thinking. The Larandrans settled down.
Pasteur was frantic. He checked his watch, shrieked-when he saw the time, and struggled to get free. When his struggles did not cause his release, Pasteur began screaming.
"You don't understand! I've got to get away! We've got to get away! Please, let me go! I've got to get away from this platform!"
"Commander Shawn O'Leery was fortunate enough to capture one of the assassins. We questioned him at length."
"Traynor, we've got to get away! There's a bomb on the platform!'' Pasteur's voice carried into the microphone and was broadcast to the audience. People jammed against the platform began screaming and pushing themselves away.
"There is no bomb! Listen to me! There is no bomb"' Traynor's voice carried out over the crowd in a calming wave. The people in the front stopped screaming.
"As I said, there is no bomb. When the assassin was questioned, the entire plot was uncovered. The Vice-Premier was immediately informed. Before anyone arrived today, special police, with the help of a weapons expert from my crew, uncovered and disarmed the bombs planted under the platform."
The Premier had come forward from his seat and motioned Traynor away from the microphone. Akamel Drakar accompanied the Premier.
Travlem Dean was a man of about sixty-five Earth years. His gray hair and the thick spectacles he wore belied the energy the man had for his job. Dean was truly interested in his people's welfare.
"Would you please explain what is going on, Captain Traynor?" the Premier demanded.
"Sir, there was a plot to kill everyone on this platform today," explained Traynor. "Today is probably the only time this planet will see its leaders gathered together in one place." Traynor glanced at the speaker of the People's House, now silent in the realization of the trap into which he had fallen. "All the leaders except one."
"Pasteur," Dean filled in.
"As the interim leader," continued Traynor. "He planned to set up a dictatorship on this planet. He had enough sway in the police force to have the bombing incident blamed on anyone he chose. When I arrived, it complicated things. He and I had a run-in before, and the incident is in the Space Service files. Fleet Command might hold its own investigation instead of accepting the Police report as they would do with another officer."
Angela Martin carefully maneuvered herself to stand beside Traynor. She discreetly attracted his attention.
"Excuse me Mr. Premier," Traynor said. He turned to the girl. "Yes Lieutenant?"
"Major LeMay is on the communicator with Polaris, sir. An emergency call from Fleet Headquarters at Mimnon. We are to proceed at all speed to Mimnon base. Twelve orbital stations have been attacked. Bases twenty-one, twenty-seven, thirty-four, thirty-five, and thirty six were destroyed. Completely!"
"Make sure everyone knows what's going on. Be ready to go in two minutes. I'll join you in a moment." She saluted him and returned to the Polaris people, all listening to their communicators. Traynor turned back to the Premier.
"Well sir, you heard it," Traynor smiled. "Congratulations on your independence. Wish we could stay."
"So do I. Captain," Dean replied, extending his hand. Traynor shook it. The Vice-Premier also shook Traynor's hand.
"Mr. Vice-Premier, it was good seeing you," said Traynor. "Hope I'll be seeing you again." He started toward his people. The three Polaris men turned their prisoner over to the local police and joined their captain. As if struck by a sudden thought, Traynor stopped and turned back to the Premier.
"Sir, about our things at the hotel. Would you please hold them for us? We'll come back for them as soon as possible."
The Premier nodded his agreement and Traynor hurried to his crew.
VI
"Shall we get this thing started?" Alexander Traynor spoke up as the last officer entered. "I assume you all know our orders. Proceed to Mimnon for recovery work at one of the destroyed orbital stations to be assigned to us then. We are executing those orders at all possible speeds."
"Captain, why have you ordered a course change?'' Victoria Spencer asked.
"Captain, not to proceed directly to Mimnon is to disregard orders, and is an offense that can result in your being removed as commander of Polaris. To disregard a direct order would be considered mutiny." Traynor turned to the speaker, Carl Nelson. The executive officer read something in the captain's face telling him that the captain was not to be tested at this moment. Nelson settled back in his chair, avoiding Traynor's eyes.
"For those of you who are worried," Traynor began, giving Nelson a meaningful glance. "The exact wording of the message does not specify the route we are to take. Therefore, I am taking the route I believe will be the most effective.
"The 'why' of our course change can best be answered by Major Marshall."
The tall Triton stood and moved around the table until he was standing beside the mini-tank. The captain settled down in his seat. He knew what to expect from Marshall s talk.
"When examining the data sent by Command on the enemy attacks on the orbital stations, it occurred to me to take a planetary placement reference. What showed up was an odd coincidence, which I would like to present to you."
The dark-haired scientist reached down and snapped on the mini-tank. The small navigational device, a scaled-down version of the huge model on the bridge, was programmed for a Barnard system projection. The star was the central figure of the projection, which was large enough for the entire group assembled, ten in all, to have a clear view. Each of the fourteen planets, proportionally scaled, was present in the picture. A small light between the ninth and tenth planetary ring represented Polaris.
"What you are seeing is the Barnard system as it would appear at this moment in time," Marshall explained. "If I have correctly programmed the computer, when 1 touch the project button again, what we shall see will be the Barnard system as it was when the simultaneous attack on the twelve orbital stations took place." He touched the button and the projection shifted.
"Excellent," Marshall smiled. The officers gazed intently at the tank, trying to grasp the coincidence Marshall was speaking of. "The enigma becomes clearer. Let me add one more thing." He touched another control. "I have just added the orbital stations that were attacked." Lights appeared near the planets in question. "The pattern should be evident."
Puzzled faces stared back at him. No one saw any pattern. Traynor did not bother answering, for he knew what to look for.
"Surely you must see the pattern," Marshall asked, Surprised. "You, of course, see it Colonel N'goto." The black shook his head. "Colonel Nelson? Miss Spencer, surely as a navigator you must have detected the pattern." The two answered negatively.
Marc De Gaulle stared at the rows of lights. He couldn't imagine what kind of pattern the scientist was talking about. Eight planets extending out from the sun. Twelve orbital stations.
It was as if someone hit him over the head. His eyes widened! He checked himself, calming the inner excitement. Carefully, like the trained doctor he was De Gaulle rechecked his facts. The eight planets were located, at that precise moment, on the same side of the sun. It was almost a straight line from the center of the solar system to Xi Barnard, the tiny airless planet that was fourteenth from the sun. He was almost ready to explode with his answer when his sharp eyes noticed an even odder coincidence of the planets in question. From the angle of the tank he was viewing, it appeared all the orbital stations were on the same side of their respective planets.
"The planets are in alignment!" He exploded. "And the stations are on the same side! Must happen once in a blue moon!''
"A quaint way of putting it, Doctor," Marshall smiled. "But you are quite correct. There was planetary and orbital station alignment. An excellent time to mount a multi-pronged simultaneous attack if attacking from out of the star system in this direction." His finger traced a line away from the crippled stations perpendicular to the imaginary line that would be the planetary alignment.
"If they were attacking from that side, why didn't they attack Station Eighteen?" Ben Peters asked.
"The data sent to us lists the battleship Bosworth and the cruiser Nottingham in synchronized orbit with station eighteen around Vendra. Apparently, the threat of the added firepower of the ships was enough to keep them from attacking."
"An interesting theory," Nelson said icily. "But what is the point?"
"The point, Colonel, is that we are headed in the general direction of those crippled stations that are left. We might be able to pick up a trace of the enemy craft and discover some information about the location of their home." Traynor replied in like tones.
"Instead of taking a direct course to Mimnon, which is heading three-forty by twenty, we are taking a more circuitous route. Heading forty-five by three-fifty. We'll make a large arc around the sun and head to Mimnon."
"Captain, in my opinion, to do as you are intending is to disregard and disobey a direct order," Carl Nelson snapped.
"Disregard?" Traynor contemplated the thought for a moment. "No, I don't think I'm disregarding the order. We are proceeding to Mimnon. As for disobeying my superior, while I may not be complying with the intent of the order, I have not disobeyed the order as it was worded. We are travelling at emergency speed at this moment."
