Read Online In Fire Forged: Worlds of Honor V-ARC by David Weber - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: David Weber
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can probably arrange to have an entire company ready to move in on the ground to tighten the perimeter, if you wish.”
“I wish,” Michael said grimly, and Vincent bent his head in brief, formal acknowledgment of his prince’s order.
“In that case, Your Highness, I should probably get busy on the com.”
* * *
“Michael, I don’t think Banshee is heading for a standard orbit after all,” Todd Liatt said. “Look at this.”
Michael poked his head into the flight deck and frowned. Todd was right. Rather than settling into one of the low orbits small ships like Banshee and Ogapoge would normally use to rendezvous with passenger shuttles, the other runabout was obviously bound for a much higher orbit.
“They’re headed for that freight platform,” Todd said, indicating the transponder beacon. “Aslan Station,” he added.
“Vincent,” Michael called over his shoulder, “I think something new has been added.”
“Were we wrong about the Ramsbottoms?” Judith asked, her voice tense, and Michael spared her a small smile. How many anxious mothers would have said “we” in a case like this instead of “you,” he wondered.
“I don’t think so,” he replied. “Aslan Station is a freight and passenger transfer platform that just happens to be operated by Timberlake Incorporated under a long-term lease from Astro Control.”
Her expression lightened, and he looked at Valles.
“I think we’re going to need docking clearance, Vincent. Can you arrange it without bringing me into the equation? Just a nice, simple little civilian docking request?”
“I believe I can manage that, Your Highness,” Vincent agreed, and bent over the com again while Banshee headed directly towards the platform. The other ship was obviously expected and precleared to dock, and Michael frowned as Banshee settled into the platform’s docking arms and the personnel tube ran out to her.
“Problems, Vincent?” he asked quietly while Todd brought Ogapoge smoothly to rest relative to the platform. There seemed to be a lot of small craft and heavy-lift shuttles in the vicinity, but no one seemed in any hurry to insert Ogapoge into the approach pattern.
“I’m afraid so, Your Highness,” Vincent admitted. “The station seems to be very busy at this time of day.”
The lieutenant’s eyes met Michael’s and the prince frowned.
“You think they’re really that busy?” he asked. “Or is it just a trick to keep us floating around out here?”
“I don’t know,” Vincent said slowly. “I’m inclined to think it’s genuine, judging by the traffic we’re observing. Of course, they knew where they were going before we did. If they also knew how busy Aslan was going to be, they may have deliberately factored that into their planning. Preclearing Banshee would be one way to let them get back a bit of their lead on any pursuers.”
“Can we do anything to hold Banshee ?”
“We could,” Vincent hesitated. “I’m in touch with the platform Customs detachment, and I’m sure I could convince them to take a special interest in her. But interfering that openly might have severe ramifications for Miss Ruth.”
“You’re right,” Michael said. “We’re just going to have to get aboard ourselves.”
Time passed with aching slowness as they waited to be cleared to approach the orbital station. Vincent had contnued his communication with the station’s Customs and Astro Control detachments while they waited. Now he spoke with a degree of hesitation unusual for him.
“Prince Michael, I think we have a problem. Banshee has been docked for over forty minutes now, but according to the senior Customs officer, she’s more or less sitting there abandoned. Her passengers apparently debarked immediately and headed for another ship, Cormorant, which arrived in from Manticore just a short time ago. Both of them boarded Cormorant and have already departed the station.”
“Course?” Michael said.
“They
“I wish,” Michael said grimly, and Vincent bent his head in brief, formal acknowledgment of his prince’s order.
“In that case, Your Highness, I should probably get busy on the com.”
* * *
“Michael, I don’t think Banshee is heading for a standard orbit after all,” Todd Liatt said. “Look at this.”
Michael poked his head into the flight deck and frowned. Todd was right. Rather than settling into one of the low orbits small ships like Banshee and Ogapoge would normally use to rendezvous with passenger shuttles, the other runabout was obviously bound for a much higher orbit.
“They’re headed for that freight platform,” Todd said, indicating the transponder beacon. “Aslan Station,” he added.
“Vincent,” Michael called over his shoulder, “I think something new has been added.”
“Were we wrong about the Ramsbottoms?” Judith asked, her voice tense, and Michael spared her a small smile. How many anxious mothers would have said “we” in a case like this instead of “you,” he wondered.
“I don’t think so,” he replied. “Aslan Station is a freight and passenger transfer platform that just happens to be operated by Timberlake Incorporated under a long-term lease from Astro Control.”
Her expression lightened, and he looked at Valles.
“I think we’re going to need docking clearance, Vincent. Can you arrange it without bringing me into the equation? Just a nice, simple little civilian docking request?”
“I believe I can manage that, Your Highness,” Vincent agreed, and bent over the com again while Banshee headed directly towards the platform. The other ship was obviously expected and precleared to dock, and Michael frowned as Banshee settled into the platform’s docking arms and the personnel tube ran out to her.
“Problems, Vincent?” he asked quietly while Todd brought Ogapoge smoothly to rest relative to the platform. There seemed to be a lot of small craft and heavy-lift shuttles in the vicinity, but no one seemed in any hurry to insert Ogapoge into the approach pattern.
“I’m afraid so, Your Highness,” Vincent admitted. “The station seems to be very busy at this time of day.”
The lieutenant’s eyes met Michael’s and the prince frowned.
“You think they’re really that busy?” he asked. “Or is it just a trick to keep us floating around out here?”
“I don’t know,” Vincent said slowly. “I’m inclined to think it’s genuine, judging by the traffic we’re observing. Of course, they knew where they were going before we did. If they also knew how busy Aslan was going to be, they may have deliberately factored that into their planning. Preclearing Banshee would be one way to let them get back a bit of their lead on any pursuers.”
“Can we do anything to hold Banshee ?”
“We could,” Vincent hesitated. “I’m in touch with the platform Customs detachment, and I’m sure I could convince them to take a special interest in her. But interfering that openly might have severe ramifications for Miss Ruth.”
“You’re right,” Michael said. “We’re just going to have to get aboard ourselves.”
Time passed with aching slowness as they waited to be cleared to approach the orbital station. Vincent had contnued his communication with the station’s Customs and Astro Control detachments while they waited. Now he spoke with a degree of hesitation unusual for him.
“Prince Michael, I think we have a problem. Banshee has been docked for over forty minutes now, but according to the senior Customs officer, she’s more or less sitting there abandoned. Her passengers apparently debarked immediately and headed for another ship, Cormorant, which arrived in from Manticore just a short time ago. Both of them boarded Cormorant and have already departed the station.”
“Course?” Michael said.
“They
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