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I ve got that, Captain, Ferrol cut in, his voice strained as he leaned
against
Sleipnir s panic acceleration toward his displays. There re sharks out there,
all right the
Scapa Flow reports at least six of them. Range of just over five hundred
thousand kilometers.
Kennedy hissed something blasphemous. Confirmed, Captain. Six sharks& and
looks like three space horses, too.
The missing Tampy couriers? Get me a clearer image.
I ll try. The picture on Roman s display magnified, sharpened&
For a moment Roman just stared at the scene, a part of him not really
believing it, the rest not wanting to. Six sharks, moving almost in formation,
were flying toward the
Amity and the corral; flying, according to the readout, with nearly five gees
acceleration. A hundred kilometers ahead of them, just barely maintaining that
distance, were the three space horses. From the small ships trailing behind
them
Roman could see a strangely flickering substance falling back toward the
sharks. It
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Timothy Zahn - Warhorse took a second for him to identify it as space horse
webbing, and another to realize what exactly the Tampies were up to. They re
trying to snare them, he murmured. Snare them, or tangle them up.
Webbing against sharks, Kennedy breathed. They must be crazy.
With an effort, Roman shook off the mental paralysis. Marlowe report.
Comm laser ineffective, the other said tightly. The vultures are alongside
the
Amity
passing now.
And if they got in front of Sleipnir& Sso-ng: prepare for emergency Jump,
Roman called toward the intercom. Anywhere will do. Kennedy, we ll need a
course from wherever we wind up back to the Cordonale. If the Starforce could
throw together a task force quickly enough, the
Amity might be able to Jump it here in time to help this from turning into a
space horse slaughter
Rro-maa?
Impatiently, he focused on the intercom. Rrin-saa, didn t Sso-ng hear me?
Get him moving we ve got to get out of here
He broke off. The expression on Rrin-saa s face What s wrong? he demanded.
Sso-ng is not able. Sleipnninni has become& he is in perasiata
.
Roman felt his stomach tighten. That s impossible, he said, hearing how
stupid the words sounded even as he said them. Sleipnir s accelerating
, damn it how can it be in a coma?
He is frightened of the vultures and the sharks, Rrin-saa said. He is& He
seemed to grope for words.
The word is panicking
, Roman bit out, eyes flicking over his displays as his mind searched for a
plan. The vultures were past the
Amity now, heading for the point twenty-seven kilometers ahead where they d be
able to set up their optical net. Sso-
ng and the other Tampies had maybe a minute to snap Sleipnir out of this&
Marlowe, are there any more vultures closing on us? Kennedy asked suddenly.
Or is this batch all of them?
Uh& Marlowe frowned at his displays, fingers dancing over his console. I
don t track any more coming this way, no.
Then I don t think we ve got a problem. She swiveled around. Captain, the
Scapa Flow s got netting equipment aboard. We can cut them loose, send them
ahead to clear out the optical net, and link up with them again before we
Jump.
Roman shifted his attention to Ferrol. Possible?
Ferrol hesitated, then nodded. It should be, yes, he said slowly. But not
unless
Sso-ng can get Sleipnir to kill some of this acceleration.
Roman nodded, feeling the tension ease somewhat. The problem wasn t gone, but
at least their deadline for action was extended somewhat. Did you hear that,
Rrin-
saa? he called. You and Sso-ng have got to get Sleipnir back under
control.
We will try, Rro-maa.
Good. Ferrol, alert your people on the
Scapa Flow;
we ll want them to move as
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Timothy Zahn - Warhorse soon as they can.
Yes, sir, Ferrol said, an odd expression flicking across his face before he
turned back to his console.
Roman turned his attention back to the vultures. They were nearly in position
now& and even as he watched the acceleration pressing him into his seat
abruptly eased, and then vanished.
Rro-maa? Sleipnninni is no longer in perasiata
.
Thank you, Sso-ng. Roman looked at Ferrol. Pop the tether line and tell
the
Scapa Flow to go, he ordered the other. Kennedy, check and see if we re
going to have any trouble Jumping from this deep in the gravity well.
Already checked, sir, she said. We re a little close, but shouldn t have
any major problems. Our best bet will be the Tor system; recommend we Jump
there and alert Prepyat and Earth via tachyon.
And while the Starforce scrambled a task force they would have time to get
into position for the next Jump. Sounds good, he nodded. He glanced at
Ferrol
And paused for a second look. The other was still sitting facing him, ignoring
his console. Ferrol? What s the trouble?
Ferrol swallowed visibly, a strangely haunted look in his eyes. No trouble,
sir.
Then get the
Scapa Flow going. He turned back to Kennedy
No, sir.
Roman looked back. No? he asked, very quietly.
Ferrol s eyes flicked to Kennedy as his hand dipped into a pocket and withdrew
an envelope. Captain Roman, he said, his voice abruptly formal, pursuant to
the
Senate carte blanche directive contained in this envelope He took a deep
breath.
I hereby relieve you of command.
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