04 The Shiva Option by David Weber

Author:David Weber [Weber, David]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780743471442
Google: WeJrAcgShOEC
Amazon: 074347144X
Publisher: Baen
Published: 2002-02-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

“We’ll do whatever we must, Admiral.”

The lifeless red dwarf system really had held no organized resistance, and Task Force 71 had proceeded unmolested across the 3.6 light-hours that separated its warp point of entry from the only other warp point in the system.

Furthermore, as Prescott’s lead elements closed in on that second warp point, the RD2s he’d dispatched through it had sent back the news he’d hoped for: the system beyond – a white star with a distant red dwarf companion – was the system where he and Zhaarnak would meet.

There was no possible doubt. The system matched the one Zhaarnak’s RD2s had probed from the other side, as described in the reports he’d sent to Prescott. In addition to the expected warp point defenses, it held mobile forces corresponding in composition to those Zhaarnak had reported he still expected to have to face. Only now those forces were divided, for they had two warp points to cover. It would be unwise to rely too heavily on the colossal gunboat losses the Bugs had sustained in the recent battles, for the primary star’s third planet gave off neutrino indications of the largest industrial base yet encountered in this warp chain – not in the same category as the home hive systems, but undoubtedly capable of cranking out large quantities of small vessels in short order. However, the losses in bases from which to operate those craft couldn’t be so quickly made good. And the division of the Bugs’ defensive assets was certainly hopeful.

All those factors were in Prescott’s mind as he met with his staff. So was the fact that, in the teeth of his expectations, the Bugs had not appeared from somewhere along the Anderson Chain to pour through Pesthouse, reclaim Home Hive One, and isolate his task force. He was careful not to let his face and manner reveal to anyone his amazement that it hadn’t happened … or his fear that it still might.

He grew aware that Chung had concluded his summary of the drones’ findings. He opened the floor for comments, and a single throat was loudly cleared. The lack of any other response made it impossible not to recognize the throat-clearer, and Prescott suppressed a sigh.

“Admiral Mukerji?”

Mukerji had shaken off the jitters he’d experienced before they entered the system. Now he drew a deep breath and spoke like a man delivering a carefully prepared speech, a man who knew that his argument would be prejudiced by the very fact that he was the one presenting it.

“Admiral, these findings prove you were right. We are, indeed, looking from another direction at the same system Fang Zhaarnak faces. I therefore consider it likely that your other theory was equally well founded.”

Prescott held the political admiral’s eyes for a moment, and met only blandness. Mukerji was taking pains to construct a case too reasonable for Prescott to reject out of hand without laying himself open to the charge of personal bias.

“What ‘other theory’ is that, Admiral?” he inquired, knowing full well the answer.

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