The Hour of Camelot by Alan Fenton

Author:Alan Fenton
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Mystery, Thrillers & Suspense, Spies & Politics, Thriller & Suspense, Romance, Fantasy, Thrillers, Espionage
Publisher: Alan Fenton
Published: 2015-12-02T00:00:00+00:00

Thirty Seven

Bad Boy

Within five seconds of the missile launch, Eclipse’s pro- active sensors had calculated their precise speed and distance and programmed Eclipse’s interceptor missiles. In five seconds they were launched, and three seconds later all six incoming missiles were destroyed.

Arthur, lips set in a grim line, stared at the table screen and the wall monitors in disbelief. Six white puffs of smoke told him what he needed to know; the immediate danger had passed. With approximately two seconds to spare, Eclipse had destroyed the incoming ground-to-air missiles. There, on a dozen screens, was the proof. The puffs of smoke had quickly disappeared, but Eclipse was still on screen unmantled, hovering over the rebel position at barely a thousand feet.

Agravaine screamed into the gravitational link. ‘For godsake, Lance, mantle! They’ll shoot you down! Mantle!’

The two men watched transfixed as full-sized mother and six baby robots floated down from Eclipse by parachute. Virtually simultaneously Eclipse seemed to stand on its tail as it took off in the steepest of climbs, reaching fifty thousand feet in a matter of seconds. The image of the cigar-shaped aircraft was on all screens, then suddenly was only a pulsating bleep. Eclipse had mantled.

The gravitational link was live again. Lancelot’s triumphant voice reported, ‘Enemy position located. Robots launched. Scuttle standing by for launching.’

Relieved though Arthur was, he was also furious. This, however, was neither the time nor the place to chastise his Chief of Staff. That would have to wait until he was back in Camelot. ‘Launch Scuttle,’ he ordered. ‘We will direct ground operations from Command Control.’

‘Very good, sir.’ Lancelot sounded almost humble. ‘Request permission to continue monitoring operation.’

‘Permission denied,’ said Arthur, in no mood to argue. ‘When Scuttle is launched you will return to base immediately, recharge and await further orders. Do you copy?’

‘I copy, sir,’ confirmed Lancelot, and the link was cut.

For a few moments Arthur said nothing. Agravaine was on edge, having good reason to be wary of his uncle these days. ‘He disobeyed my orders,’ said Arthur. ‘There is no excuse for that.’

‘No, nuncle,’ said Agravaine, ‘there isn’t. But we both know why he did it. He took Eclipse down to draw the enemy’s fire. And they fell for it. When they fired their missiles, they gave their position away. Pretty damned smart, eh?’

‘Pretty damned reckless,’ said Arthur. ‘He risked Eclipse, he risked his own life and the lives of Ian Duncan and all the actives on board. What’s more he risked compromising not just this operation, but future operations. If Eclipse had suffered significant damage it would have been a serious blow to Camelot.’

For a long time neither man spoke. Agravaine fiddled absently with his keyboard, from time to time sneaking a wary glance at his uncle, fearful what he might say or do. Arthur’s blue eyes were cold and steely, his jaw jutting aggressively, his lips set firm. It was obvious that Lancelot’s insubordination had both angered and disturbed him.

And then, to Agravaine’s astonishment and relief, Arthur’s sombre expression dissolved in a slow grin.

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