big enough to
get a flash through to you at the conference site,
giving you the score."

"Excellent, Brad, excellent."

Narval beamed at his new Commander of Combat
Operations and twisted his mouth into a malevolent
grin.

"One change," he said, eyes on Brad. "Up to
now, the objective of your strategic planning and
tactics has been the Depot. Now here this: the
Depot is no longer the target. Your target is
the Slingshot construction site including the
'Terminals'. You are to take control of the entire
complex and hold it as my hostage. Adjust your
plans, tactics and schedules accordingly."

Chapter THIRTY-FOUR

The air was stale in the alcove adjoining Brad's
office. Hodak and Kumiko hovered over a console,
entering and manipulating data. They compared
computations against hard print charts, entered
notes in manuals and drawings spread across a
worktable, and mumbled at each other solemnly
across the space separating them. Adari studied
a large-scale celestial navigational chart tacked
to the wall, Zolan tapped at a remote keyboard,
and Myra scrutinized a spreadsheet. All were
engrossed in their own piece of the action.

Brad, entered and paused to observe them. Myra
glanced up, waved absently as her eyes returned
to the spreadsheet.

Weaving along the tight aisle to a chair against
the far wall, Brad turned the chair about and sat,
his arms on the upper crossbar. He drew a deep
breath and exhaled slowly.

"Take five," he said. "Let's talk."

Zolan pressed a key to save his data, Kumiko rolled
up her chart, and Hodak put a marker in the manual.
Myra and Adari's charts lay where they were as eyes
focused on Brad. The room was cramped, space for
moving about was tight.

"We have new orders," Brad said.

Zolan grunted, "Ahh, nuts," and frowned at Brad in
disgust. Myra groaned and Hodak spit a sullen blast
of profanities. Adari shrugged, and Kumiko gave Brad
her sweet so-what-else-is-new smile.

Brad recounted his meeting with Narval and Drummer.
So that there would be no misunderstandings
among them, he repeated Narval's strategy and
instructions, finishing with the new target for the
assault. The room was silent.

"Now that we know the construction site is the
target we'll use it for working out the details for
fleet integration, formation and logistics in place
of what we had before," Brad rasped. "Better now
than after we've launched and met up with our
allies. Not much time, th