till rendezvous with the Plutonian fleet at
Point Icarus, halfway between the depot and the
Slingshot work site. Work out the nav for our fleet
to the rendezvous; design formations, convergence
and other vectors that'll keep the ships out of
each other's way. Employ Order of Battle options to
lay out the nav for each ship of the combined fleet
from Point Icarus to target. Kumiko and I will be
working on tac-options and we'll get them to you as
soon as they're ready.

"This applies to all: compute, coordinate and
commit resources to implement our new orders. OK.
Get going."

Brad motioned Zolan and Hodak closer.

"I'm putting a fast utility under your command,
Zolan. Your number one job is to build, harmonize,
test and whatever else it takes to create a
communications interference generator. Camouflage
and position it between the Planet Pluto Special
Zone and all sunside comm boosters, both spunnel
and conventional. Set it up to activate by remote.
The screen must have enough spread to block all
messages, incoming and outgoing from Planet Pluto,
the combined fleet, plus the depot area and the
Slingshot terminals. Exception: Narval wants us
to flash him a message as soon as we've taken the
objective and turned the ships' Commanders. Fix
the barricade so that we can shoot a one-time
flash-spunnel message through to him. Clear?"

"Clear. When?"

"Now. I'll go with you to the tunnel where the
generators are stored to make sure we select the
best of the lot. Hodak, you come with us to give
'em a condition check. We can't afford chances with
this equipment."

##

Narval removed the tiny ear piece through which
he had listened to Brad give his orders, smiled with
satisfaction, and pressed a button along the edge
of his desk.

"Scarf out there?"

"Yes, Mr. President."

"In."

Scarf sidled in and stood deferentially at the
entry.

"Don't just stand there, you idiot," Narval
snapped. "Get up here where I can talk to you."

Scarf hastened forward and halted a couple of
meters from the desk. He held his helmet in one
hand and saluted with the other.

"Here are my orders to you for while I'm gone.
Double the guards on Planet Pluto's spunnel
transmitter. No Plutonian communications are to be
permitted to destinations outside the Special Zone.
One exception: I've given Drummer orders that
when he completes the tasks I've assigned him, he
is to send a flash message to me at the conference
site. Assign