er their formations.
He hastily left the command deck.

Walking swiftly along a passageway he passed Hodak
at a workbench calibrating instruments as cover.
Their eyes met and Brad moved on. Hodak switched
off his test panels and headed toward a side
passageway.

Myra, checking medical supplies in a wall cabinet,
glanced at Hodak's features as he brushed by. His
grunt caused her to close the cabinet and walk off.
Kumiko and Adari would soon have the message.

##

The storage compartment was tiny, barely enough
to hold them.

"Drummer will be talking to all ships' Commanders
in the combined fleet in less than a minute," Brad
told them. "I want to be there when he does so
that I can deal with their reactions. Also, Hyk is
a problem. I expect they'll all line up against us,
including the Plutonian crews. The best we can
hope for is a short delay while they argue among
themselves. It's up to the five of us; six, really,
if I can count on Drummer."

Brad looked from one tense face to the other.

"Hodak, your first job is Scarf. As soon as he
hears Drummer he'll come charging up with his
goons to take over the ship. Stop him."

"Kumiko, to the ship's fire controls. Do as much
damage there as you can without being detected.
I want as many as possible of the Dragon's
long-range guns inoperative."

He turned to Myra.

"Suit up and head for the hangar deck where
the two-place fighter-bombers are in position for
launch. Tell the officer-in-charge I sent you to
check combat readiness. I want three two-place
jobs up front on catapults, fully charged and armed,
hot and ready for launch. The officer on duty is
sure to ask why it's you that's giving the orders.
Just say that the fighters are going after the
Terminals' minelayers and destroyers that just
popped out through the force field's gate. Tell him
I'm briefing the pilots personally and will send you
along as my observer. He won't like it, but I doubt
that he'll interfere."

"Got it."

"Remain on the flight deck, Myra. Move around and
spot where each guard is stationed. When you see
us coming, start to take them down. Pinpoint their
positions to us as we come in so we can clean them
all out fast. Confusion in the ranks works to our
advantage."

Turning to Adari, he asked, "Did you put it
together?"

"Yes."

"Come with me back to the bridge. I'll brief you on
the way."

His look took them all in.

"Gather round -- close."

Speaking rapidly,