“Excellent news, Pierre,” Osullivan said, realizing that praise for such a resolutionâif it workedâwas in order. “Excellent!” He rose from his desk and came around, clapping Pierre on the back and accepting the Gallic embrace with his usual aplomb. “Let's tell the good news to our team and have them forward it to Earth Prime and the High Council. I must tell you”âhe laid a hand on Pierre's back to guide him to the Talents' loungeâ“that I was dubious about so simple an answer to such an immense problem. But you've done it!”
“I live in hope,” Pierre said with a very Gallic shrug, a complete change from his previous exuberance.
Â
To effect Operation Switch, Perry asked for more Primes and as many strong T-2 kinetics as could be spared for the several days the transfers would take. After all, it was not just the queens but all their workers, attendants and eggs that had to be moved. Damia allowed Afra as well as Kaltia and Morag to be nominated for the teams.
It'll be good experience and this won't take too long, will
it? Damia asked her father.
We're between loads and our apprentices can handle anything else that might come in with me as merge.
I'm sending Gollee too, by the way. He needs a break.
This will be a
break? Damia asked with some asperity.
Her father chuckled.
I'd borrow Zara too, but Elizara has told me that her... work... is in its concluding phase. So she said she'd come. She can lend heft to a merge. She's deeply interested in the project. She's volunteered her youngest, a strong kinetic T-2, for an unparalleled opportunity to meet so many of his peers.
How old is Pietro?
Old enough...
There was a brief pause.
Same age as Barry, your grandmother just tartly informed me. I'm borrowing Rojer and Asia from Second Fleet.
Oh, that'll be so nice for the children. We do miss them. And don't you dare say, “Only a thought away,” she added
in a fierce tone.
Wouldn't dare,
her father replied.
I almost wish I could join them. But I can't and that's that! Damia said. I do hope it's worth the effort.
We can wait and see. The Xh-33 at least allows us to try the theory that the alteration of the local pheromones will have the desired effect.
Are the militants giving you more trouble?
Oh, them! If we can prove we've got the queens planet-bound, and we release enough of the newly discovered M-type worlds, they'll find something else to complain about.
Damia could almost see her father shrugging his shoulders. She wanted to remind him that he was not, as he sometimes assumed, invulnerable.
I'm not, you know,
he replied.
But nearly. And I never make claims of being infallible.
Not with Mother to keep you on your toes.
A chuckle trailed off into silence.
Â
The Xh-33 planet was not at the other end of the galaxy, but with the help of the occupants and their Towers, the various personnel carriers landed in orderly fashion in the boat bays of the various ships of the Fourth Fleet that were to host them. Perry and Adela on the
Asimov
would host Elizara and her youngest son, Pietro. Gollee Gren and Barry Raven came in to the
Beijing
to be greeted officially by a cheerful Captain Smelkoff. Afra, Morag and Kaltia went to the
Nova Scotia
and an enthusiastic welcome by Captain Ellen Hogarth, while Rojer, with his 'Dinis and Asia, graced the decks of the M.S.
HGHL
to the delight of Captain Ghl. Xahra was to be a guest of the Galaxy-class
Strongbow
and was instantly impressed by Captain Halsted, who had given up his quarters as being the only ones suitable for a Prime on his smaller ship.
As soon as everyone had arrived and had a chance to look through the schedule, the Primes and the T-2's assembled for a briefing session on the
Asimov
in the Talents' lounge.
Not as big as the
Washington's, Rojer remarked to Asia.
Bigger than the
Columbia's,
though,
Asia said, and Rojer gave her a quick look at her suddenly meek tone.
Don't you dare go all modest and nervous on me.
Oh, I won't.
She grinned up at him and reached for his hand, squeezing it.
But it
is
bigger.... Oh, is that gorgeous woman Xahra?
Perry's sister. She's pouting. No, she's not. She's smirking.
She looks haughty to me.
Oh, she is that too,
Rojer agreed. And Xahra was certainly stunning in an exotic way. Odd that she was stolid Perry's sister. He much preferred Elizara's tranquil beauty.
Why, thank you, Rojer,
Elizara said, nudging the lad beside her. “Come, Pietro, I want to introduce you to Rojer and Asia Lyon.”
Pietro might be the same age as Barry Raven, but he had a great deal more poise than the Denebian.
The result of so much exposure to Talents at Blundell,
Elizara replied, smiling graciously,
and he's shortly to get a Tower assignment. Ah,
her mental tone sighed.
They grow up so fast these days.
Morag and Kaltia arrived, squealed with delight to see their brother with Asia and rushed over to the couple.
Not all of them do,
Rojer replied like any unimpressed older sibling, hugging first Morag and then Kaltia because he was glad to see them and they really couldn't be classed as kids anymore. Working on Clarf with Laria had subtly altered them, despite their reversion to juvenile exuberance.
His father had a slight smile on his face as he looked over the Talents already present. Adela, assisted by Navy stewards, was serving hot canapès and looking slightly nervous.
“Never thought I'd be able to sneak up on you, Afra.” Afra turned to grip Gollee Gren's extended hand, savoring once more the essence of the man who had been so much a part of his professional life.
Looking your age finally, are you?
Afra said, noting the grizzle of silver in the T-2's dark hair and the crinkle of lines about the light green eyes.
Actually, it's constant proximity to Gwyn-Raven offspring and the rigors of dealing with all those eager young Talents.
So this is work as well as play?
Afra asked.
Gollee rolled his eyes. A
bit of both and indeed a testing time for Barry, Pietro and...
He paused to grimace slightly....
Morag and Kaltia.
Morag's old enough,
Afra said with a slight nod of his head.
Did well at Clarf during the emergency.
They both did. You've a grand family to be proud of. Ah, and Rojer is still protecting Asia, I see.
Afra chuckled.
She's well able for him to think so.
The exchange had taken brief seconds, for now they heard 'Dini voices behind them as Afra's Trpl and Rojer's Gil and Kat came down the passageway. Trpl was taller by a full headâhuman headâthan Rojer's two and was obviously regaling its juniors on the part it had played in nursing the four victims of the Clarf disaster. More muted human voices echoed respectfully as the naval Talents who would form part of the whole merge arrived.
A goodly crew,
Gollee said, nodding as he was recognized by the Fleet Talents, and he accepted their salutes with a wave of his hand. One of the women looked apprehensive. “They won't bite, Mimi, I'm here to protect you.”
“Then we've nothing to fear,” an ensign said, grinning.
“Asaf Katzin, isn't it?” Gollee replied. A good kinetic T-3.
“Do you know who we all are?” Asaf asked, stopping in surprise.
“He'd better or Prime Raven will replace him with one of you,” Afra said, so solemn-faced that Ensign Katzin goggled slightly until Gollee's grin reassured him.
“But
you
wouldn't have had the chance to meet Afra Lyon of Iota Aurigae,” Gollee said.
“I think you can tell who's a Prime in there without naming names.”
“Don't listen to him,” Mimi advised her crewmate, winking coquettishly at Gren, who winked right back.
“If we're all here,” Perry said when they had entered the room, “I'd like to get on with the briefing. We're doing this in four teams, with a Prime as merge, assisted by the naval Talents. Since we can all be in contact, we can each use the generators of our host ships. Xahra, I'm putting Gollee and Pietro with you on the
Strongbow.
Rojer will have Barry and Asia to back him up on the HGHL. Afra will be merge with his daughters. I've spread out the stronger Talents from the
Asimov.”
He nodded deferentially toward Captain Osullivan. “Elizara and I will lead the
Asimov
team. We might need to do some switching around after our first day, but that's to be expected when none of us have ever done anything even remotely like what we are about to do.”
Even Xahra nodded agreement with that, slightly amused by her brother's instructions.
“I have data files for all the queens we are transferring and visuals for the Main Continent quarters they're to inhabit. Fortunately for us, the Hivers' unvarying patterns are of inordinate help to us.” He tapped his chest, grinning. “According to our expert, Pierre Laney”âhe gestured to the Nose, who was listening avidly to the briefingâ“the quarters of any individual queen might smell slightly different...”
“Indubitably, they do,” Pierre said, tapping his nose with a sage expression on his face.
“Yes, but the layout for every installation is exactly the same. We have visuals on each separate facility, but they're all much of a muchness. Our communications people have been able to transfer the wall screens. At least they hope so.” Perry grimaced slightly. “But they haven't found out how or where to turn them on or off.”
“They have very small creatures to do that,” Rojer said, “as we discovered when we started up the sphere at Phobos Moon Base.”
“How small?” Perry said, blinking at Rojer in surprise.
Rojer indicated the first two joints of his index finger. “Their tunnels ran everywhere on the sphere. Doubt their holes would be visible.”
“They are but seemed to go nowhere,” Perry said, looking down at his notepad and checking something off. “We'll see what happens.” Then he looked around at his audience. “We're hoping that we've done our... renovations ... so well that the queens won't notice. They will, however, notice the fields. We can't transfer the crops. We're good but not that good.” His chuckle was answered by smiles. Xahra rolled her eyes at her brother's attempt at humor. “So, if there are any questions about procedures, Iâand the staff officersâare at your disposal.”
“Body weights?” Afra asked.
“Good point, sir,” Perry said, pointing his stylus at the Capellan. “We've estimated you will be lifting the equivalent of a large drone with the queens, likewise each stable of her workers.” He gave a shrug.
“But it's animate cargo,” Afra said.
“That's why we have designated teams. Watch your remotes and catch as many of the queen's attendants as possible in the first 'port and pick up the remainder on a second trip if necessary,” Perry replied. “You can take the workers by rows...”
“They make it handy enough,” Rojer said, wondering if the creatures would even know they'd been lifted.
“Wouldn't the eggs be fragile?” Xahra asked.
“The ones in with the Heinlein queen have a thick outer coating,” Rojer said. “Reasonable caution is all you'd need.”
“They are in a storage tube, at the back of the queen's quarters,” Perry said, and brought up the visual. “Once you know the shape, 'port that. They won't crack.” His manner suggested that the Primes were more than capable of handling the transfer.
“You said there were little creatures, Rojer?” Gollee asked. “What happens if some get left behind and come looking for Momma?”
“You will, of course, check on each of the facilities to be sure that none are left behind,” Perry said, a bit on his dignity.
“The queen'll make more if we lose a few,” Rojer said.
“The wounded queens have been steadily replacing the attendants that were killed in the war,” Perry said. “According to Thian's report, when he removed specimens for study, the queen would count...” He broke off and shot a glance at Pierre Laney, who winked back when Perry did not finish the sentence.
“Noses, is what they count,” Pierre said blithely, arms folded over his chest where he sat beside Captain Osullivan.
“Noses it is then,” Perry said with a slight grin. “They didn't appear to be concerned in any way that they were missing attendants, and promptly replaced them.”
“It's the field and the crops that's going to throw them, isn't it?” Elizara said.
“Yes, but there's nothing we can do about that. And some of the fields they'll now possess will be in bad condition,” Perry went on. “We're hoping that the queens will just”âhe gave a shrugâ“replant or harvest or whatever. Again, their adherence to tradition includes their plantings. The same crops appear time and again. Of course, not in the same order, because some of the vegetables require different soil and/or more watering. But that should be a challenge to each queenâto put her individual domain back in order as soon as possible.”
“Well, let's hope they take up the challenge in the spirit in which it is presented, and more space to expand,” said Captain Osullivan. “Any more questions?” He looked around the room.
When there were none, Captain Osullivan rose. “Then let us proceed to the main hangar. The
Washington
is a grand big ship, but we wish all of our Talents to be seated in the same chamber for tonight's feast. Or would it be easier to 'port yourselves down?”