“You can watch, if you like,” Kurt said, “but do not interrupt.”

The reporter looked up at him.  Up close, she was so emaciated that Kurt seriously considered dragging her to the doctor and asking for a check-up.

“I won’t interrupt,” she assured him.  “But can I ask for an interview later?”

Kurt met her eyes.  There were tiny flecks of gold in them, hidden recording systems that would record everything she saw.  Kurt had seen similar systems used by investment bankers, although their systems were different.  He wondered, absently, just how the reporter found time to review everything she recorded.

“Maybe,” he said.  “But it depends on my schedule.”

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Sixteen

“All ships have reported in, Captain,” Lieutenant Annie Davidson reported.  “They're ready to depart.”

Ted nodded.  Ark Royal had been designed as a command ship, but her fleet command systems had been removed long ago.  Refitting the ship with a modern system had taken two days of hard work, which hadn't left much time for practicing operational manoeuvres.  They could still simulate operations, but it wasn't the same.

“Then signal the Admiralty,” he ordered.  “Inform them that we are ready to depart.”

A dull quiver ran through the ship as her drives powered up.  Ted allowed himself a tight smile, then checked the ship’s status display.  Everything seemed to be optimal, although he wasn't entirely confident about how well the newer systems had integrated with the older systems.

“The Admiralty wishes us luck,” Annie said.  “They’ve cleared us to depart.”

“Good,” Ted said.  He looked over at the helmsman.  “Take us out.”

Ark Royal quivered again as she moved forward, advancing towards the tramline.  Ted watched the other starships fanning out around the carrier – unlike Ark Royal, they were nimble even if they did have other problems – and then looked back at the orbital display.  Earth was heavily defended – the various spacefaring powers had managed to rig up orbital platforms to launch starfighters, as well as modifying civilian mass drivers to serve as weapons – but it was impossible to tell just how long the defences would stand against a determined alien attack.  Besides, the aliens could do considerable damage by staying out of range of Earth’s defenders and attacking installations across the solar system.

“Tramline in two hours, forty minutes,” Lieutenant Daniel Lightbridge reported.  “We’re clear of the Earth-Moon defence perimeter.”

Ted nodded, settling back into his command chair.  He wouldn't relax at all, he knew, until they were on their way home.  Three weeks of travel to reach their destination ... a great deal could happen in three weeks.  What if the aliens managed to block their retreat?  Or ... New Russia wasn't the youngest full-fledged colony world in the human sphere, but the tramlines further away from New Russia and Vera Cruz had never been truly explored.  The alien homeworld might be lurking at the far end of one of those tramlines ...