Midshipman Henry Gallant in Space

  * * *

  Half an hour later in the communication shack, Gallant heard the XO’s voice from around the corner, “Where are the Dauntless and Devastator?”

  “They’re deep inside the asteroid belt, too far to reach us before the Titans arrive. We’ll have to face them with four battle cruisers instead of six,” he heard Mather reply.

  Gallant was standing just inside the communication shack door. The technicians were deeper into the room unable to hear the exchange. His curiosity aroused, he continued to eavesdrop on his senior officers.

  The XO thumped his fist against a metal surface. “I warned him not to disperse the fleet. His plan to cast the widest possible search net was risky, right from the start. We’ll pay for that decision.”

  Mather grunted, “What do you think he’ll do about Neumann’s demand for escorts?”

  “You know his history. He came up from the ranks, worked himself silly. It took him forever to get this command. That’s how he’s wound up the senior captain on station. His wife, children and grandchildren all live on Mars. Most of them work for the NNR shipping company in one capacity or another. Last time he defied Gerald Neumann was over shipyard procurement and it cost him his promotion to admiral. This time, if he doesn’t comply with Neumann’s demand, Senator Graham just might look to have him relieved.”

  Mather sighed, “He’s always been a risk taker.”

  The XO said, “True, but he can also be rash. Case in point, we’re going into action ‘light’ two battle cruisers.”

  Gallant stepped away from the door, his curiosity placated for the moment.