To The Stars

As the engines shut down aboard the Dannebrog the shields snapped away from the outside cameras and the scene appeared on every screen inside the ship. The troop carrier, with smoke still billowing up around it, suddenly changed shape as all of its cargo doors and hatches were blown out at the same instant. Landing ramps reached out and crashed down into place, while folding ladders rattled down from the open ports. The attack was on. Light tanks hurtled down the ramps and out through the smoke while soldiers swarmed like ants down the ladders. There was no sign of opposition and the attackers spread out as quickly as they could, racing toward the buildings at the edge of the field.

Admiral Skougaard was listening in on the combat circuit. He nodded with pleasure then leaned over and switched the radio off.

“They’re down and safe,” he said. “Contact made with the Israelis and they have joined forces to knock out all of the remaining resistance. We’ve done our job. Now it’s up to them.”

Jan watched the troops fan out through the buildings until they had vanished from sight, his thoughts going around and around and refusing to settle down. Was this it — really it? Was the war over — or would the Earth troops continue the fighting? They could not be stopped if they did; the defenders would be overrun, wiped out. But the base would be destroyed. Was the threat of this great enough to prevent the disaster…

“Here,” Skougaard said, pushing a waterglass toward Jan. “We will drink to success now — and victory to follow soon after.”

It was akvavit not water that filled the glass and the Admiral drained his with pleasure, smacking his lips. Jan took a large swallow which was more than enough.

“Ground transportation on the way,” the radio operator said. The Admiral nodded.

“Good. We’ll use the engine room lock.”

The combat car was braking to a skidding stop as they came out, the blue and white emblem of the Earth forces still marked on its side — although it was pierced by an ominous scatter of bullet holes. The Israeli driver threw the door open for them.

“They want you both at HQ,” she said, and the vehicle hurled itself forward as soon as they were inside, squealing about in a tight turn and rushing toward the exit. They bumped through the debris where an opening had been blown in the fence and on into the streets beyond. Smoking wreckage marked the scenes of the worst fighting; crumpled bodies as well. There had been losses, heaviest around the control building that had been the prime target. A field headquarters had been set up in the ground floor. They entered it by the simple expedient of walking through the gaping hole that had been blown in the outer wall. General Blonstein was talking on the radio link, but he dropped the handset when they came in and hurried over to greet them.

“We have won here,” he said. “The last defenders have just surrendered. But there are two enemy armored columns coming this way, as well as regiments of paratroops. We hope to have them stopped well before they arrive. Negotiations are going forward now and all the problems seem to be in hand.” He made a gesture toward the adjoining desk, at the man seated there and talking on the phone. Even from the back it was easy to recognize Thurgood-Smythe. He disconnected and turned to face them.

“Welcome back, Jan, Admiral. Things are working according to plan as you can see.” There were smears of blood on his face and his clothing was soaked and dark with even more blood.

“You’ve been injured,” Jan said. The corners of Thurgood-Smythe’s mouth lifted slightly.

“Don’t sound so hopeful, Jan. The blood is not mine. It belongs to an associate, now dead, who attempted to interfere with my plans. Auguste Blanc the director — former director I should say — of this space center. He countermanded orders of mine to the defending fleet.”

“The ships that were waiting for us?” the Admiral said.

“Precisely. Though I really can’t blame him since all of the orders I had sent out were issued in his name. In case there were difficulties I preferred the responsibility to be his, not mine. He found out what was happening and chose to go along with the ruse instead of confronting me, only countermanding my orders at the last moment. This could have been embarrassing.”

“To you,” Jan said, his voice tight with anger. “We could have been dead.”

“But you aren’t, Jan, are you? The delay was not serious in the end. Poor Auguste was fool enough to face up to me, to brag about what he had done. After taking my gun away of course. Everyone seems to have a gun these days. I tried to move away from him, but had to do it slowly in order not to startle him.” Thurgood-Smythe looked down and brushed at his bloodstained clothing. “He was quite startled when my gun exploded. This is his blood. Stunned me a bit. Did worse to him. I was sure he would try to arrest me on his own, that is why I had the gun prepared. He was such a stupid man.”