Thunderhead

23

“By God, they’ve fallen for it!” Commodore Broadly smacked his fist into his hand and beamed at the young signal lieutenant. He rocked back on his heels, studying the position chart the pilot officer had set up for him on the message deck. “We’ll make the intercept about here.” His finger stabbed at a point a fractional light from the calculated position of the newfound OL station.

He broke off as an excited voice burst from the intercom screen.

“Commodore Broadly, sir! Urgent from Task—” the yeoman’s face disappeared from the screen to be replaced by the fierce visage of the vice admiral.

“Broadly, sheer off and take up course for station, and then report yourself under arrest! Commodore Baskov will take command. I’ve countermanded your damned-fool orders to the OL station! I’m on my way out there now to see what I can salvage—and when I get back, I’m preferring charges against you that will put you on the beach for the rest of your miserable life!”