SECTION 43
The population, commercial value, and central location of Baal are major factors in Ulnar’s decision. He perceives the colony to be crucial to the defense of the entire sector, and the need to shift his squadron to Baal is obvious. The admiral issues his order accordingly.
Soon Valiant’s powerful geodynes begin to hum with barely suppressed power, lifting the battlecruiser slowly out of orbit ahead of the rest of the Ninth Squadron. Twisting the very fabric of space around each of the vessels, the geodynes accelerate them to unimaginable speeds through realms where accepted physical laws have been suspended. Setting the course Ulnar has ordered, the squadron steers for Baal.
The voyage from St. Germaine to Baal takes eleven days, and throughout that time the squadron is cut off from contact with the rest of the universe. Ultrawave communications link planets with each other and can contact ships across short distances, but a ship is an infinitesimal target across interstellar distances, and moves at such high speeds that it is almost impossible to maintain contact. Ulnar hears nothing of events in the sector as the squadron plunges on toward Baal. It is a tense time, for no one knows what to expect upon their arrival. Doubts assail the admiral, forcing him to realize just how much his decisions can mean to the future of the League. A wrong choice could cost the lives of innocent colonists.
As the squadron draws near to Baal, it is plain that the worrying has been for nothing. There is still no news of the Ka’slaq fleet, and the only thing to do is wait. Now that he has chosen Baal as his temporary base, Ulnar knows he has to stay with it; jumping from world to world without a clear-cut purpose is worse than useless, and bad for morale as well.
Another nine days pass at Baal before news comes in. A wavering, static-broken message from the commander of the garrison at Endymion finally reaches Ulnar. Don Larno is an old friend and protégé of Ulnar’s, a reliable man with a flair for solving problems and inspiring subordinates and superiors alike. But the message he sends is far from inspiring.
“. . . to HQ, Endymion garri—Alien ships . . . hundred or more . . . from . . . frontier. Garrison out . . . to hold them until . . . forcements . . . Like a giant planet . . . mobile . . . death ship . . . Cometeers. Repeating: Endymion garrison to . . . spotted alien . . . a hundred . . . coming from beyond . . . tier . . . outnumbered, but we’ll try to hold . . . send reinforcements. Most targets cruiser size, but one is like . . . planetoid, except it’s mobile . . . a death . . . worse than the . . . Repeating . . .”
But there are no further repetitions; the Endymion communications station fades out shortly thereafter.
Endymion is eight days from Baal at maximum geodyne thrust, which leaves scant hope of actually reinforcing Larno’s garrison in time to do any good. Ulnar, going over the message again and again, debates the best course to follow. Should he try to support Larno, or would his ships be better employed somewhere else? Whatever Ulnar does now, he must act for the best good of the League and the Legion, and he must choose correctly if he is to carry out his duty effectively.
If Ulnar chooses to go to the aid of the Endymion colony, go to section 53.
If Ulnar orders his ships to Ulnar 118, go to section 63.
If Ulnar orders the ships in his command to S.C. 170, go to section 68.
If Ulnar chooses to return with the squadron to St. Germaine, go to section 74.
Should the admiral wish to remain at Baal, go to section 61.
If the squadron is given orders to proceed to any other destination, go to section 73.