22 "Thank you. Transport," North acknowledged.
"Begin beaming at once! Lock down your systems, gentlemen. Evacuate the
command deck!"
23 "Sir," announced Firing Control, "my battle com is fused into the
console. I can't remove it."
24 "That's all right," assured North, "so's mine! Let's go!"
25 One by one the command deck crew filed out, and for one last moment
North looked at the deck that for so many years had been an important
part of his life. The Firing Control Officer's com began to screech and
North smiled.
26 Turning he descended the stairway and checked the deck below, making
his way towards the number one transport beam. As he did, he thought to
the implant in his skull, "Ship!" he requested, "report status."
27 "Evacuation continuing in an orderly fashion, sir," the ship
responded. "I am doing all I can with my automatic systems to gain you
ample escape time. My sensors show you are still on the command deck,
but your transmission is from another section. Explain."
28 "My battle com is fused in the command chair," North told the ship.
"So is the Firing Control Officer's. Disregard those readings."
29 "Understood," the ship acknowledged. "Readings disregarded."
30 By now North had reached the number one beam tube. The Officer
directing the evacuation acknowledged his presence, but kept to his
business of stepping four men at a time into the tubes and beaming them
over.
31 North was proud of the discipline of his crew. The wounded had gone
out first. Now each man patiently waited his turn, stepped into the
tubes, and disappeared. An Engineer ran up the hall, saluted North and
reported. "Everyone safely away at number two, sir. Systems locked
down."