announced North, "but we are due at the lecture
hall. The Command Officers will be gathering."
42 A few minutes later North took the podium, and the lecture
hall became deathly quiet. "I hope," North began, "you have enjoyed the
last couple of days of lectures from Lord Morning Star." All Officers
rose to their feet applauding. After a few moments, North motioned them
to be seated. "As you know, gentlemen," he continued, "we have been
teaching you for some time. Now, we are going to put what you have been
taught to work.
43 Up until now, except on rare occasions, we have sat and waited for
The Goddens to attack. Time after time we have driven them from the
system, but still they hold the outermost planet and attack on an
almost clockwork schedule. That will now come to an end.
44 If my calculations are right, their next attack will be grouping up
in five days. We're not going to wait for it to come in. We're taking
out four-hundred ships counting those of Lord Morn's, with as many
missiles as we can carry. We're going to hit this base, and, any ships
orbiting it. We're going to hit it hard!
45 We will go in in waves of one-hundred ships, the first wave will be
led by Commander Spearos, the second wave by myself, the third wave by
Morning Star, the fourth wave by Commander Inma. The first time around
we'll release our missiles in broad patterns then hit anything we can as
we break into a circle and pass by. Remember, release your missiles in
waves ....a third as you're approaching the planet, a third when you're
in line with it, and a third as you pull away.
46 The missiles of the
first wave should be striking the far side as the missiles of the
second wave strike the near side to get maximum effect. After the first
wave breaks it will do a wide sweep, come back around behind the fourth
wave, and follow it in. After their second pass, they will peel off and
head for a rendezvous point five hours in system. You will each
be