announced, "I will do."
38 "Signal all ships," ordered North. "Republic vessels are to stand
by. The Peepian vessels are to move in, and take their prizes,
scattering the captives among the brigs of our vessels. As soon as the
transfers are complete, the system ships will escort the captives to
the repair stations. Our remaining ships will secure the enemy base,
picking up its personnel."
39 The cleanup operation took two days. During that time Spearonias
came out in one of the Peepians' star drive ships and beamed over to
The Morning Star. When North caught up with him, he was examining the
bodies of the dead in the bay that had been converted into a makeshift
morgue.
40 "I'm sorry," North announced, "they never got off. The command deck
crew stayed at their stations. They kept the cutters away from their
pods until we could get there."
41 The Peepian banged the wall with his fist, then laid his head on it.
"Dammit!" he cried, "Why couldn't that damned fool obey orders? Just
once, why couldn't he follow directions?"
42 "I'm not sure he didn't!" North explained. "His Engineer said they
weren't pushing that hard. They must have taken some damage that their
sensors didn't show. The engine blew without warning. They never had a
chance, and when he first went after the cutters there was another ship
with him. It had to withdraw moments before his engines blew. They lost
communications and had no idea The Lander was in trouble."
43 "This is going to kill my father," Spearonias moaned, "he's very
sick now. Spearos was a pain to him, but he was also all that kept him
going. I've got to go back in and tell him. May I be relieved?"
44 "I think the circumstances," North agreed, "make that request
reasonable. May I suggest you ask Lord Morn