14 Morn's oldest mate emerged from the hallway,
wearing only a dressing gown, which she was busily tying. "Let me get
dressed," she pleaded, "let me accompany you to the beam tube station."
15 "No!" Morn answered, "Let us say our good-byes here, not in a public
place." He kissed each of his mates then headed for the door.
16 "Come on, North," he snapped, "we're set to move out now. The rest
of the ships are already moving into their leap-off point."
17 "The REST of the ships?" North followed Morn. "Just how many ARE
there?"
18 "Just another thousand," explained Morn. "They'll hold open our
escape route while we go in on the main attack."
19 "Just what are you going after," North asked, The Holy Of Holies on
Haven?"
20 Morn stopped dead in his tracks and turned slowly, looking at North.
"That," he answered, is PRECISELY where we are going!"
21 North's mouth fell open, but snapped shut as Morn hurried off, and
he took up pursuit. "How many ships are we going in with?" North
inquired.
22 "Two thousand," Morn told him. "Fifteen hundred will handle The Home
Fleet and anything else they call in. The other five hundred will
handle the actual assault. I figure we'll have six days to get in and
get out before they can draw in enough forces to stop us. The landing
party itself, will only have about two hour's time. That means we have
to get in, reach our objective, and be gone. We'll lead with two
million men."
23 "We could use more," North argued.
24 "That's all we can spare," Morn told him. "Half the troops
will form a perimeter around The Palace, driving the
defenders back as far as they can..The remainder will split into two
groups, one will attack The