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.A gash had been torn in the hull, and through it Hazard could see the darkness of space.The laser beam had penetrated into the cartons and shelving, slicing a neat burned-edge slash through everything it touched.Varshni floated upward toward the rent.It was as smooth as a surgeon’s incision, and curled back slightly where the air pressure had pushed the thin metal outward in its rush to escape to vacuum.“No wiring here,” Varshni’s voice said in Hazard’s helmet earphones.“No plumbing either.We were fortunate.”“They were aiming for the power generator.”The Indian pushed himself back down toward Hazard.His face was hidden behind the visor.“Ah, yes, that is an important target.We were very fortunate that they missed.”“They’ll try again,” Hazard said.“Yes, of course.”“Commander Hazard!” Yang’s voice sounded urgent.“I think you should hear the latest message from Graham, sir.”Nodding unconsciously inside his helmet, Hazard said, “Patch it through.”He heard a click, then Buckbee’s voice.“Hazard, we’ve been very patient with you.We’re finished playing games.You bring the Hunter back to its normal altitude and surrender the station to us or we’ll slice you to pieces.You’ve got five minutes to answer.”The voice shut off so abruptly that Hazard could picture Buckbee slamming his fist against the Off key.“How long ago did this come through?”“Transmission terminated thirty seconds ago, sir,” said Yang.Hazard looked down at Varshni’s slight form.He knew that Varshni had heard the ultimatum just as he had.He could not see the Indian’s face, but the slump of his shoulders told him how Varshni felt.Yang asked, “Sir, do you want me to set up a link with Graham?”“No,” said Hazard.“I don’t think they intend to call again, sir,” Yang said.“They expect you to call them.”“Not yet,” he said.He turned to the wavering form beside him.“Better straighten up, Mr.Varshni.There’s going to be a lot of work for you and your damage-control team to do.We’re in for a rough time.”Ordering Varshni back to his team at the ruins of the bridge, Hazard made his way toward the CIC.He spoke into his helmet mike as he pulled himself along the passageways, hand over hand, as fast as he could go:“Mr.Feeney, you are to fire at any satellites that fire on us.And at any ABM satellites that begin maneuvering to gain altitude so they can look down on us.Understand?”“Understood, sir!”“Miss Stromsen, I believe the fire-control panel is part of your responsibility.You will take your orders from Mr.Feeney.”“Yes, sir.”“Miss Yang, I want that simulation of our position and altitude updated to show exactly which ABM satellites under hostile control are in a position to fire upon us.”“I already have that in the program, sir.”“Good.I want our four lifeboats detached from the station and placed in positions where their heat shields can intercept incoming laser beams.”For the first time, Yang’s voice sounded uncertain.“I’m not sure I understand what you mean, sir.”Hazard was sweating and panting with the exertion of hauling himself along the passageway.This suit won’t smell new anymore, he thought.To Yang he explained, “We can use the lifeboats’ heat shields as armor to absorb or deflect incoming laser beams.Not just shielding, but active armor.We can move the boats to protect the most likely areas for laser beams to come from.”“Like the goalie in a hockey game!” Feeney chirped.“Cutting down the angles.”“Exactly.”By the time he reached the CIC they were already working the problems.Hazard saw that Stromsen had the heaviest work load: all the station systems’ status displays, fire control for the laser-armed ABM satellites, and control of the lifeboats now hovering dozens of meters away from the station.“Miss Stromsen, please transfer the fire-control responsibility to Mr.Feeney.”The expression on her strong-jawed face, half hidden inside her helmet, was pure stubborn indignation.Jabbing a gloved thumb toward the lightning-slash insignia on the shoulder of Feeney’s suit, Hazard said, “He is a weapons specialist, after all.”Stromsen’s lips twitched slightly and she tapped at the keyboard to her left; the fire-control displays disappeared from the screens above it, only to spring up on screens in front of Feeney’s position.Hazard nodded as he lifted his own visor.“Okay, now.Feeney, you’re the offense.Stromsen, you’re the defense.Miss Yang, your job is to keep Miss Stromsen continuously advised as to where the best placement of the lifeboats will be.”Yang nodded, her dark eyes sparkling with the challenge
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