Battle Station by Ben Bova Read Free Book Online Page A

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.
    â€œHow long ago did this come through?”
    â€œTransmission 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 ?”
    â€œNo,” said Hazard.
    â€œI don’t think they intend to call again, sir,” Yang said. “They expect you to call them.”
    â€œNot 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:
    â€œMr. 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?”
    â€œUnderstood, sir!”

    â€œMiss Stromsen, I believe the fire-control panel is part of your responsibility. You will take your orders from Mr. Feeney.”
    â€œYes, sir.”
    â€œMiss 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.”
    â€œI already have that in the program, sir.”
    â€œGood. 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.”
    â€œLike the goalie in a hockey game!” Feeney chirped. “Cutting down the angles.”
    â€œExactly.”
    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.
    â€œMiss 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. “Sir, you can’t possibly expect us to predict all the possible paths a beam might take and get a lifeboat’s heat shield in place soon enough