Free Frontiers Saga 12: Rise of the Alliance by Ryk Brown Page B

comm-drone, Captain,” Mister Navashee said. “A jump-enabled comm-drone. It jumped into high orbit twenty seconds ago.”
    “Orbit? You mean, a stable orbit?”
    “No, sir. It’s a rapidly deteriorating orbit. It will require a burn to stabilize.”
    “Incoming message,” Naralena reported. “It’s from the comm-drone, sir. It’s video.”
    “Classification?”
    “None.”
    “Put it up,” Nathan ordered.
    A video window appeared on the main view screen, revealing Commander Dumar standing on the observation deck of the Karuzara asteroid’s control center. “ Greetings, Captain Scott. I am happy to report that with the safe arrival of this comm-drone, we now have daily communications between the Karuzara asteroid and the Sol system. This is thanks largely in part to the navigational data collected by Lieutenant Montgomery’s advanced jump shuttle’s journey back to Takara, as well as the data collected by the four zero two on its way both to and from Sol. ”
    Nathan struggled to maintain his composure as he listened to the commander’s message, a smile threatening to form at the edges of his mouth.
    “ As you know, Prince Casimir, in a surprising bit of astro-navigation expertise, devised a route by which we are able to jump the Karuzara all the way to Sol. I am pleased to report that the journey thus far has gone without incident. Should it continue to do so, we should arrive in the Sol system in approximately eighty Terran days. While en route, we shall continue to fabricate anything that you feel would most benefit your efforts to rebuild and defend the birthplace of all humankind. You should also know that despite the objections of the Takaran Security Council, Prince Casimir has secured an additional one thousand Ghatazhak operatives for your use. To this end, we have modified our production schedule to concentrate on the production of jump-enabled, medium-sized cargo ships called boxcars that are capable of landing on the surface of your world. ”
    “Call Lieutenant Telles to my ready room,” Nathan told his comm officer as the commander continued to speak.
    “ As we continue to produce jump-enabled comm-drones, and as we grow closer to the Sol system, the frequency of our communications shall increase. We are establishing similar communication links with both Takara and Corinair as well. Hopefully, this will make it easier for us to respond to your needs as we make our way across the stars. I look forward to hearing from you, Captain. Commander Dumar of the Karuzara… out. ”
    Nathan could no longer control his smile. “Damn!” he exclaimed as he turned aft to face Naralena. “Play that for Lieutenant Telles when he gets here,” he ordered as he headed aft. “Meanwhile, get me President Scott and put him through to my ready room.”
    * * *
    Maxwell Dumar sat in his office, looking out over the cavernous interior of the Karuzara asteroid. It had come a long way since Redmond Tugwell had first returned with the lost Aurora and her naive young captain so many months ago. Now the cavern was sealed and pressurized, allowing workers to float about in normal attire. Transport rails lined the walls, allowing motorized carts with long articulated arms to reach nearly every square meter within the bay. Fabrication bays that opened directly into the cavern sat waiting for ships for which to produce parts. Machinery, electronic, and casting shops lined the deeper corridors. The Karuzara asteroid was a veritable shipyard jumping its way across the galaxy. In a mere seventy-seven days, that cavern on the other side of his window would be filled with two Terran, Explorer-class starships, both equipped with jump drives. His people would rebuild them. His people would upgrade them. His people would turn them into the mighty warships they so desperately needed to be.
    “Excuse me, Commander,” Mister Bryant called from the office door.
    “Yes?”
    “Fabrication reports they have completed the production