for all we know, reset
the switches for the proximity fuses so that
our ships' mass and proximity sets the bomb off.
Let's get as far away as we can before it all comes
together and whatever's going to happen happens."

The two fighters headed toward the UIPS fleet.
Barely beyond the fatal radiation zone the now
distant warhead detonated. The fireball looked
as huge as the Sun from Venus.

Brad opened the communications channel.

"Sentinel One to UIPS Fleet Comm Center. We're
approaching in two Plutonian fighters from the
direction of the blast. Be ready to receive; we're
coming in. Acknowledge."

Chapter FORTY-FOUR

The opposing fleets maneuvered warily. It was
too late for either side to safely fire long-range
thermonuclear warheads. The battlefield would
be a tight arena.

Brad and Hodak matched up to Admiral Selvin's
flagship Ruthless. Without altering formation the
Ruthless extended a mag-beam and drew the fighters
quickly to the flight deck one following the other.

Wasting no time on boarding formalities, Brad
motioned his colleagues to follow as an escort led
them at a run to the command deck. Selvin was
waiting impatiently. A debriefing officer took
Hodak in tow, and an another escorted Drummer
to the VIP lounge.

At a sign from Brad, Myra trailed after him.

The fleet command center was fifteen meters across
and ten deep. View tanks, consoles and displays
along the bulkheads glowed and portrayed the
multidimensional battle zone, updates on readiness
of the fleet and whatever had been considered
relevant in defeating the enemy. Specialists and
back-up technicians studied displays, recapped real
time data, checked results and sent them on in an
ongoing process. The place hummed with muted voices
and the almost silent clicks of an organized combat
ops center.

Selvin waved Brad to join him at a plotting table.
A globe-shaped view tank, suspended close overhead
displayed the three-dimensional battle zone. The
command center's communicator hovered close
to Selvin, his head encased in a helmet linked
to all ships in the UIPS fleet, fleet headquarters
on Earth, and the conference site. A hard-copy
dispatch remote on a shoulder harness extended
forward waist-high.

Selvin hastily exchanged handshakes with Brad
and Myra. Brad talked fast pointing to the capsule
Myra held in her hand. Listening, Selvin's Executive
signaled the communicator to open the secure link
to Commanders on