He Who Dares: Book Three Page 17

  “Feisty one, what!’ Max nudged Seaforth and gave him a broad wink.

  “Seaford, I think I’d like to retire and find more agreeable company than this colonial antediluvian neo barb.” With that she turned, and stomped out of the room rather ungracefully, followed a moment later by the Lady Bridgett.

  “You’ll have to forgive the Lady Anne. She can be a little blunt at times,” Seaford apologized.

  “Think nothing of it, boy. I know just how snippy her ladyship can be at times.” he grinned. Now Seaford knew who it was behind the mask, he knew exactly what Mike meant. “The admiral was just leaving, so take a seat.” He said, giving the admiral and Rolly a quick handshake and almost pulled them out of their seats whereupon Jenks ushered them out the door, in what he would have referred to, in his usual cockney manner, as giving them the bum’s rush.

  “We’ll talk later over supper, Admiral.” Max called as they departed.

  Seaford and Ross took the vacated seats, Ross still puzzled by what was going on. A slight tap on the back of his hand by Seaford and he held his tongue as he thought to jump in to defend the Lady Anne’s honor. The manservant handed them glasses and poured something else for them to drink, and while he was doing that, Max made a show of getting himself seated again, landing with a thump, and blowing out his cheeks. Mike felt his hands shake as he sat down, wanting nothing more than to rush out of the room and take the Lady Anne in his arms and crush her to his body. It was almost painful to hear her voice, and see her stomp out of the room in anger at him, well, at “Max.” An afterthought came to him, that maybe he shouldn’t have taken advantage of the situation and “poked the bear.”

  “I’m glad we had the chance to meet you, sir. You are something of a legend here. Is it true you flew through the Rift without navigational aids?” Ross asked, seeing Seaford wince.

  “Of course it is, you young fool. How else do you think I found Avalon… well, it wasn’t called that back then.” It was unkind, but he had to act the part for any unseen watchers, like Tirra Lightly and other people hovering around the door to the salon. He’d apologize to his friend later. “It was a bit hairy at times, but as you can see I made it there, and back,” Mike/Max chuckled, quaffing another large gulp of fake brandy.

  “Yes, sir. So I see.” Ross felt himself get a little hot around the ears. It wasn’t every day someone dared insult him that way.

  “I hear there has been a bit of a shake up around here in the last few months.” Mike/Max asked, wiping his mouth on the back of his hand. His manservant immediately came over and they got into a tugging match about whether he was going to get the back of his hand wiped clean or not. His manservant won.

  “Shake up, sir? How do you mean?” Ross suddenly got a little wary of the direction the old man’s talk was taking them.

  “Oh, nothing. I just heard through the grapevine that the King has done a little housecleaning, and about time, if you ask me.”

  “I wouldn’t know anything about that, sir,” Seaford said in an airy manner, “I never involve myself in all the dirty political nonsense you know. Very boring.”

  “You’ll stay for a late supper of course. We have much to discuss.”

  “Please. Mr. Tregallion. We don’t want to impose on your hospitality…”

  “Nonsense. You and the others are my guests. Now be off with you and dance nicely for the pretty ladies.” They chatted for a moment longer to keep up the pretense before they were ushered out and another group entered to meet Max.

  This lasted for a couple of hours, almost driving Mike to distraction, while talking to representatives of one sort or another, including one of London’s largest banking houses. Thankfully the meet and greet was short and they departed.

  “Thank god that’s over. I wonder how many more?”

  “Not many I think, Skipper.” Just then, Victoria glided into the room.

  “Most of the guests have left, Max.” She let out a sigh herself.

  “Thank god for that. Would you be so kind as to take Lord Seaford, Lord Ross and the ladies upstairs to the supper room? I’ll be up shortly.”

  “Yes, of course.” Max struggled to his feet. “I just have to go take my medicine and I’ll be with you shortly.” As Victoria was about to leave, she turned back.

  “I’m not sure if I can persuade the Lady Anne to remain for supper, Mr. Tregallion. She’s rather upset with you.”

  “Oh, I’m sure between you and my friend here you can convince her.” He looked around at Jenks.

  “You know what to do, old son. Be very gentle.”

  “Like she was my own daughter, Skipper.”

  Victoria took Seaford and Ross out of the main room to say their goodbyes to some of the guests as they were leaving while Jenks went looking for the Lady Anne.

  Using a private elevator, Mike took it up to the third floor, the most secure part of the building. The electronic spy-bot killers were in full effect on every doorway and window killing off the smallest spy-fly or spider-bot that tried to get in. He quickly made his way round to the other side of the building and waited impatiently in the ladies room. In the meantime, Jenks had rounded up the reluctant ladies and their escorts and herded them into the lift to the second floor. The Lady Anne protested to Seaford that she wanted nothing more than to get out of this Aladdin’s Cave and go home, but Seaford pressed her to remain despite her protests. Jenks added his invitation, expressing profound apologies for Max’s earlier behavior. Somewhat mollified, and at Seaford’s insistence, she reluctantly agreed. Having attended such parties before, Anne knew she’d better find the ladies room and repair her makeup before attending the late supper. For Mike, the wait was a lot longer than it seemed until he heard the snippy voice of the Lady Anne demanding to know why the ladies room was so far from the dining room.

  “It's right here, your Ladyship,” Jenks assured her, “the other one is out of order at the moment.”

  “Out of order? How very inconvenient, especially for those of us that don’t have the constitution of a bloody carthorse.” She snapped. Mike had to smile, as he knew that tone of voice well. Being so far away from the dining room, and almost sound proof to boot, he doubted anyone would hear her initial scream if she made one. The door opened and she walked in, but she didn’t see him at first as she made a beeline for the cubical.

  “What on earth…” The Lady Anne scowled as she stumbled to a halt when she spotted him. She immediately started to draw in a breath as if to scream, then drew a weapon out of her sleeve instead. Mike quickly held his hands out.

  “Please, don’t scream. I can explain, M’lady.” Anne stopped and looked at him. “It’s me. It’s Mike!”

  “What?”

  He waved his hand at his face, but the deadly little needle pistol didn’t waver an inch. “I don’t like playing games, Mr. Tregallion, and if this is some sort of practical joke, I’m not amused!” Anne snapped.

  “Annie… like you. It’s a mask, nothing more.” For a split second she froze, her eyes searching his face. There were very few people in the world who knew who was behind the mask she wore, and fewer still who would dare call her M’lady or Annie, and Max Tregallion wasn’t one of them. In fact, there was only one person in the universe she knew who called her that.

  “Mike!... oh my lord! When I first saw you I thought it was you… or an older version of you.” It was all she had time to say before she flew into his open arms. They kissed for a moment before she drew her head back.

  “Damn it!” She ducked her head for a moment and did something in her mouth. Then her lips were locked onto his again minus the buck teeth. Neither was sure how long they stayed that way, not that they cared, but at last, they came up for air. By now, Mike had backed into a stall and was sitting on the commode with the Lady Anne on his lap.

  “God, I missed you.” They both blurted out before continuing to kiss and hug each other tightly. A discreet knock at the door finally interrupted them.

  “I hate to b
reak up this happy reunion, Skipper, but people are starting to ask questions.” Jenks stuck his head around the door, but all he could see was a pair of pant legs sticking out from one of the cubicles. All he heard was a deep sigh, and a broad smile threatened to split his face in half.

  “Be right there, Jenks.” Mike called.

  “You suppose we should go and join the others?” Mike asked.

  “Do we have to?” Anne asked, kissing his face all over.

  “Sorry to say, yes. Too many important things to discuss, and by the way. What about the Lady Bridgett?”

  Anne looked at him a moment, “Oh yes, you don’t know. Silly of me. How could you. The Lady Bridgett is aware. She is part of Seaford’s… hum; I’d better let him fill you in. But suffice to say, she can be trusted, believe me.”

  “I’ll take your word for it. Let’s go and shock the others.”

  “Well, they know about me and my dual identity, if that’s what you’re worrying about.”

  “No, I was thinking more about you and me. Do they know?”

  Anne chewed her lower lips for a moment, and then shrugged, “They’ll have to know sooner or later so the present is a better time than never.”

  “I was thinking about the admiral, and Rolly Vargas.”

  “Oh, yes. Forgot about those two.” She looked into his eyes for a moment. “I suppose he and Rolly should be let in on the secret with the others. Sooner or later this is going to come out into the open so the more people on our side who know the better… Is this how you are going to look when you get to Max Tregallion’s age?” Anne asked, smiling and nibbling her lowered lip.

  “Oh, I’ll age more gracefully than Max, you’ll see. But I hope you won’t look like this when you are old,” he laughed and Anne thumped him on the chest.

  “You beast. You mean to tell me you’d dump me when I get old and gray?”

  “No, no, of course not,” Mike looked pensive for a moment. “I’ll just trade you in for a younger model. I’m sure there will still be a few good miles left on your clock even then,” he laughed.

  “There, I knew it. A cad and a bounder.” They kissed for a while longer.

  “If my recollection is correct, didn’t we already have this conversation about me being a cad and a bounder?”

  “No,” Anne murmured between kisses, “I said you were a swashbuckler and you’d ask me to show you how to buckle your swash.” A loud cough brought their mutual kissing contest to a halt. Anne promptly kicked him out of the ladies room while she removed her disguise and took care of what she originally went there for. Exiting and looking more like her true self except for the hair, they walked hand in hand to the dining room, taking a short cut through a couple of lounges to get there. As usual, Jenks brought up the rear, looking pleased with himself and had a cheery smile on his face for once. As he entered, everyone stood, but Mike quickly waved them back to their seats at the table. More than one looked at them and the way they were holding hands. Mike looked at Victoria and saw her nod as she closed the door.

  “I’m afraid I have to admit to pulling a deception on some of you. As a few might not have figured out, I’m not Max Tregallion. I’m Michael Gray, or I should say, Leftenant Mike Gray.”

  “Good god!” Ross exclaimed. “I would never have guessed in a million years.”

  “Sorry about the rudeness. Ross, but I had to stay in character.” He smiled.

  Ross waved it away, “No apology necessary, Mike, now I understand,” he grinned back.

  “I knew something wasn’t right by the questions you were asking.” Seaford grinned.”

  “Thank god you lost those horrible buck teeth, Anne,” Lady Bridgett chuckled.

  “You and me both,” the princess grumbled, “have you tried kissing with them in? Oh my!” Anne covered her mouth with her hand, and blushed a deep red.

  “Ha ha! The cats out of the bag now, your Highness,” Lady Bridgett laughed.

  “Congratulations, your Majesty,” Ambassador MacTavish added.

  “That’s goes for me as well,” Lord Ross added.

  “I’ll add my congratulations to that, Leftenant Gray, but would you kindly remove the mask. It’s a little intimidating talking to you with that on,” the admiral grumbled.

  “Yes, sir. Give me a moment. Please make yourselves comfortable while I go and change out of this costume.”

  Anne took her place at the table as Mike left, wishing she could go and help him undress. She blushed slightly knowing what that would lead to, and it might be morning before they got back to the table, if then.

  “So, reading between the lines of that report of the rescue mission, you were… are the Lady Anne in question?” Admiral Rawlings asked.

  “Yes, sir. That was me in my role as King’s Messenger.”

  “How far do we want to take this, my Lady?” Seaford asked.

  “All the way, Seaford. This is probably the most secure place in London at the moment.” Seaford blew out his cheeks and shook his head slightly and nodded.

  “I can assure that your statement is correct, your Highness, and that no one outside this building will know about anything that is said in this room.”

  “Thank you, Ambassador MacTavish, as I know you understand the importance of what is going on.”

  “More than you think, your Highness.” Even so, Ambassador MacTavish was a little uneasy about divulging Avalon’s secrets even if it was to the Princess Royal. Nonetheless, he had his orders from Gordon Tregallion himself if the circumstances warranted it. This seemed to fit that definition. After Mike returned and took a seat next to the Lady Anne, the ambassador continued, “I have been instructed to give you any and all assistance I can, your Highness.” It went without saying, that Mike would receive all the assistance he asked for.

  “Do you have any updates on the progress of building those ships I sent a certain, insubordinate young officer to order?” Admiral Rawlings asked, glancing at Mike.

  “Yes and no. The ship building is well under way, according the last dispatch I received from Avalon. But with the situation going on here the question of crews’ availability for those ships is now in doubt, Admiral.” Rawlings nodded.

  “You’re right. I don’t have any way of pulling experienced crews, or captains, for them at the moment.” He sighed. “Nor do I think they can tip the balance in a fleet to fleet engagement if… when the Sirriens come through the warp point.”

  “They would be great for commerce raiding and interdiction,” Mike pointed out.

  “True, but until we are in open conflict with the Sirriens, using them in that capacity would be against interstellar law and treaties.”

  “So they can do it, but we can’t!” Seaford snapped.

  “I sympathize with your view, Lord Seaford, but my hands are tied by the present government, no matter what I think should be done.”

  “The admiral is right. However, Avalon isn’t in the same boat. We can and will confront the Sirriens where we can along the border, and they know that,” the ambassador added.

  “So, we have to sit here and wait for the damned Sirriens to attack us here, or a crown colony before we can act,” Mike snapped.

  “Captain Gray… Mike. I can sympathize with your frustration, but you, like myself, are serving officers in His Majesty’s Navy. Until we receive official word from the Ministry of Defense to act otherwise, we are stuck here with our thumbs stuck up… twiddling our thumbs,” He corrected. Mike sighed and nodded in understanding. “However, that’s not to say I can’t let those here in on our secret about your ship, and why she isn’t here.”

  Mike sat up, looking surprised, “Hum… are you sure, sir?”

  “Well, it’s not as if it’s a secret from the Lady Anne, is it?” He smiled.

  “No, sir, that’s true.” He looked around the table for a moment, gauging just how much about his ship he should reveal. Tapping his porta-comp, he sent a file to the smart screen on the wall and opened it. It only took a moment for th
ose in the know to grasp the significance of what they were seeing.

  “Good lord!” Ross and Seaford muttered.

  “I knew you were working on something down at Devonport, but I never suspected it was anything like that!” Seaford added as he viewed the specifications.

  Fast Attack Corsair

  Class

  To be determined

  Displacement

  8,800 standard short tons – 10,530 tons full combat load

  Length

  558.6 feet

  Beam

  62 feet

  Installed Power

  150,000 ship horse power

  Propulsion

  Four Gravatronics – Type 3 – Four-stage fusion reactors

  Speed: (Flank)

  400 Mach (at125g)

  Speed: (Cruising)

  200 Mach (at100g)

  Range

  200 AU (18,600,000,000 million miles without refueling)

  Compliment

  167 (All ranks)

  Armament

  2 × Double BL 6 inch Mk XXIII main guns (Particle beam)

  4 × triple 36-inch Mark 42 Torpedo Tubes.

  4 × quad QF2 predictor missiles

  6 × Double 40 mm (Point defense lasers)

  6 x 2 rear facing missile launchers (Sponson mounted)

  Armor

  (Multilayer) 2.25 to 3.5-inch belt & keel – 2-inches main deck.

  1.5 to 2-inch internal bulkheads

  2-inch turrets front – 1-inch rear

  Triple hull – anti-radiation and impact absorption jell

  12-inch Pykrete ice (Between the inner and outer hulls)