Pegasus In Space Part 21

As Coetzer spread his hands to indicate permission, he pointedly did not look at either the woman or Peter.

Peter, with as much nonchalance as he could muster, took a sip of his herbal tea and glanced down the table while the exchange was made. Commander Chatham's rigid attention stance relaxed as her comunit chimed.

"Contact, Admiral Coetzer, " she said in her cool alto voice.

The monitor that had been positioned to face the crescent of viewers now flickered as the contact was established. Three men stood, two at attention, in front of a table in the conference room at First Base.

"Admiral Coetzer," said the swarthy-complexioned man in the middle with a bow of his head that Peter decided might have accompanied an unseen click of his heels. "Hiroga Watari here."

Lance Baden grinned and said an Australian "g'day," nodding to all.

"Sirs," and the third man did salute, "ladies." He was as tall as the lanky Baden, but broader in the shoulders, He had curly blond hair and eyes that were vividly blue in a wide face. "Major Cyberal at your command."

"Thank you, gentlemen. Please be seated," said the admiral, and when they were, he banged his fist on the table. "This meeting is called to order. Yeoman, prepare to record."

"Aye, sir," said Nicola's voice from Peter's left.

"Get it off your chest, Secretary," the admiral advised.

"My office is adamant that we achieve a flow of materiel to First Base with no further delays," Abubakar said with no preamble, rising to the challenge.

"Without, of course, increasing costs," said Johnny Greene.

"General, you're out of order," Alicia Taddesse said, giving him a stem look.

"Well, that's the size of it, isn't it?" Johnny said blandly, and took a sip of his coffee.

"The budget will not allow it," Mai Leitao said, shaking her head as she pa.s.sed her lightpen over the pad and brought up figures. "There is no room for additional expenditure."

"Our operation is daily dropping behind schedule due to lack of essential supplies," Colonel Watari said, scowling, an expression that intensified his j.a.panese features. "We have immediate needs that have not been met despite frequent urgent requests."

"The price of fuel is rising," Leitao said.

Peter winced. Her voice had a whining edge to it, like a mosquito.

"We must reduce, not increase, the number of flights, Colonel," she added.

"Then how, might I inquire," and the colonel's scowl deepened, "are we to keep our schedule?"

"Cut back on the development, of course," Alicia Taddesse said sharply.

Instantly the Secretary raised his hand in denial of that remark.

"Use the Discretionary Fund to meet fuel costs," Johnny suggested, looking up from the doodles he was making on the hard copy. Mai Leitao stared at him, her mouth dropping. Georg Fraga had a funny expression on his face. "Or, better still, use the kitty from Weapons Research and Development, which is obsolete anyway, except for appearing on the International Budget."

"Now, now, General," the Secretary said soothingly, his eyes on Johnny.

"Well, if you're using that for something else, Secretary, why not the . . ."

Abubakar cut into his sentence with a set smile. "And you think we haven't culled those sources already, General?"

Alicia Taddesse glared at Greene.

"I was trying to be helpful. How's that 'alternative fuel source' research going? Haven't heard a peep from that bunch in months. They sounded as if they were onto something with the recombinant."

Admiral Coetzer cleared his throat.

"Oh, yeah. I'm not supposed to know about that, am I?" Johnny asked rhetorically.

"I would ask how you do, General," Georg Fraga remarked mildly, his hands clasped idly on the table in front of him, "except I know your security clearance permits you to keep abreast of all new developments."

"A recombinant?" Colonel Watari asked, his eyes widening with interest.

"Need to know, Colonel," Johnny said with a wave of his hand and a slight emphasis on the rank.

"Yes, sir." Watari's scowl returned.

"Whereas," and now the Secretary turned back to Johnny Greene, "you are supposed to be sitting on the answer to our prayers?" He looked pointedly at Peter.

"The kid?" Watari said dismissively, glaring at him. "I don't understand, Admiral, why a civilian," and the sneer was thinly veiled, "is in on a high-level, high-security conference."

"Are you referring to Mr. Reidinger?" the admiral asked in a very gentle voice. "General Greene's colleague?"

"My instructor," Lance put in, his tone unusually harsh. "Same sort of 'civilian' I am, Colonel."

The colonel leaned back in his chair, looking away from the screen, attempting to modify his thoughts appropriately to the clues given by his superior officers.

"Tell me, Mr. Secretary, is the s.p.a.ce Authority in any way obligated to the fuel suppliers?" Johnny asked.

"What do you mean by that?" asked Georg Fraga, was.h.i.+ng his hands in what looked like an idle gesture.

Peter wondered, and discovered that Georg Fraga had a tight mental s.h.i.+eld. Alicia Taddesse did not and her tension was visible to him despite her controlled expression of polite surprise. Her public mind was swirling with frank replies and how she was to phrase them more discreetly. Mai Leitao's eyes were getting wider and she was broadcasting a tight swirl of anxiety.

"No, we are not," the Secretary said. "We advertise publicly for tenders to supply liquid hydrogen and oxygen from suppliers."

"Who use recycled tanks?" Johnny asked.

"Yes, of course," Abubakar said in a doesn't-everyone-know tone.

"What agency checks those tanks to be sure they haven't sprung leaks?"

"Leaks?" Georg Fraga gave a laugh. "Is your point that SA might be paying for more fuel than the freighters get to use?"

"Got it in one," Johnny said with a curt nod of his head.

"Have you any proof?"

"Indeed I have. Yeoman, be good enough to screen the file marked CeeCeeD CeeCeeD Number One-fuel consumption. It's the one I just put on your desk." Number One-fuel consumption. It's the one I just put on your desk."

Admiral Coetzer nodded for Nicola to do so. Peter sensed that this was no surprise to Dirk. Colonel Watari was clearing his throat and beetling his eyebrows. Peter got the distinct impression that this was not how the Base commander had thought this meeting would proceed. As the file was being beamed to First Base at the same time, all saw the report simultaneously. Colonel Watari's frown deepened, Major Cyberal looked shocked, and Lance gave a long sigh, s.h.i.+fting position so he could rest his chin on his raised hand.

"According to all specifications for a freighter of the CeeCeeD's CeeCeeD's size and bulk cargo capability," Johnny said, "she should have had enough fuel left on her return to Padrugoi to navigate without problem to her a.s.signed mooring." Figures scrolled down the screen. "Because she was lighter on fuel than the captain realized when he made his first burn, he couldn't make a long enough one to put her on her a.s.signed trajectory. She was off course coming into Padrugoi. What little fuel was left in the thrusters was not enough for her to correct her entry. That was not the first time this has happened to a freighter. Yet the tanks were supposed to be full when the size and bulk cargo capability," Johnny said, "she should have had enough fuel left on her return to Padrugoi to navigate without problem to her a.s.signed mooring." Figures scrolled down the screen. "Because she was lighter on fuel than the captain realized when he made his first burn, he couldn't make a long enough one to put her on her a.s.signed trajectory. She was off course coming into Padrugoi. What little fuel was left in the thrusters was not enough for her to correct her entry. That was not the first time this has happened to a freighter. Yet the tanks were supposed to be full when the CeeCeeD CeeCeeD left Padrugoi outward bound. Captain Maggert knew and did not report the discrepancy. His first mate did. Is that correct, Commander Chatham?" left Padrugoi outward bound. Captain Maggert knew and did not report the discrepancy. His first mate did. Is that correct, Commander Chatham?"

"It is, sir," Pota Chatham said, standing up and angling her wristcom so she could read from her notes. "The Station has noted similar late arrivals over the past few months. In fact, it's becoming the norm instead of unusual. We have had complaints from the portmaster, too." She turned to the admiral. "You may remember Commander Bernabe's report three months ago on leakage traces discovered during fuel loading. Of course, those tanks were returned as faulty. We've had no report from the suppliers about how such leakages occurred. Nor what is being done to ensure that Padrugoi receives certified full tanks."

"You may recall, Admiral," Johnny said, "that I have mentioned the ma.s.s differentiation."

"Ma.s.s differentiation?" Georg Fraga asked, surprised.

"Yes, didn't you know? A telekinetic is very much aware of how much ma.s.s he or she s.h.i.+fts."

"How?" Fraga asked.

On the First Base screen, Lance sat up again, grinning.

"We keep records of how much thrust is needed for each item logged in for transport," Johnny said with a casual wave of his hand. "And how many calories the telekinetic burns in each lift. That's how we figure cost, you know."

"No, I didn't," said Alicia Taddesse, her expression grim.

Johnny gave a negligent shrug of his shoulder. "I'd be happy to show you our costing equation."

Taddesse looked from Johnny to Fraga and her eyes slid over Peter.

Are they cheating the Station, Johnny? Peter asked. Peter asked.

Someone is. Or at least trying to charge Padrugoi full dollar for sixty cents' worth of fuel. We don't know who. Sometimes only fifty cents gets to us. Welcome to big business and politics, Pete. Easy, lad, don't let them know how this upsets you, and Johnny sent soothing thoughts. and Johnny sent soothing thoughts. This has to be sorted out, now. Especially since we can prove our allegations. Ignore the negative vibes. This has to be sorted out, now. Especially since we can prove our allegations. Ignore the negative vibes.

"I'd be very interested in how you arrive at your figures, General."

Johnny extracted a pencil file from his breast pocket and kinetically wafted it to the table in front of Taddesse. "No charge for special delivery."

Show-off, Peter said, imaging himself grinning, though he was careful not to let the smile show on his face. Peter said, imaging himself grinning, though he was careful not to let the smile show on his face.

Coetzer and Abubakar had no such reservations.

Just then, a wave of increased mental stress reached Peter. One of the most constant fears of the nonpsychic was that telepaths could read their minds all the time. Why a telepath would want want to was rarely considered. Mai Leitao was broadcasting her fear that the general and that awful boy knew "all" about her. Peter promptly turned her off in his head. to was rarely considered. Mai Leitao was broadcasting her fear that the general and that awful boy knew "all" about her. Peter promptly turned her off in his head.

Taddesse inserted the file in her notepad and studied it.

"Even after," after," and the Secretary emphasized the word, "we have put a stop to such shortages, there will not be a significant savings in fuel costs. My office is committed to enlarging First Base as the jump point for the Mars project. We can't have one without the other." Abubakar leaned back in his chair, politely inclining his head to the admiral. and the Secretary emphasized the word, "we have put a stop to such shortages, there will not be a significant savings in fuel costs. My office is committed to enlarging First Base as the jump point for the Mars project. We can't have one without the other." Abubakar leaned back in his chair, politely inclining his head to the admiral.

"Padrugoi Station is also committed to both projects. That's why General Greene and Mr. Reidinger are here."

"General Greene is known for his a.s.sistance," Abubakar said, and lifted his eyebrows inquiringly.

"Mr. Reidinger taught me all I know," Johnny said.

"The-'Kid' " was what Alicia Taddesse did not say out loud but it hung in the pause that followed. "I find that hard to believe, General."

"Don't," said the admiral. "We have never made public the role Peter Reidinger played in foiling Ludmilla Barchenka's White-Coat Mutiny. Without his timely a.s.sistance, you might have had to deal with her her on this subject." on this subject."

Abubakar cleared his throat noisily. "I didn't know."

Alicia Taddesse was surprised, Georg Fraga was dumbfounded, Colonel Watari incredulous, Cyberal curious, and Lance Baden's smile was broad. Peter did not look in Mai Leitao's direction. Some part of him was very pleased with the reactions. But that was not professional and he was going to need all his professionalism to cope with whatever came next.

You're right there, lad, Johnny said. Johnny said.

But he's a kid! Alicia's public mind shouted in denial. Alicia's public mind shouted in denial.

"Mr. Secretary, the security was 'need-to-know.' You need to know that Peter Reidinger was the most important factor in quelling the Mutiny. He was not of an age to be added to the roster of the Parapsychic Center then, but he has been with us now for several years."

"He's the one who, ah,'' and Georg Fraga paused.

"The one who untangled the freighter and put it where it belonged, yes," the admiral said. He gave Peter a grateful nod.

"The general and I worked together," Peter said firmly, deepening his voice to sound older. He noticed that Johnny raised one eyebrow as everyone regarded him.

"Actually, to be truthful, Peter s.h.i.+fted the freighter. I was too busy rounding up containers before they got too far away."

Why did you say that? Peter demanded, trying to keep his face from registering his dismay. Peter demanded, trying to keep his face from registering his dismay.

You'll see.

That's what I'm afraid of.

You'll let these mundanes misjudge you?

"He's the strongest telekinetic on Earth," Johnny went on, oblivious to Peter's serious attempt to shut him up. "Right, Lance?"

"Right, General."

"And he's he's your solution to the fuel cost rise?" Alicia Taddesse demanded simultaneously with the Secretary's excited "He can kinetically reach the Moon from Padrugoi?" your solution to the fuel cost rise?" Alicia Taddesse demanded simultaneously with the Secretary's excited "He can kinetically reach the Moon from Padrugoi?"

"He already has," Lance put in. "If the colonel will oblige?"

"Oblige? Oblige in what way?" and Watari was suspicious.

"You will remember that we were in urgent need of certain chips, Colonel, on the tenth of May last year?"

"Yes, I do. How did you manage-?" The colonel broke off, goggling first at Lance and then in Peter's direction.

"Would you access that proof of delivery, Cyberal?" Lance asked the major, who bent to an unseen notepad.

"Yes," and the blond officer frowned as the record came up. "Sergeant Gendro collected a bag from the vehicle parking field."

"The third bollard from the right?" asked Johnny.

Peter seethed, felt Johnny raise his s.h.i.+eld against him for the first time in their long a.s.sociation.