Kris shook her head. Longknifes did not sit around waiting. When had Grampa Trouble ever done what was smart? And if Grampa Ray hadn't married so well, Kris would be no better off than any of the people who risked their lives for her today.
Kris drew in a long breath, then let her lips slip into a big, vacuum-for-brains smile. ''Ladies and gentlemen. As of this moment, by whatever authority some people consider vested in me, I am canceling the declaration of war between Turantic and Hamilton. This band of like-minded souls will use all means within our power to assure that no forces from Turantic commit acts of aggression against Hamilton.''
''You going to tell anyone on Turantic?'' Abby asked.
''Oh, why bother them with minor details? From the looks of things, everyone is terribly busy. Far be it from me to add to their burden.''
''Yeah,'' Tom said. ''Maybe if they stay real busy, they won't notice what this little band is up to.'' Then he gave Kris that lopsided grin of his. ''So, Princess, what's the plan?''
Chapter 19
Kris looked around at the faces fixed on her expectantly. Well, not all. Jack had that sardonic look of, You do know, it's easier said than done.
''I was kind of hoping the rest of you might have some good ideas about how to stop this war. I stopped the last one all by myself, didn't I?'' Kris said.
''I thought I helped.'' Tom pouted.
''You had half a squadron behind you so fast Security is still trying to figure out how you did it,'' Penny said.
''It's a Longknife thing.'' Jack sighed.
''You know I hate it when you all ramble on about things and never explain them,'' Abby said huffily. ''Ignore me. I'm just the maid.''
Tom and Penny made to throw teacups at Abby. Kris grabbed for hers, too. Abby cringed behind Jack.
''So,'' Jack said, ignoring the threatening storm of china. ''Anyone got a plan?''
''Let he who has a plan throw the first teacup,'' Abby said, peeking out around Jack's elbow. Penny and Tom put their cups down. Kris took a drink of cold tea, finished off the dregs, and tossed her cup to the maid. Abby caught it.
Jack raised an eyebrow. ''Start talking, Princess.''
''First thing seems to be eliminating the fleet above our heads. No Turantic fleet, no attack on anyone.''
''I like the logic, but taking out an entire fleet seems a bit drastic,'' Tom said.
Kris nodded. ''It would be impossible once it sails off to a jump point. However, for the moment, the ships are in dock. Blow up the dock, and we are bound to put quite a few dents in the boats while eliminating the tools to take out said dents.''
''Brilliant idea, Princess,'' Abby said coming out from behind Jack. ''Your deduction is impeccable. However, did you notice the dock in question is right above us. There's also the matter of an amusement park full of cute kids on the dock's roof.'' Abby shook her head. ''I didn't say I was opposed to trying something to stop this stupidity, I just don't see a way to do it without killing an awful lot of innocent people.''
''So you propose that whatever clever idea we come up with, it should not involve killing an awful lot of innocent people,'' Kris said.
''I second the motion,'' Penny said.
''Though it does kind of complicate things,'' Tom said slowly.
''I don't know about the Princess here,'' Abby said dryly, ''but I have to put makeup on in the morning, and I really don't want to despise the person I'm looking at.''
''Makes shaving easier, too,'' Jack agreed.
''Okay, let's see where we are,'' Kris said, letting a grin cross her face. ''We think blowing up the space dock would greatly improve this planet's chances for peace and prosperity. We also agree we shouldn't kill a lot of nice people doing it.''
''How do you blow up a space station the size of this one and not kill a whole lot of people who don't deserve it?'' Tom asked.
''I'm open to suggestions,'' Kris said to a bunch of blank stares. Kris left her chair to pace the floor. ''We need to either vacate the station before we blow it up… or keep people from coming up for a while until it's empty. How do we do that?''
''Send a public announcement?'' Penny said with a tiny shrug.
''Right,'' Abby drawled. ''Your presence is specifically not requested at all parties soon to be given on High Turantic while a pack of off-planet terrorists attempt to blow up your station without hurting anyone. Thank you, but I don't think the RSVPs will be quite what you want, Princess.''
''Agreed,'' Kris said, still pacing. ''Anyone know something that stops people from going somewhere they wanted to go?''
''Traffic jam.'' ''Broken-down car.'' ''Something better to do.'' ''Bad case of the flu,'' came back at her.
Kris cringed at the last one. ''Let's steer clear of anything that smacks of bugs.'' That got quick agreement.
Kris kept pacing. ''I once wanted to go to a Highland Game thing they had every year at this place outside Wardhaven. Father said it had no political value. He always got the votes from that demographic. Mother stopped me because the only sanitation facilities they had were portable toilets. I was young, and she didn't want to have to wait for me at any such place. Kind of strange, Harvey probably would have been the one to do it, but, anyway. Bathrooms are very important. Any idea how we might put the bathroom facilities out of order for the Top of Turantic?''
''What can you do to a bathroom?'' Penny asked.
''Spoken like a true mud lover,'' Tom said with the kind of grin that one bestows on someone you'd forgive all. ''Us space born know sanitation is always a problem. In low gravity you have to be sure everything flows right. And sewage treatment is always dumped near the central hub where gravity is nominal.''
''Ever have your sewer explode?'' Abby asked. ''Some of our pipes were ancient where I grew up. One really hot summer day we had this big explosion. Bigger than the ones when the gangs were arguing over the turf, you know. Anyway, it turned out one of the sewers had blown. Methane built up… boom.''
''Nelly, show us the Top of Turantic's sanitation system.''
''Those files are no longer on net,'' Nelly said to groans. ''However, when Kris was first invited to a ball, I downloaded a complete set of maintenance schematics. And I kept them in storage,'' said a computer proud enough to bust her buttons.
''You get another ‘Atta girl' for that,'' Kris said as a schematic of what Nelly knew about their station filled the screen. The lower portion with the Hilton and shipping docks was well filled in. Above that was a vast empty space. Then came another fully documented area: the Top of Turantic with its wide range of restaurants, sports venues, entertainment opportunities, and the children's theme park.
''Tom was right, '' Nelly said as she highlighted a portion of the Top of Turantic behind the mirrored right wall near the center of spin. ''The waste treatment and most other support services are in lower gravity.''
''Can't use it for paying customers,'' Tom grumbled, ''so the poor working stiffs get it. Cleaning filters when the stuff just floats around you or back onto the filter is a bitch.''
The team gathered around the screen. ''Any other treatment plant up there?'' Kris asked.
''Only the one,'' Nelly said.
''Can they send sewage down to the yard?'' Jack asked.
''There's a solid wall between the yard and both High Turantic and Top of Turantic,'' Penny said. ''The only break in that wall is the slide stations and ferry down to the ground.''
''And those tubes?'' Kris asked.
''Are behind solid steel walls. No exits in the yard area.''
''Get the feeling they don't trust us good folks?'' Abby drawled, nudging Jack.
''Well, if you were regularly doing unto others,'' Jack nudged Abby right back, ''you'd make sure folks didn't do unto you.''
''And Mr. Sandfire surely has done unto a lot,'' Penny said.
''Explains why I have this really strong need to do a bit unto him,'' Kris said. ''Nelly, how are the new nano spies coming along?'' Jack and Abby raised matching eyebrows. ''I told Nelly to start work right after the President finished.''
''So all your reluctance was just an act!'' Tom growled.
''Hey, can't a Princess poll her advisers?''
''Give me that pole. I'll club you,'' Penny said, only half rising from her chair before falling back with a groan.
Jack just chuckled. ''Will they be ready before Klaggath gets back?''
''Yes,'' Nelly assured them.
''It's not going to be easy surviving the guards that Sandfire will have out,'' Jack pointed out.
''Don't I know that, after today dirtside,'' Kris moaned with a grin. ''Nelly's using the best Auntie Tru passed along to us. Any suggestions on what we have the recon nits look for?''
''Power,'' Tom said. ''Cut power, and everyone gets a day off.''
''What's the power source for that yard?'' Abby asked, which got raised eyebrows all around. ''Hey, where I grew up, we were all the time losing electricity. You don't have to be some evil genius to know no juice, no joy.''
''Someday I want to visit where you grew up,'' Kris said.
''Be sure to take two squads of Marines. One maybe two might survive my hood,'' Abby said. ''So what juices that yard?''
''It is not drawing from the ground,'' Nelly said.
''Internal then. Fusion reactor like a ship's?'' Kris said.
''Oh my God,'' Penny moaned. ''We kill the power to the containment field, the whole thing could blow.''
''They must have enough backup to scram the reactor before they lose containment,'' Jack said.
''Everything north of this station was a rush job,'' Penny said. ''Don't count on anything being according to standards.''
''Nelly, have the nanos take a look at the station's power supply and backup system. Also the power distribution network. If we can't blow the main supply, maybe we can isolate it.''
''Yes, ma'am. Any other priorities?''
''Chemicals,'' Tom said. ''Chemicals that might go boom or make the air unpleasant would be a good way to stop work.''
''I will add chemical sniffers to more nanos,'' Nelly said.
''Well, if you're going after the other station's sewage, what about this one?'' Abby asked.
''Not important,'' Jack said, shaking his head. ''Moms and kids will flee a portable toilet, but if the boss man tells workers to use one, they use one.''
''Good point,'' Nelly said. ''I will lower that on my priority list.'' Further discussion added little. Nelly had the nanos ready when the Inspector reported back that Kris had twice the usual guards, starting at the lobby.