CHAPTER VIII“Six ships,” President Holland told Alan at the New Washington Spaceport. “That’s all we could make ready in time, Tremaine. Six battered line ships, out of commission for five years. It’s all we had.”
“I’m sorry, sir,” a man in the uniform of a four star general told the President. “We sent all our power to the Outworlds.”
“You couldn’t do anything else, General,” President Holland said. “We had received no ultimatum then. It seemed incredible Keifer or anyone would dare attack the Earth.”
“I’ll get through,” Alan said.
Flood lights stabbed out across the dark field, criss-crossing it with brilliant beams of light. Ground crews scurried like insects caught in their glare, fueling the six spaceships, checking them, trying to accomplish an extensive reconditioning job in min
