His very speed bespoke the importance of his information. Kantos
Kan and I awaited him upon the little forward deck which corresponds
with the bridge of earthly battleships. Scarcely had his tiny
flier come to rest upon the broad landing-deck of the flagship ere
he was bounding up the stairway to the deck where we stood.
"A great fleet of battleships south-south-east, my Prince," he
cried. "There must be several thousands and they are bearing down
directly upon us."
"The thern spies were not in the palace of John Carter for nothing,"
said Kantos Kan to me. "Your orders, Prince."
"Dispatch ten battleships to guard the entrance to Omean, with orders
to let no hostile enter or leave the shaft. That will bottle up
the great fleet of the First Born.
"Form the balance of the battleships into a great V with the apex
pointing directly south-south-east. Order the transports, surrounded
by their convoys, to follow closely in the wake of the battleships
until the point of the V has entered the enemies' line, then the V
must open outward at the apex, the battleships of each leg engage
the enemy fiercely and drive him back to form a lane through his
line into which the transports with their convoys must race at top
speed that they may gain a position above the temples and gardens
of the therns.
"Here let them land and teach the Holy Therns such a lesson in
ferocious warfare as they will not forget for countless ages.
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