"If it came to a showdown," Curtis argued, "the Comerford, equipped with Androka's inventions, is more than a match for any or all of the British war vessels with the convoy. You know they're using mostly light corvettes and over-age destroyers these days."
"I guess you're right," the other agreed. "I haven't forgotten the mess the Comerford made of those three bombers we picked up."
"How long," Curtis asked, "would it take the Lexington to get within striking distance of the convoy—say between fifty and a hundred miles?"
"We could make it shortly after nightfall tomorrow," the other decided, after a bit of figuring.
"And that special plane you've reserved for me will be ready then?" Curtis said.
"It's ready now, if you want it," the commander of the Lexington told him.
The convoy was wallowing its way through the darkness, across the dreary wastes of the Atlantic, following a far-northern sea lane that would be most likely to offer safety from attack by enemy raiders and U-boats.
The Comerford had joined the convoy shortly after it had passed the shores of Iceland, reporting that she had been sent to strengthen it against possible attack by a powerful German sea raider that was reported to be at large in the north Atlantic.
The story was accepted by the commander of the convoy squadron.