Wing Commander (novelization) Chapter 2: Difference between revisions

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== Text ==
== Text ==


REQUISITIONED
<B>REQUISITIONED</B>
MERCHANTMAN DILIGENT
 
MARCH 15, 2654
<B>MERCHANTMAN <I>DILIGENT</I></B>
2130 HOURS
 
ZULU TIME
<B>MARCH 15, 2654</B>
SOL SYSTEM
 
ENROUTE TO TCS TIGER
<B>2130 HOURS</B>
CLAW VEGA SECTOR
 
<B>ZULU TIME</B>
 
<B>SOL SYSTEM</B>
 
<B>ENROUTE TO TCS <I>TIGER</I></B>
 
<B><I>CLAW</I> VEGA SECTOR</B>
 


After graduating from the Terran Confederation Space Naval Academy
After graduating from the Terran Confederation Space Naval Academy
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across the cosmos. But Blair couldn't blame them. He had behaved the
across the cosmos. But Blair couldn't blame them. He had behaved the
same way when graduates had come to speak to his freshman class.
same way when graduates had come to speak to his freshman class.
Christopher Blair needed a home. And at last they had given him one:
Christopher Blair needed a home. And at last they had given him one:
the TCS Tiger Claw, the largest carrier in her class, with a crew of over
the TCS <I>Tiger Claw</I>, the largest carrier in her class, with a crew of over
750. Less than two minutes after receiving word of the assignment, Blair
750. Less than two minutes after receiving word of the assignment, Bla,?ir
had voice-activated his Portable Personal Computer, a fingernail-sized
had voice-activated his Portable Personal Computer, a fingernail-sized
device embedded in his wrist, to learn more about the carrier's service
device embedded in his wrist, to learn more about the carrier's service
record.
record.
In 2642 the Confederation military command had authorized the
In 2642 the Confederation military command had authorized the
design of the Bengal-class carrier line, and by 2644 the Tiger Claw
design of the Bengal-class carrier line, and by 2644 the <I>Tiger
Claw</I>
launched for her shakedown cruise with a minimal space crew and
launched for her shakedown cruise with a minimal space crew and
inexperienced command. She ran headlong into a Kilrathi invasion force.
inexperienced command. She ran headlong into a Kilrathi invasion force.
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Shortly thereafter, Vega sector became the carrier's permanent
Shortly thereafter, Vega sector became the carrier's permanent
assignment.
assignment.
During 2649, the Claw performed a delaying action to allow Confed
 
During 2649, the <I>Claw</I> performed a delaying action to allow Confed
transports to retreat out of Kilrathi-occupied space. The engagement,
transports to retreat out of Kilrathi-occupied space. The engagement,
subsequently known as Custer's Carnival, concluded with the ship badly
subsequently known as Custer's Carnival, concluded with the ship badly
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never fully recovered from that mission, that battle damage still haunted
never fully recovered from that mission, that battle damage still haunted
the deepest regions of her hull.
the deepest regions of her hull.
Besides hearing about the Tiger Claw's history, Blair had wanted to
 
Besides hearing about the <I>Tiger Claw's</I> history, Blair had wanted to
review the personnel roster, but that access had been denied, since his
review the personnel roster, but that access had been denied, since his
computer account had not yet existed. No matter. He would meet his
computer account had not yet existed. No matter. He would meet his
fellow officers soon enough.
fellow officers soon enough.
Now he lay sprawled out and bare-chested on his rickety bunk in one of
Now he lay sprawled out and bare-chested on his rickety bunk in one of
the Diligent's tiny cabins. Exposed conduits spanned the ceiling like
the <i>Diligent's</i> tiny cabins. Exposed conduits spanned the ceiling like
rubber and durasteel cobwebs. Even the standard cot-and-locker
rubber and durasteel cobwebs. Even the standard cot-and-locker
arrangements aboard carriers afforded more living space. And their crews
arrangements aboard carriers afforded more living space. And their crews
actually kept the floors clean and addressed problems such as
actually kept the floors clean and addressed problems such as
foul-smelling mattresses, two items clearly overlooked on the Diligent.
foul-smelling mattresses, two items clearly overlooked on the <i>Diligent</i>.
 
Trying to ignore the uncomfortable surroundings, Blair fixed his gaze
Trying to ignore the uncomfortable surroundings, Blair fixed his gaze
on a hard copy of Claw Marks, the onboard magazine of the TCS Tiger
on a hard copy of <I>Claw Marks</I>, the onboard magazine of the TCS <I>Tiger
Claw, a gift from one of his flight instructors. As he read the latest news
Claw</I>, a gift from one of his flight instructors. As he read the latest news
from the Terran Confederation Armed Forces CommNet, he absently
from the Terran Confederation Armed Forces CommNet, he absently
touched the four-inch-long silver cross hanging around his neck. He let his
touched the four-inch-long silver cross hanging around his neck. He let his
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its glimmering top. From a distance, the object appeared like a cruciform
its glimmering top. From a distance, the object appeared like a cruciform
set against a rising sun.
set against a rising sun.
Out of the corner of his eye, Blair saw a magnesium-bright flash appear
Out of the corner of his eye, Blair saw a magnesium-bright flash appear
on the shelf above his head. Merlin had decided to show himself. A
on the shelf above his head. Merlin had decided to show himself. A
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smoothed out his black tunic and breeches, as though he had been
smoothed out his black tunic and breeches, as though he had been
somewhere to wrinkle them.
somewhere to wrinkle them.
"I know there's a war going on—but a requisitioned merchantman?
"I know there's a war going on—but a requisitioned merchantman?
What are we on, a garbage run? Delivering groceries?" Merlin's
What are we on, a garbage run? Delivering groceries?" Merlin's
clean-shaven face tightened like a piece of stretched leather.
clean-shaven face tightened like a piece of stretched leather.
Blair ignored him, having learned since age five that Merlin's ranting
Blair ignored him, having learned since age five that Merlin's ranting
would soon evaporate were he denied an audience.
would soon evaporate were he denied an audience.
"The Diligent?" Merlin continued. "Please—the Dilapidated is more like
 
it. The Deluded. The Dilatory."
"The <i>Diligent</i>?" Merlin continued. "Please—the <i>Dilapidated</i> is more like
Frowning, Blair glanced at the disgusted little man. "Dilatory!"
it. The <i>Deluded</i>. The <i>Dilatory</i>."
 
Frowning, Blair glanced at the disgusted little man. "<i>Dilatory</i>!"
 
Merlin snorted. "Of course. Inclined to delay, tardy, slow. From the
Merlin snorted. "Of course. Inclined to delay, tardy, slow. From the
Latin dilator." He smirked. "I'm not keeping you up, am I?"
Latin <i>dilator</i>." He smirked. "I'm not keeping you up, am I?"
 
For a moment, Blair felt taken aback. Had he heard right? True, the
For a moment, Blair felt taken aback. Had he heard right? True, the
program knew quite well how to complain over every situation, but
program knew quite well how to complain over every situation, but
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did you pick up that sarcasm? My father didn't put that in your program.
did you pick up that sarcasm? My father didn't put that in your program.
And I know I didn't."
And I know I didn't."
"Well, I don't just sit around waiting for you to power me up. I have my
"Well, I don't just sit around waiting for you to power me up. I have my
own life, too, you know. I have aspirations. I dream that one day you'll
own life, too, you know. I have aspirations. I dream that one day you'll
finally come to your senses and adjust my program so that I am the proper
finally come to your senses and adjust my program so that I am the proper
size."
size."
Blair rolled his eyes. "I'm not changing my mind."
Blair rolled his eyes. "I'm not changing my mind."
"What's the point of my being scaled down?"
"What's the point of my being scaled down?"
"My father wanted you this way. Besides, you're less obtrusive."
"My father wanted you this way. Besides, you're less obtrusive."
"Obtrusive? I am not—"
"Obtrusive? I am not—"
"Run a diagnostic. You are. And while you're at it, tell me where you
"Run a diagnostic. You are. And while you're at it, tell me where you
picked up that sarcasm."
picked up that sarcasm."
"I downloaded it from the mainframe at the academy while you were
"I downloaded it from the mainframe at the academy while you were
in—" Merlin looked up.
in—" Merlin looked up.
"What is it?"
"What is it?"
"Lieutenant Marshall is approaching the hatch."
"Lieutenant Marshall is approaching the hatch."
Slapping the magazine over his chest to conceal his cross, Blair flinched
Slapping the magazine over his chest to conceal his cross, Blair flinched
a little as the hatch opened and Todd Marshall stepped into the cabin, his
a little as the hatch opened and Todd Marshall stepped into the cabin, his
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cropped blond hair grazing a sweaty pipe. He raked fingers through his
cropped blond hair grazing a sweaty pipe. He raked fingers through his
hair, scowled a moment at the conduit, and muttered, "What a bucket."
hair, scowled a moment at the conduit, and muttered, "What a bucket."
Then that slightly crazed gleam returned to his eyes, and his oversized
Then that slightly crazed gleam returned to his eyes, and his oversized
Adam's apple worked overtime. "I was going to come down here and get
Adam's apple worked overtime. "I was going to come down here and get
you." He smiled devilishly, raising his brow. "I found some holos in the rec
you." He smiled devilishly, raising his brow. "I found some holos in the rec
that I know you'll wanna see."
that I know you'll wanna see."
Blair drew in a deep breath and nodded his understanding. "Don't you
Blair drew in a deep breath and nodded his understanding. "Don't you
get tired of that stuff? I don't think those women exist."
get tired of that stuff? I don't think those women exist."
"Of course they don't. It's all part of the fantasy. But like I said, I was
"Of course they don't. It's all part of the fantasy. But like I said, I was
going to come down here and get you so we could watch them. But the
going to come down here and get you so we could watch them. But the
captain stopped me on the way. Up and at 'em. He wants you on the
captain stopped me on the way. Up and at 'em. He wants you on the
bridge. Top priority."
bridge. Top priority."
"Really? For what?"
"Really? For what?"
Marshall shrugged, moving around the bunk to stare at Merlin. "He
Marshall shrugged, moving around the bunk to stare at Merlin. "He
didn't sound thrilled."
didn't sound thrilled."
Merlin, now in standby mode and immobile for the most part,
Merlin, now in standby mode and immobile for the most part,
continued to stare around the room, as though his face had become a
continued to stare around the room, as though his face had become a
mask for another entity behind it. Blair had seen the effect many times,
mask for another entity behind it. Blair had seen the effect many times,
and it didn't bother or fascinate him anymore.
and it didn't bother or fascinate him anymore.
But Marshall still found it spooky, intriguing. "What are you looking
But Marshall still found it spooky, intriguing. "What are you looking
at?" he asked Merlin, then regarded Blair. "What a waste of artificial
at?" he asked Merlin, then regarded Blair. "What a waste of artificial
intelligence."
intelligence."
"Funny, Lieutenant. I was thinking the same about you." The holograph
"Funny, Lieutenant. I was thinking the same about you." The holograph
glowered at Marshall.
glowered at Marshall.
"Merlin, off," Blair ordered.
"Merlin, off," Blair ordered.
"Of course I have no difficulty obeying your command, but if I may—"
"Of course I have no difficulty obeying your command, but if I may—"
"Merlin, off!"
"Merlin, off!"
With a huff, the little man vanished.
With a huff, the little man vanished.
"Sorry about that," Blair said. "He's been hacking where he shouldn't."
"Sorry about that," Blair said. "He's been hacking where he shouldn't."
"I'll hack him," Marshall said, shaking his head. "There weren't enough
"I'll hack him," Marshall said, shaking his head. "There weren't enough
know-it-alls in the universe… your father had to program another one."
know-it-alls in the universe… your father had to program another one."
Blair chuckled. "What? You don't want any more competition?"
Blair chuckled. "What? You don't want any more competition?"
"Now I know where the little man gets it," Marshall said, nodding. "Did
"Now I know where the little man gets it," Marshall said, nodding. "Did
I tell you about the time I reprogrammed Marty Pinshaw's PPC so that it
I tell you about the time I reprogrammed Marty Pinshaw's PPC so that it
would automatically read aloud his diary every time he said the word
would automatically read aloud his diary every time he said the word
waxed? Remember that guy back at the academy? That's all he ever said.
<i>waxed</i>? Remember that guy back at the academy? That's all he ever said.
I waxed his ass. I waxed her ass. You get tired of listening to a guy talk
I <i>waxed</i> his ass. I <i>waxed</i> her ass. You get tired of listening to a guy talk
about how great he is, you know?"
about how great he is, you know?"
"I totally agree."
"I totally agree."
"Hey, now. Come on. We'd better get upstairs." Marshall started for the
"Hey, now. Come on. We'd better get upstairs." Marshall started for the
door.
door.
"I'll meet you," Blair said, reluctant to rise and reveal his cross.
"I'll meet you," Blair said, reluctant to rise and reveal his cross.
Marshall began to mouth something, then simply shrugged and left.
Marshall began to mouth something, then simply shrugged and left.
Lowering the magazine, Blair sat up and took in a long breath. A chill
Lowering the magazine, Blair sat up and took in a long breath. A chill
needled up his spine as he whispered the words, "Top priority." He
needled up his spine as he whispered the words, "Top priority." He
reached for his shirt beside him and bolted from the bunk.
reached for his shirt beside him and bolted from the bunk.
On a day when you're feeling generous, Blair thought, you could call
On a day when you're feeling generous, Blair thought, you could call
the Diligent's bridge a bridge. But were you to be accurate, you might call
the <i>Diligent's</i> bridge a bridge. But were you to be accurate, you might call
it a machine room like the ones used a half-dozen centuries ago to house
it a machine room like the ones used a half-dozen centuries ago to house
the huge, noisy compressors of large refrigeration units. Low-hanging
the huge, noisy compressors of large refrigeration units. Low-hanging
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low-hanging hydraulic line. He found Marshall seated to starboard in the
low-hanging hydraulic line. He found Marshall seated to starboard in the
co-pilot's chair, studying a navigation screen mounted on a swivel arm.
co-pilot's chair, studying a navigation screen mounted on a swivel arm.
Glancing to port, he saw the captain stepping out from the adjoining
Glancing to port, he saw the captain stepping out from the adjoining
galley, blowing on a steaming mug of coffee.
galley, blowing on a steaming mug of coffee.
Captain James Taggart hadn't said much during the voyage. His
Captain James Taggart hadn't said much during the voyage. His
reticence, Blair figured, stemmed from the embarrassment of
reticence, Blair figured, stemmed from the embarrassment of
commanding a tape-and-coat-hanger transport like the Diligent. Funny,
commanding a tape-and-coat-hanger transport like the <i>Diligent</i>. Funny,
though. Taggart didn't look the part of a gypsy cabby contracted by the
though. Taggart didn't look the part of a gypsy cabby contracted by the
military. Dark, neatly groomed hair. A face that barely betrayed his
military. Dark, neatly groomed hair. A face that barely betrayed his
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a lot more in the universe than would ever escape his lips. Marshall could
a lot more in the universe than would ever escape his lips. Marshall could
take a few lessons from the man.
take a few lessons from the man.
Blair found the captain's gaze. "Sir?"
Blair found the captain's gaze. "Sir?"
But the man's stare lowered to Blair's chest, and a strange look washed
But the man's stare lowered to Blair's chest, and a strange look washed
over his face.
over his face.
A quick glance down revealed that Blair's cross had slipped out from
A quick glance down revealed that Blair's cross had slipped out from
behind his V-neck shirt. He quickly tucked it behind the fabric and
behind his V-neck shirt. He quickly tucked it behind the fabric and
stiffened nervously to attention, waiting for a severe interrogation.
stiffened nervously to attention, waiting for a severe interrogation.
"I don't know who you know, Lieutenant, but you just received a Confed
"I don't know who you know, Lieutenant, but you just received a Confed
One Secure Communication." Taggart gestured with his coffee mug
One Secure Communication." Taggart gestured with his coffee mug
toward the bridge's center console.
toward the bridge's center console.
Releasing a long mental sigh over the captain's decision to ignore the
Releasing a long mental sigh over the captain's decision to ignore the
cross, Blair hurried to the console, slid over to the comm screen, and keyed
cross, Blair hurried to the console, slid over to the comm screen, and keyed
an activation code on the touchpad.
an activation code on the touchpad.
"Identify," a computer voice said.
"Identify," a computer voice said.
"Blair, Christopher. Lieutenant."
"Blair, Christopher. Lieutenant."
"Voice print recognized. Communication establishing…"
"Voice print recognized. Communication establishing…"
The screen filled with the god-like face of a man for whom the phrase
The screen filled with the god-like face of a man for whom the phrase
"living legend" remained as inadequate as it was trite. "Admiral Tolwyn."
"living legend" remained as inadequate as it was trite. "Admiral Tolwyn."
"At ease, Lieutenant."
"At ease, Lieutenant."
"Yes, sir."
"Yes, sir."
"I need a favor," Tolwyn said matter-of-factly, his gray eyes flashing.
"I need a favor," Tolwyn said matter-of-factly, his gray eyes flashing.
Blair swallowed. "Anything, sir."
Blair swallowed. "Anything, sir."
"You're currently outbound for Vega sector and the Tiger Claw. I need
 
"You're currently outbound for Vega sector and the <I>Tiger Claw</I>. I need
you to hand-deliver an encrypted communications disc to Captain Sansky.
you to hand-deliver an encrypted communications disc to Captain Sansky.
Message is incoming."
Message is incoming."
As he waited for the download to complete, Blair grew more confused.
As he waited for the download to complete, Blair grew more confused.
The comm recorder beeped. He removed the minidisc and held it up.
The comm recorder beeped. He removed the minidisc and held it up.
"Begging the admiral's pardon, sir, but why not send it via drone to
"Begging the admiral's pardon, sir, but why not send it via drone to
Pegasus? It would be quicker…"
Pegasus? It would be quicker…"
Slowly, Tolwyn shook his head, driving Blair into sudden silence. "The
Slowly, Tolwyn shook his head, driving Blair into sudden silence. "The
Pegasus is gone, destroyed by a Kilrathi battle group twelve and a half
Pegasus is gone, destroyed by a Kilrathi battle group twelve and a half
hours ago."
hours ago."
Blair's mouth fell open. Two of his classmates, Trish Melize and Sandra
Blair's mouth fell open. Two of his classmates, Trish Melize and Sandra
Sotovsky, had been assigned to the Pegasus. He thought suddenly of their
Sotovsky, had been assigned to the Pegasus. He thought suddenly of their
parents, mothers and fathers he had met at the graduation ball, at the
parents, mothers and fathers he had met at the graduation ball, at the
barbecue, at the ceremony.
barbecue, at the ceremony.
The war had snapped its fingers.
The war had snapped its fingers.
And two daughters were no more.
And two daughters were no more.
"See that Captain Sansky gets that disc," Tolwyn added.
"See that Captain Sansky gets that disc," Tolwyn added.
"With all due respect, sir. Why me?"
"With all due respect, sir. Why me?"
Tolwyn's lips curled in a remote smile. "Right now you're all I've got."
Tolwyn's lips curled in a remote smile. "Right now you're all I've got."
His gaze averted a moment as he seemed to consider something. "I fought
His gaze averted a moment as he seemed to consider something. "I fought
with your father in the Pilgrim Wars. He was a good man—you look like
with your father in the Pilgrim Wars. He was a good man—you look like
him."
him."
Without trying to offend the admiral, Blair pointed out a fact that had
Without trying to offend the admiral, Blair pointed out a fact that had
shadowed him all of his life. "People say I have my mother's looks, sir."
shadowed him all of his life. "People say I have my mother's looks, sir."
At the mention of Blair's mother, the admiral's eyes narrowed, as
At the mention of Blair's mother, the admiral's eyes narrowed, as
though he remembered something. "Yes, it must've been hard. They were
though he remembered something. "Yes, it must've been hard. They were
both good people. Godspeed. Tolwyn out."
both good people. Godspeed. Tolwyn out."
Blair stared at the empty screen a moment before Marshall's voice
Blair stared at the empty screen a moment before Marshall's voice
ruined the silence. "Can you believe he fought with your father? Man… you
ruined the silence. "Can you believe he fought with your father? Man… you
got an in now. I'm you, I don't even worry about promotions."
got an in now. I'm you, I don't even worry about promotions."
Turning to Marshall, Blair closed his eyes. "Just shuddup."
Turning to Marshall, Blair closed his eyes. "Just shuddup."
On the Concordia's bridge, Admiral Geoffrey Tolwyn read the obvious
On the Concordia's bridge, Admiral Geoffrey Tolwyn read the obvious
look of displeasure on Commodore Bellegarde's boyish face. The
look of displeasure on Commodore Bellegarde's boyish face. The
commodore rarely wore that look, and Tolwyn found it impossible not to
commodore rarely wore that look, and Tolwyn found it impossible not to
address. He cocked a brow. "You don't approve, Richard?"
address. He cocked a brow. "You don't approve, Richard?"
"Of using Blair's kid? No, sir. I do not."
"Of using Blair's kid? No, sir. I do not."
"Why?"
"Why?"
Bellegarde stepped forward. "I think we both know why."
Bellegarde stepped forward. "I think we both know why."
The Diligent's navigation screens woke from their powerless slumber to
 
The <i>Diligent</i>'s navigation screens woke from their powerless slumber to
create 3-D grids as Captain James Taggart began tapping in coordinates.
create 3-D grids as Captain James Taggart began tapping in coordinates.
Blair stood behind him, watching. "This milk run just got a little more
Blair stood behind him, watching. "This milk run just got a little more
interesting," the captain said. "Set a course for Beacon One-forty-seven,
interesting," the captain said. "Set a course for Beacon One-forty-seven,
one-quarter impulse."
one-quarter impulse."
Marshall nodded and worked his touchpad. "Course for
Marshall nodded and worked his touchpad. "Course for
One-forty-seven. One-quarter impulse." He frowned at a flashing red
One-forty-seven. One-quarter impulse." He frowned at a flashing red
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off-limits, sir. There's a one-hundred-thousand-kilometer no-fly zone
off-limits, sir. There's a one-hundred-thousand-kilometer no-fly zone
around it."
around it."
Taggart puffed air. "I said Beacon One-forty-seven. It's a short cut. Lose
 
Taggart puffed air. "I said <i>Beacon</I> One-forty-seven. It's a short cut. Lose
the sir."
the sir."
With an exaggerated shrug, Marshall regarded his screen, banged in
With an exaggerated shrug, Marshall regarded his screen, banged in
the course, then booted the engage pedal.
the course, then booted the engage pedal.
As Taggart fell back into his chair and yawned, Blair noticed a small,
As Taggart fell back into his chair and yawned, Blair noticed a small,
dark tattoo emerge from beneath his collar. Blair recognized the writing: a
dark tattoo emerge from beneath his collar. Blair recognized the writing: a
set of four vertical lines that comprised the Kilrathi language. Taggart
set of four vertical lines that comprised the Kilrathi language. Taggart
caught him staring, and Blair flinched toward the forward screen.
caught him staring, and Blair flinched toward the forward screen.
The Diligent streaked by the mottled red orb of Pluto, its tenuous
 
The <i>Diligent</i> streaked by the mottled red orb of Pluto, its tenuous
atmosphere escaping in tendrils toward its gray moon, Charon.
atmosphere escaping in tendrils toward its gray moon, Charon.
Taggart got abruptly to his feet. "I'll be in my quarters. Call me when
Taggart got abruptly to his feet. "I'll be in my quarters. Call me when
we come within a hundred klicks of the beacon."
we come within a hundred klicks of the beacon."

Revision as of 20:33, 4 September 2021

Prologue
Movienovel.jpg
Book Wing Commander
Parts 1
Previous Chapter One
Next Chapter Three


Dramatis Personae

Text

REQUISITIONED

MERCHANTMAN DILIGENT

MARCH 15, 2654

2130 HOURS

ZULU TIME

SOL SYSTEM

ENROUTE TO TCS TIGER

CLAW VEGA SECTOR


After graduating from the Terran Confederation Space Naval Academy on Hilthros just a month earlier, First Lieutenant Christopher Blair had entertained a number of fantasies concerning his first non-training assignment. He, like many of the other fledgling pilots, had put himself on great carriers like the Concordia or cruisers like the Waterloo. Some of Blair's classmates had actually been awarded those prestigious assignments, much to his jealousy and chagrin, because for a month he had been shuffled around, leading him to believe that his superiors could not find him a home. He had served a brief, thirty-hour stint on the destroyer Gilgamesh before being ferried back to the academy. The commandant had asked him to give several testimonial speeches to the new classes. But Blair felt that his wisdom had fallen on the deaf ears of bright-eyed baby birds too excited to listen, their hearts pounding at the thought of strapping on starfighters and hauling their particular asses across the cosmos. But Blair couldn't blame them. He had behaved the same way when graduates had come to speak to his freshman class.

Christopher Blair needed a home. And at last they had given him one: the TCS Tiger Claw, the largest carrier in her class, with a crew of over 750. Less than two minutes after receiving word of the assignment, Bla,?ir had voice-activated his Portable Personal Computer, a fingernail-sized device embedded in his wrist, to learn more about the carrier's service record.

In 2642 the Confederation military command had authorized the design of the Bengal-class carrier line, and by 2644 the Tiger Claw launched for her shakedown cruise with a minimal space crew and inexperienced command. She ran headlong into a Kilrathi invasion force. With clever tactics her crew managed to suppress the superior force. Shortly thereafter, Vega sector became the carrier's permanent assignment.

During 2649, the Claw performed a delaying action to allow Confed transports to retreat out of Kilrathi-occupied space. The engagement, subsequently known as Custer's Carnival, concluded with the ship badly damaged but able to return home. She lay in spacedock undergoing repairs and refitting until early 2050. Veteran crewers swore the old girl never fully recovered from that mission, that battle damage still haunted the deepest regions of her hull.

Besides hearing about the Tiger Claw's history, Blair had wanted to review the personnel roster, but that access had been denied, since his computer account had not yet existed. No matter. He would meet his fellow officers soon enough.

Now he lay sprawled out and bare-chested on his rickety bunk in one of the Diligent's tiny cabins. Exposed conduits spanned the ceiling like rubber and durasteel cobwebs. Even the standard cot-and-locker arrangements aboard carriers afforded more living space. And their crews actually kept the floors clean and addressed problems such as foul-smelling mattresses, two items clearly overlooked on the Diligent.

Trying to ignore the uncomfortable surroundings, Blair fixed his gaze on a hard copy of Claw Marks, the onboard magazine of the TCS Tiger Claw, a gift from one of his flight instructors. As he read the latest news from the Terran Confederation Armed Forces CommNet, he absently touched the four-inch-long silver cross hanging around his neck. He let his fingers play over the strange symbol carved into its center. Resembling the old Earth scales of justice, the symbol stood on a circular gold background with three points of silver radiating from it to support a semicircle also trimmed in gold. That semicircle ran the width of the cross and served as its glimmering top. From a distance, the object appeared like a cruciform set against a rising sun.

Out of the corner of his eye, Blair saw a magnesium-bright flash appear on the shelf above his head. Merlin had decided to show himself. A half-meter tall and generated by Blair's PPC, the holographic old man/interface tossed his waist-length ponytail over his shoulder, then smoothed out his black tunic and breeches, as though he had been somewhere to wrinkle them.

"I know there's a war going on—but a requisitioned merchantman? What are we on, a garbage run? Delivering groceries?" Merlin's clean-shaven face tightened like a piece of stretched leather.

Blair ignored him, having learned since age five that Merlin's ranting would soon evaporate were he denied an audience.

"The Diligent?" Merlin continued. "Please—the Dilapidated is more like it. The Deluded. The Dilatory."

Frowning, Blair glanced at the disgusted little man. "Dilatory!"

Merlin snorted. "Of course. Inclined to delay, tardy, slow. From the Latin dilator." He smirked. "I'm not keeping you up, am I?"

For a moment, Blair felt taken aback. Had he heard right? True, the program knew quite well how to complain over every situation, but cutting remarks of this kind should not have been at its disposal. "Where did you pick up that sarcasm? My father didn't put that in your program. And I know I didn't."

"Well, I don't just sit around waiting for you to power me up. I have my own life, too, you know. I have aspirations. I dream that one day you'll finally come to your senses and adjust my program so that I am the proper size."

Blair rolled his eyes. "I'm not changing my mind."

"What's the point of my being scaled down?"

"My father wanted you this way. Besides, you're less obtrusive."

"Obtrusive? I am not—"

"Run a diagnostic. You are. And while you're at it, tell me where you picked up that sarcasm."

"I downloaded it from the mainframe at the academy while you were in—" Merlin looked up.

"What is it?"

"Lieutenant Marshall is approaching the hatch."

Slapping the magazine over his chest to conceal his cross, Blair flinched a little as the hatch opened and Todd Marshall stepped into the cabin, his regulation blue uniform hanging loosely from his lanky frame, his closely cropped blond hair grazing a sweaty pipe. He raked fingers through his hair, scowled a moment at the conduit, and muttered, "What a bucket."

Then that slightly crazed gleam returned to his eyes, and his oversized Adam's apple worked overtime. "I was going to come down here and get you." He smiled devilishly, raising his brow. "I found some holos in the rec that I know you'll wanna see."

Blair drew in a deep breath and nodded his understanding. "Don't you get tired of that stuff? I don't think those women exist."

"Of course they don't. It's all part of the fantasy. But like I said, I was going to come down here and get you so we could watch them. But the captain stopped me on the way. Up and at 'em. He wants you on the bridge. Top priority."

"Really? For what?"

Marshall shrugged, moving around the bunk to stare at Merlin. "He didn't sound thrilled."

Merlin, now in standby mode and immobile for the most part, continued to stare around the room, as though his face had become a mask for another entity behind it. Blair had seen the effect many times, and it didn't bother or fascinate him anymore.

But Marshall still found it spooky, intriguing. "What are you looking at?" he asked Merlin, then regarded Blair. "What a waste of artificial intelligence."

"Funny, Lieutenant. I was thinking the same about you." The holograph glowered at Marshall.

"Merlin, off," Blair ordered.

"Of course I have no difficulty obeying your command, but if I may—" "Merlin, off!"

With a huff, the little man vanished.

"Sorry about that," Blair said. "He's been hacking where he shouldn't."

"I'll hack him," Marshall said, shaking his head. "There weren't enough know-it-alls in the universe… your father had to program another one."

Blair chuckled. "What? You don't want any more competition?"

"Now I know where the little man gets it," Marshall said, nodding. "Did I tell you about the time I reprogrammed Marty Pinshaw's PPC so that it would automatically read aloud his diary every time he said the word waxed? Remember that guy back at the academy? That's all he ever said. I waxed his ass. I waxed her ass. You get tired of listening to a guy talk about how great he is, you know?"

"I totally agree."

"Hey, now. Come on. We'd better get upstairs." Marshall started for the door.

"I'll meet you," Blair said, reluctant to rise and reveal his cross. Marshall began to mouth something, then simply shrugged and left.

Lowering the magazine, Blair sat up and took in a long breath. A chill needled up his spine as he whispered the words, "Top priority." He reached for his shirt beside him and bolted from the bunk.

On a day when you're feeling generous, Blair thought, you could call the Diligent's bridge a bridge. But were you to be accurate, you might call it a machine room like the ones used a half-dozen centuries ago to house the huge, noisy compressors of large refrigeration units. Low-hanging conduits, exposed circuit panels, torn crew seats, and poor lighting completed the unglamorous effect. Blair got the feeling that he now stepped into the bowels of a cyborg with a strong inclination for spicy food. He ducked as he shifted by a small hatchway and moved farther onto the bridge, careful to duck once more to avoid a major contusion from a low-hanging hydraulic line. He found Marshall seated to starboard in the co-pilot's chair, studying a navigation screen mounted on a swivel arm.

Glancing to port, he saw the captain stepping out from the adjoining galley, blowing on a steaming mug of coffee.

Captain James Taggart hadn't said much during the voyage. His reticence, Blair figured, stemmed from the embarrassment of commanding a tape-and-coat-hanger transport like the Diligent. Funny, though. Taggart didn't look the part of a gypsy cabby contracted by the military. Dark, neatly groomed hair. A face that barely betrayed his middle years. And there seemed something rugged, something handsome, something pirate-like about the guy that made you just know he had seen a lot more in the universe than would ever escape his lips. Marshall could take a few lessons from the man.

Blair found the captain's gaze. "Sir?"

But the man's stare lowered to Blair's chest, and a strange look washed over his face.

A quick glance down revealed that Blair's cross had slipped out from behind his V-neck shirt. He quickly tucked it behind the fabric and stiffened nervously to attention, waiting for a severe interrogation.

"I don't know who you know, Lieutenant, but you just received a Confed One Secure Communication." Taggart gestured with his coffee mug toward the bridge's center console.

Releasing a long mental sigh over the captain's decision to ignore the cross, Blair hurried to the console, slid over to the comm screen, and keyed an activation code on the touchpad.

"Identify," a computer voice said.

"Blair, Christopher. Lieutenant."

"Voice print recognized. Communication establishing…"

The screen filled with the god-like face of a man for whom the phrase "living legend" remained as inadequate as it was trite. "Admiral Tolwyn."

"At ease, Lieutenant."

"Yes, sir."

"I need a favor," Tolwyn said matter-of-factly, his gray eyes flashing.

Blair swallowed. "Anything, sir."

"You're currently outbound for Vega sector and the Tiger Claw. I need you to hand-deliver an encrypted communications disc to Captain Sansky. Message is incoming."

As he waited for the download to complete, Blair grew more confused. The comm recorder beeped. He removed the minidisc and held it up.

"Begging the admiral's pardon, sir, but why not send it via drone to Pegasus? It would be quicker…"

Slowly, Tolwyn shook his head, driving Blair into sudden silence. "The Pegasus is gone, destroyed by a Kilrathi battle group twelve and a half hours ago."

Blair's mouth fell open. Two of his classmates, Trish Melize and Sandra Sotovsky, had been assigned to the Pegasus. He thought suddenly of their parents, mothers and fathers he had met at the graduation ball, at the barbecue, at the ceremony.

The war had snapped its fingers.

And two daughters were no more.

"See that Captain Sansky gets that disc," Tolwyn added.

"With all due respect, sir. Why me?"

Tolwyn's lips curled in a remote smile. "Right now you're all I've got." His gaze averted a moment as he seemed to consider something. "I fought with your father in the Pilgrim Wars. He was a good man—you look like him."

Without trying to offend the admiral, Blair pointed out a fact that had shadowed him all of his life. "People say I have my mother's looks, sir."

At the mention of Blair's mother, the admiral's eyes narrowed, as though he remembered something. "Yes, it must've been hard. They were both good people. Godspeed. Tolwyn out."

Blair stared at the empty screen a moment before Marshall's voice ruined the silence. "Can you believe he fought with your father? Man… you got an in now. I'm you, I don't even worry about promotions."

Turning to Marshall, Blair closed his eyes. "Just shuddup."

On the Concordia's bridge, Admiral Geoffrey Tolwyn read the obvious look of displeasure on Commodore Bellegarde's boyish face. The commodore rarely wore that look, and Tolwyn found it impossible not to address. He cocked a brow. "You don't approve, Richard?"

"Of using Blair's kid? No, sir. I do not."

"Why?"

Bellegarde stepped forward. "I think we both know why."

The Diligent's navigation screens woke from their powerless slumber to create 3-D grids as Captain James Taggart began tapping in coordinates. Blair stood behind him, watching. "This milk run just got a little more interesting," the captain said. "Set a course for Beacon One-forty-seven, one-quarter impulse."

Marshall nodded and worked his touchpad. "Course for One-forty-seven. One-quarter impulse." He frowned at a flashing red warning that appeared at the top of his screen. "One-forty-seven , is off-limits, sir. There's a one-hundred-thousand-kilometer no-fly zone around it."

Taggart puffed air. "I said Beacon One-forty-seven. It's a short cut. Lose the sir."

With an exaggerated shrug, Marshall regarded his screen, banged in the course, then booted the engage pedal.

As Taggart fell back into his chair and yawned, Blair noticed a small, dark tattoo emerge from beneath his collar. Blair recognized the writing: a set of four vertical lines that comprised the Kilrathi language. Taggart caught him staring, and Blair flinched toward the forward screen.

The Diligent streaked by the mottled red orb of Pluto, its tenuous atmosphere escaping in tendrils toward its gray moon, Charon.

Taggart got abruptly to his feet. "I'll be in my quarters. Call me when we come within a hundred klicks of the beacon."

"You got it," Marshall said. He waited for the captain to leave, then stage-whispered, "I don't trust this guy. What does he mean by a 'short cut'?"

"Got me," Blair said. "Did you see his neck?"

"What about it?"

"He's got a tattoo. Kilrathi writing. Wish I got a better look at it. Maybe I can get something on it from Merlin."

"Tell you what I think. I think he's intentionally delaying us. One-quarter impulse? Why don't we get out and push? And now you're telling me he's got a Kilrathi tattoo? Hello. I can't find anything right with this picture."

"Stay cool. Let me talk to him. We just don't know what he's about."

Blair stood and turned toward the hatchway.

"Hey," Marshall called out.

Blair faced the pilot, who now waved a small sidearm he had withdrawn from a hidden calf holster. "I know what I'm about."