Wing Commander (novelization) Chapter 29: Difference between revisions
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{{infobox Novel Chapter | {{infobox Novel Chapter | ||
|faction = terran | |faction = terran | ||
|title = Chapter | |title = Chapter 29 | ||
|image = image:Movienovel.jpg | |image = image:Movienovel.jpg | ||
|book = [[Wing Commander (novelization)|Wing Commander]] | |book = [[Wing Commander (novelization)|Wing Commander]] | ||
|parts = 9 | |parts = 9 | ||
|previous = [[Wing Commander (novelization) Chapter | |previous = [[Wing Commander (novelization) Chapter 28|Chapter 28]] | ||
|next = [[Wing Commander (novelization) Chapter | |next = [[Wing Commander (novelization) Chapter 30|Chapter 30]] | ||
}} | |pages = 218-224 | ||
}} | |||
== Dramatis Personae == | == Dramatis Personae == | ||
{| class="wikitable" | |||
|- | |||
! | |||
! Part 1 | |||
! Part 2 | |||
! Part 3 | |||
! Part 4 | |||
! Part 5 | |||
! Part 6 | |||
! Part 7 | |||
! Part 8 | |||
! Part 9 | |||
|- | |||
! POV | |||
|valign=top| | |||
[[Thiraka nar Kiranka]] | |||
|valign=top| | |||
[[Paul Gerald]] | |||
|valign=top| | |||
[[Ashley Galaway]] | |||
|valign=top| | |||
[[Raznick]] | |||
|valign=top| | |||
[[Christopher Blair]] | |||
|valign=top| | |||
[[Paul Gerald]] | |||
|valign=top| | |||
[[Todd Marshall]] | |||
|valign=top| | |||
[[Paul Gerald]] | |||
|valign=top| | |||
[[Christopher Blair]] | |||
|- | |||
! Speaking | |||
|valign=top| | |||
[[Bokoth nar Kiranka]]<br> | |||
[[Ke'Soick]] | |||
|valign=top| | |||
[[Harrison Falk]]<br> | |||
[[James Taggart|James "Paladin" Taggart]] | |||
|valign=top| | |||
== | |valign=top| | ||
[[Peterson]] | |||
|valign=top| | |||
[[Merlin]] | |||
|valign=top| | |||
[[Harrison Falk]]<br> | |||
[[James Taggart|James "Paladin" Taggart]]<br> | |||
Unnamed Ordinance Room Crewperson | |||
|valign=top| | |||
[[Adam Polanski|Adam "Bishop" Polanski]] | |||
|valign=top| | |||
[[Corey Obutu]]<br> | |||
[[James Taggart|James "Paladin" Taggart]] | |||
|valign=top| | |||
[[Devi Soulsong]]<br> | |||
[[Merlin]] | |||
|- | |||
! Mentioned | |||
|valign=top| | |||
|valign=top| | |||
|valign=top| | |||
[[Miguel Rodriguez]] | |||
|valign=top| | |||
|valign=top| | |||
|valign=top| | |||
[[Jay Sansky]] | |||
|valign=top| | |||
|valign=top| | |||
|valign=top| | |||
|- | |||
|} | |||
== Text == | |||
< | {{infobox wcm | ||
|line1 = KILRATHI BATTLE GROUP | |||
< | |line2 = SNAKEIR-CLASS<BR>CRUISER KIS <I>GRIST'AR'ROC</I> | ||
|line3 = ULYSSES CORRIDOR | |||
|line4 = MARCH 17, 2654<BR>1259 HOURS<BR>ZULU TIME | |||
|line5 = 1 MINUTE FROM<BR>CHARYBDIS QUASAR<BR>JUMP POINT | |||
}} | |||
=== Part One === | |||
Admiral Bokoth's plans, based on an unholy pact between | Admiral Bokoth's plans, based on an unholy pact between | ||
himself and a now-dead Pilgrim, were falling apart before him. | himself and a now-dead Pilgrim, were falling apart before him. | ||
But Captain Thiraka would not wave his prior reservations in | But Captain Thiraka would not wave his prior reservations in | ||
the admiral's face. He delivered his report meekly, comfortable | the admiral's face. He delivered his report meekly, comfortable | ||
with the knowledge that the admiral's next error would be his | with the knowledge that the admiral's next error would be his | ||
Line 58: | Line 115: | ||
honor now. Thiraka would sacrifice the life of a dear friend for | honor now. Thiraka would sacrifice the life of a dear friend for | ||
the preservation of the Empire. As agonizing as it was to lose | the preservation of the Empire. As agonizing as it was to lose | ||
Ke' | Ke'Soick--who would be executed for the admiral's | ||
murder--Thiraka had come to see the truth and the honor in | |||
disposing of Bokoth. He bowed before the old one. "Kalralahr. A | disposing of Bokoth. He bowed before the old one. "Kalralahr. A | ||
manned Confederation fighter is approaching the quasar with | manned Confederation fighter is approaching the quasar with | ||
its jump drive engaged. We're not in position to intercept." | its jump drive engaged. We're not in position to intercept." | ||
"A fighter?" Bokoth asked, turning in the command chair. | "A fighter?" Bokoth asked, turning in the command chair. | ||
"Using what coordinates?" | "Using what coordinates?" | ||
"Apparently the right ones, sir. The ship is on course." | "Apparently the right ones, sir. The ship is on course." | ||
Bokoth's good eye bulged. "He's going to warn the Confed fleet | Bokoth's good eye bulged. "He's going to warn the Confed fleet | ||
of our jump coordinates. Follow him. Instruct all ships to mark | of our jump coordinates. Follow him. Instruct all ships to mark | ||
our course but follow original coordinates through. | our course but follow original coordinates through. "Sixty-second intervals." | ||
"As you wish. But I should remind you that our enemy is | |||
"As you wish. But I should remind you that our enemy is | |||
capable of jumping gravity wells, pulsars, and now a quasar. | capable of jumping gravity wells, pulsars, and now a quasar. | ||
They must have Pilgrims among them. If the <i>Tiger Claw</i> is not | They must have Pilgrims among them. If the <i>Tiger Claw</i> is not | ||
destroyed, I believe she will jump behind our fleet." | destroyed, I believe she will jump behind our fleet." | ||
"If she does, then I'll have three destroyers from the fleet | "If she does, then I'll have three destroyers from the fleet | ||
waiting for her. Satisfied?" | waiting for her. Satisfied?" | ||
"Only with victory, Kalralahr. Only with victory." Thiraka | "Only with victory, Kalralahr. Only with victory." Thiraka | ||
nodded and stepped away. He gave the new orders to the helm, | nodded and stepped away. He gave the new orders to the helm, | ||
then stood beside Ke'Soick. | then stood beside Ke'Soick. | ||
"Now?" the commander asked. | "Now?" the commander asked. | ||
"I agree with his orders," Thiraka said. "We'll wait until after | "I agree with his orders," Thiraka said. "We'll wait until after | ||
the jump. But don't worry, my friend. You'll have your chance." | the jump. But don't worry, my friend. You'll have your chance." | ||
=== Part Two === | |||
Gerald did a double-take as he watched the Kilrathi cruiser | Gerald did a double-take as he watched the Kilrathi cruiser | ||
turn hard to port, away from the <i>Tiger Claw</i>. "Mr. Falk?" | turn hard to port, away from the <i>Tiger Claw</i>. "Mr. Falk?" | ||
"She's changing course, sir." | "She's changing course, sir." | ||
"Why?" | "Why?" | ||
"Frankly, sir, I'm not sure." | "Frankly, sir, I'm not sure." | ||
"Mr. Gerald," Taggart said. "Prepare to lower our shield. | "Mr. Gerald," Taggart said. "Prepare to lower our shield. Starboard missile battery prepare to fire." | ||
After setting the shield to perform a flash shutdown, Gerald | |||
After setting the shield to perform a flash shutdown, Gerald | |||
discovered an error in Taggart's order. "Sir, missile guidance | discovered an error in Taggart's order. "Sir, missile guidance | ||
systems won't activate at this range." | systems won't activate at this range." | ||
"They won't need to. Arm warheads." | "They won't need to. Arm warheads." | ||
=== Part Three === | |||
In the Secondary Ordnance room, Spaceman Ashley Galaway | In the Secondary Ordnance room, Spaceman Ashley Galaway | ||
Line 120: | Line 173: | ||
each missile's control panel. | each missile's control panel. | ||
When she finished, she looked across the room at a cocky, | When she finished, she looked across the room at a cocky, | ||
good-looking ghost who smiled back. | good-looking ghost who smiled back. | ||
=== Part Four === | |||
Boss Raznick slammed down his computer slate and opened | Boss Raznick slammed down his computer slate and opened | ||
Line 130: | Line 183: | ||
Why is my flight deck not one hundred percent battle-ready?" | Why is my flight deck not one hundred percent battle-ready?" | ||
"I don't know, sir. But I'm on it, sir. Flight crews? Get your | "I don't know, sir. But I'm on it, sir. Flight crews? Get your | ||
unprofessional butts over here. Now!" | unprofessional butts over here. Now!" | ||
=== Part Five === | |||
So many concussions rumbled through Blair's Rapier that he | So many concussions rumbled through Blair's Rapier that he | ||
Line 140: | Line 193: | ||
only as a spectator. | only as a spectator. | ||
"Merlin?" he shouted, warping the computer's name. | "Merlin?" he shouted, warping the computer's name. | ||
"Velocity?" | "Velocity?" | ||
"Light speed mach-point-eight-two," the little man | "Light speed mach-point-eight-two," the little man | ||
responded, his voice as shaky as Blair's. "Twenty seconds to | responded, his voice as shaky as Blair's. "Twenty seconds to | ||
jump. Can you do it?" | jump. Can you do it?" | ||
"Only one way to find out." | "Only one way to find out." | ||
When Blair had plotted the course through Scylla, he had | When Blair had plotted the course through Scylla, he had | ||
closed his eyes, fingered the touchpad, and played a song of | closed his eyes, fingered the touchpad, and played a song of | ||
coordinates written at the subatomic level. He had obeyed the | coordinates written at the subatomic level. He had obeyed the | ||
Line 156: | Line 209: | ||
Switch to voice recognition and prepare to plot course." | Switch to voice recognition and prepare to plot course." | ||
"Acknowledged. System ready." | "Acknowledged. System ready." | ||
He reached out with his mind, with his body, into the quasar, | He reached out with his mind, with his body, into the quasar, | ||
feeling his way through a transparent maze of gravity and | feeling his way through a transparent maze of gravity and | ||
magnetic fields. Then he pictured the correct trajectory, a | magnetic fields. Then he pictured the correct trajectory, a | ||
Line 166: | Line 219: | ||
six-three-nine-five-six-one by three-two-four-nine." | six-three-nine-five-six-one by three-two-four-nine." | ||
"First set of coordinates plotted. Warning. Deviation in jump | "First set of coordinates plotted. Warning. Deviation in jump | ||
course found. Do you wish to adjust course?" | course found. Do you wish to adjust course?" | ||
"Ignore deviation. Maintain speed and heading." | "Ignore deviation. Maintain speed and heading." | ||
=== Part Six === | |||
The <i>Tiger Claw</i> convulsed as the Kilrathi cruiser came | The <i>Tiger Claw</i> convulsed as the Kilrathi cruiser came | ||
Line 178: | Line 231: | ||
soon pass each other, headed in opposite directions. | soon pass each other, headed in opposite directions. | ||
Gerald buckled into his seat, seeking assurance in his | Gerald buckled into his seat, seeking assurance in his | ||
torpedo status display. "Commodore. Four tubes loaded and | torpedo status display. "Commodore. Four tubes loaded and | ||
online. Warheads armed. Range of target: four hundred and six | online. Warheads armed. Range of target: four hundred and six | ||
meters and closing." | meters and closing." | ||
Taggart sat in the command chair, his expression of quiet | Taggart sat in the command chair, his expression of quiet | ||
intensity reminiscent of Captain Sansky during battle. He | intensity reminiscent of Captain Sansky during battle. He | ||
clutched his armrests and leaned toward the Kilrathi cruiser, as | clutched his armrests and leaned toward the Kilrathi cruiser, as | ||
Line 189: | Line 242: | ||
broadside, Mr. Gerald." | broadside, Mr. Gerald." | ||
"Fire all batteries!" Gerald cried. | "Fire all batteries!" Gerald cried. | ||
"Aye-aye. Fire all batteries," came the reply from the | "Aye-aye. Fire all batteries," came the reply from the | ||
starboard ordnance room. | starboard ordnance room. | ||
Kilrathi cannon fire hammered the unshielded cruiser in | Kilrathi cannon fire hammered the unshielded cruiser in | ||
rumbling waves, but Gerald ignored it, focusing on the four | rumbling waves, but Gerald ignored it, focusing on the four | ||
torpedoes. Three lanced through the cruiser's shield to impact | torpedoes. Three lanced through the cruiser's shield to impact | ||
Line 202: | Line 255: | ||
cascade of detonations. | cascade of detonations. | ||
As the cruiser yawed, a dozen of the <I>Claw's</I> guided missiles | As the cruiser yawed, a dozen of the <I>Claw's</I> guided missiles | ||
burrowed into her hull, stopped short somewhere inside the | burrowed into her hull, stopped short somewhere inside the | ||
ship, then exploded. Fiery light filtered through the ruptures. | ship, then exploded. Fiery light filtered through the ruptures. | ||
"Commodore," Falk said. "Two fighters have broken through | "Commodore," Falk said. "Two fighters have broken through | ||
our wing. One has targeted ion engine control. If he scores a | our wing. One has targeted ion engine control. If he scores a | ||
direct hit, we'll lose all propulsion." | direct hit, we'll lose all propulsion." | ||
"Where are our fighters?" Taggart demanded. | "Where are our fighters?" Taggart demanded. | ||
Falk grimaced. "They're being swarmed." | Falk grimaced. "They're being swarmed." | ||
=== Part Seven === | |||
"Hey, Maniac? Where the hell are you going? Don't leave my | "Hey, Maniac? Where the hell are you going? Don't leave my | ||
wing!" Polanski shouted. | wing!" Polanski shouted. | ||
Maniac continued in his eighty-degree dive to escape the | Maniac continued in his eighty-degree dive to escape the | ||
raging furball over the cap ships. "Two Krants broke loose. | raging furball over the cap ships. "Two Krants broke loose. | ||
They're after the <i>Claw</i>. Now don't leave my wing!" | They're after the <i>Claw</i>. Now don't leave my wing!" | ||
"I'm with you, buddy." | "I'm with you, buddy." | ||
The blue blip that was Polanski's Rapier slid onto Maniac's | The blue blip that was Polanski's Rapier slid onto Maniac's | ||
radar display. "Take the one going for the bridge. I'll get the | radar display. "Take the one going for the bridge. I'll get the | ||
other." | other." | ||
"Dammit, he's really moving," Polanski said. | "Dammit, he's really moving," Polanski said. | ||
"Get him, man! Get him!" | "Get him, man! Get him!" | ||
Jamming the stick back, Maniac pulled out of his dive and | Jamming the stick back, Maniac pulled out of his dive and | ||
streaked toward the carrier's stern. He targeted the Krant | streaked toward the carrier's stern. He targeted the Krant | ||
swooping down on the <i>Claw</i>, and his VDU showed that the | swooping down on the <i>Claw</i>, and his VDU showed that the | ||
Line 239: | Line 292: | ||
issued last rites to the cat with Neutron guns. Once a fighter, | issued last rites to the cat with Neutron guns. Once a fighter, | ||
the Krant blew into a flaming trail that cut through Maniac's | the Krant blew into a flaming trail that cut through Maniac's | ||
path. "Whoa, whoa, whoa," he muttered, going inverted. | path. "Whoa, whoa, whoa," he muttered, going inverted. Showers of burning fuel doused the Rapier's belly. He angled | ||
Showers of burning fuel doused the Rapier's belly. He angled | |||
away, and the last of the fuel burned off. | away, and the last of the fuel burned off. | ||
From his new vantage point, Maniac saw that the <i>Tiger Claw</i> | From his new vantage point, Maniac saw that the <i>Tiger Claw</i> | ||
glided alongside the cruiser at point-blank range. "And they say | glided alongside the cruiser at point-blank range. "And they say | ||
I'm crazy." | I'm crazy." | ||
A flash at his port quarter gained his attention. Polanski's | A flash at his port quarter gained his attention. Polanski's | ||
Rapier cut a jagged line across the heavens. "That's six kills | Rapier cut a jagged line across the heavens. "That's six kills | ||
today, Maniac. You won't top me." | today, Maniac. You won't top me." | ||
"Oh, no?" Maniac pinned the throttle and went ballistic. The | "Oh, no?" Maniac pinned the throttle and went ballistic. The | ||
horde of fighters rushed toward him. | horde of fighters rushed toward him. | ||
"Hey, don't do anything reckless," Polanski warned. "Not | "Hey, don't do anything reckless," Polanski warned. "Not | ||
without me." | without me." | ||
=== Part Eight === | |||
Obutu actually grinned as he looked up from his console. | Obutu actually grinned as he looked up from his console. | ||
Line 264: | Line 315: | ||
Life support failing. We got her, sir." | Life support failing. We got her, sir." | ||
As the bridge crew whooped and cheered, Gerald unbuckled | As the bridge crew whooped and cheered, Gerald unbuckled | ||
and went to the viewport. The cruiser's stern floated ahead, | and went to the viewport. The cruiser's stern floated ahead, | ||
fires still flashing behind breaches and portholes. Were she a | fires still flashing behind breaches and portholes. Were she a | ||
Line 271: | Line 322: | ||
sloughing off scorched and twisted plates of plastisteel. | sloughing off scorched and twisted plates of plastisteel. | ||
"Clearing the cruiser," Obutu said. "The destroyer has moved | "Clearing the cruiser," Obutu said. "The destroyer has moved | ||
out of range." | out of range." | ||
Taggart left his command chair. "Not bad for a rogue, eh?" he | Taggart left his command chair. "Not bad for a rogue, eh?" he | ||
asked, coming toward Gerald. | asked, coming toward Gerald. | ||
"Sir, you have to understand that I was putting the safety of | "Sir, you have to understand that I was putting the safety of | ||
this ship and her | this ship and her crew--" | ||
"Relax," Taggart said, backhanding sweat from his brow. | "Relax," Taggart said, backhanding sweat from his brow. | ||
"You don't surrender your trust to just anyone. Know what? | "You don't surrender your trust to just anyone. Know what? | ||
Neither do I." | Neither do I." | ||
=== Part Nine === | |||
The jump drive shrieked, and the rattle had become an | The jump drive shrieked, and the rattle had become an | ||
indistinct noise that made it nearly impossible to concentrate. | indistinct noise that made it nearly impossible to concentrate. | ||
"Second set of coordinates at | "Second set of coordinates at | ||
four-seven-five-five-three-nine-nine," Blair shouted. | four-seven-five-five-three-nine-nine," Blair shouted. | ||
"Warning. Course deviation. Do you wish | "Warning. Course deviation. Do you wish to--" | ||
"Hell, no. Stay on course." | "Hell, no. Stay on course." | ||
"Five seconds," Merlin reported. "Four, three, | "Five seconds," Merlin reported. "Four, three, two--" | ||
The striped vortex winked out of existence. | The striped vortex winked out of existence. | ||
<I> | <I>"Mother?" | ||
"Mother?" | |||
"You shouldn't do this to yourself, Christopher. You weren't | "You shouldn't do this to yourself, Christopher. You weren't | ||
meant to see me. This is not your continuum." | meant to see me. This is not your continuum." | ||
"It is mine. I chose it." | "It is mine. I chose it." | ||
"You don't have the right to choose. Only one does." | "You don't have the right to choose. Only one does." | ||
"What do you mean? There aren't any rules. I feel this. I can | "What do you mean? There aren't any rules. I feel this. I can | ||
do what I feel." | do what I feel." | ||
"Then you'll fall. Like the others." | "Then you'll fall. Like the others." | ||
"You're not my mother, are you?" | "You're not my mother, are you?" | ||
"I'm everything your mother was, is, and will be. I'm in | "I'm everything your mother was, is, and will be. I'm in | ||
every part of the universe at once, as you are now, as you | every part of the universe at once, as you are now, as you | ||
shouldn't be." | shouldn't be." | ||
"Why?" | "Why?" | ||
"I wish you could understand. I wish that more than | "I wish you could understand. I wish that more than | ||
anything. But I've seen your path. And there's nothing I can do | anything. But I've seen your path. And there's nothing I can do | ||
to change it." | to change it."</I> | ||
"Wait. We've had this conversation before. This has already | "Wait. We've had this conversation before. This has already | ||
happened." | happened." | ||
"No, it hasn't. But it will." | "No, it hasn't. But it will." | ||
"I don't understand." | "I don't understand." | ||
"You don't need to." | "You don't need to." | ||
"Where are you going? We have to talk! I need to | "Where are you going? We have to talk! I need to know--" | ||
Thunder overpowered his words, and the harness dug into | Thunder overpowered his words, and the harness dug into | ||
his shoulders. His head fell forward, then ripped back. Star | his shoulders. His head fell forward, then ripped back. Star | ||
lines whirled, grew shorter, coalesced into points as the jump | lines whirled, grew shorter, coalesced into points as the jump | ||
drive disengaged with a whine. The faint stench of heated metal | drive disengaged with a whine. The faint stench of heated metal | ||
permeated his | permeated his O₂ flow. He shook his head to clear the mental | ||
gossamers of the gravity field, then squinted at the stars and | gossamers of the gravity field, then squinted at the stars and | ||
knew, knew with his eyes and with his blood, that he was on the | knew, knew with his eyes and with his blood, that he was on the | ||
Line 350: | Line 398: | ||
it!" He patted the canopy. "I love this baby. She held together." | it!" He patted the canopy. "I love this baby. She held together." | ||
"I'm not sure I did," Merlin moaned. | "I'm not sure I did," Merlin moaned. | ||
Blair quickly dialed up a secure Confederation channel on his | Blair quickly dialed up a secure Confederation channel on his | ||
comm system. "This is Lieutenant Christopher Blair of the TCS | comm system. "This is Lieutenant Christopher Blair of the TCS | ||
<I>Tiger Claw</i> calling any Confed ship. A Kilrathi battle group has | <I>Tiger Claw</i> calling any Confed ship. A Kilrathi battle group has | ||
Line 359: | Line 407: | ||
Only static replied. | Only static replied. | ||
"Merlin. Check your frequencies for signs of the fleet." | "Merlin. Check your frequencies for signs of the fleet." | ||
" | "Nothing ... Wait a minute. Check behind us." | ||
"Behind us?" | "Behind us?" | ||
The still and silent void exploded in a terrific white orb | The still and silent void exploded in a terrific white orb | ||
spanned by phosphorescent webs of energy. Out of the orb | spanned by phosphorescent webs of energy. Out of the orb | ||
surfaced a colossal vessel whose copper-colored hull and sharp | surfaced a colossal vessel whose copper-colored hull and sharp | ||
angles betrayed it as | angles betrayed it as a-- | ||
"Kilrathi capital ship," Merlin said gravely. "Snakeir-class." | |||
Blair pounded the instrument panel. "Shit! We're too late." | |||
== Scans == | |||
<gallery> | |||
Wing_Commander_novelization_page_218.jpg | |||
Wing_Commander_novelization_page_219.jpg | |||
Wing_Commander_novelization_page_220.jpg | |||
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Wing_Commander_novelization_page_223.jpg | |||
Wing_Commander_novelization_page_224.jpg | |||
</gallery> | |||
{{novelindex/wingcommander}} | |||
[[Category:Wing Commander (novelization)]] |
Latest revision as of 03:31, 9 April 2024
Chapter 29 | |
---|---|
Book | Wing Commander |
Parts | 9 |
Previous | Chapter 28 |
Next | Chapter 30 |
Pages | 218-224 |
Dramatis Personae
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
POV | |||||||||
Speaking |
Harrison Falk |
||||||||
Mentioned |
Text
KILRATHI BATTLE GROUP |
SNAKEIR-CLASS CRUISER KIS GRIST'AR'ROC |
ULYSSES CORRIDOR |
MARCH 17, 2654 1259 HOURS ZULU TIME |
1 MINUTE FROM CHARYBDIS QUASAR JUMP POINT |
Part One
Admiral Bokoth's plans, based on an unholy pact between himself and a now-dead Pilgrim, were falling apart before him.
But Captain Thiraka would not wave his prior reservations in the admiral's face. He delivered his report meekly, comfortable with the knowledge that the admiral's next error would be his last. Commander Ke'Soick's fingers itched with the desire to murder Bokoth, and Thiraka would permit his shintahr that honor now. Thiraka would sacrifice the life of a dear friend for the preservation of the Empire. As agonizing as it was to lose Ke'Soick--who would be executed for the admiral's murder--Thiraka had come to see the truth and the honor in disposing of Bokoth. He bowed before the old one. "Kalralahr. A manned Confederation fighter is approaching the quasar with its jump drive engaged. We're not in position to intercept."
"A fighter?" Bokoth asked, turning in the command chair.
"Using what coordinates?"
"Apparently the right ones, sir. The ship is on course."
Bokoth's good eye bulged. "He's going to warn the Confed fleet of our jump coordinates. Follow him. Instruct all ships to mark our course but follow original coordinates through. "Sixty-second intervals."
"As you wish. But I should remind you that our enemy is capable of jumping gravity wells, pulsars, and now a quasar. They must have Pilgrims among them. If the Tiger Claw is not destroyed, I believe she will jump behind our fleet."
"If she does, then I'll have three destroyers from the fleet waiting for her. Satisfied?"
"Only with victory, Kalralahr. Only with victory." Thiraka nodded and stepped away. He gave the new orders to the helm, then stood beside Ke'Soick.
"Now?" the commander asked.
"I agree with his orders," Thiraka said. "We'll wait until after the jump. But don't worry, my friend. You'll have your chance."
Part Two
Gerald did a double-take as he watched the Kilrathi cruiser turn hard to port, away from the Tiger Claw. "Mr. Falk?"
"She's changing course, sir."
"Why?"
"Frankly, sir, I'm not sure."
"Mr. Gerald," Taggart said. "Prepare to lower our shield. Starboard missile battery prepare to fire."
After setting the shield to perform a flash shutdown, Gerald discovered an error in Taggart's order. "Sir, missile guidance systems won't activate at this range."
"They won't need to. Arm warheads."
Part Three
In the Secondary Ordnance room, Spaceman Ashley Galaway rushed down her line of torpedoes, typing in arming codes on each missile's control panel.
When she finished, she looked across the room at a cocky, good-looking ghost who smiled back.
Part Four
Boss Raznick slammed down his computer slate and opened up the deck wide intercom. "Peterson? Why has my flight deck not been policed? Why am I looking at tools all over my runway? Why is my flight deck not one hundred percent battle-ready?"
"I don't know, sir. But I'm on it, sir. Flight crews? Get your unprofessional butts over here. Now!"
Part Five
So many concussions rumbled through Blair's Rapier that he swore he now plunged into an atmosphere, a degree shy of burning up. To call the vibration infernal was to appreciate it only as a spectator.
"Merlin?" he shouted, warping the computer's name.
"Velocity?"
"Light speed mach-point-eight-two," the little man responded, his voice as shaky as Blair's. "Twenty seconds to jump. Can you do it?"
"Only one way to find out."
When Blair had plotted the course through Scylla, he had closed his eyes, fingered the touchpad, and played a song of coordinates written at the subatomic level. He had obeyed the feeling and felt the need to surrender to it now. "Computer. Switch to voice recognition and prepare to plot course."
"Acknowledged. System ready."
He reached out with his mind, with his body, into the quasar, feeling his way through a transparent maze of gravity and magnetic fields. Then he pictured the correct trajectory, a star-rich vortex yawning open. "Coordinates: one-seven-two-nine-four mark three-three-four-eight. Vector: four-four-two-seven-one. Angle of attack: six-three-nine-five-six-one by three-two-four-nine."
"First set of coordinates plotted. Warning. Deviation in jump course found. Do you wish to adjust course?"
"Ignore deviation. Maintain speed and heading."
Part Six
The Tiger Claw convulsed as the Kilrathi cruiser came abreast, its cannons spewing thousands of bolts that struck and irresistibly weakened her shields. The two great ships would soon pass each other, headed in opposite directions.
Gerald buckled into his seat, seeking assurance in his torpedo status display. "Commodore. Four tubes loaded and online. Warheads armed. Range of target: four hundred and six meters and closing."
Taggart sat in the command chair, his expression of quiet intensity reminiscent of Captain Sansky during battle. He clutched his armrests and leaned toward the Kilrathi cruiser, as though he would leap at it himself. "Lower shields. Give 'em a broadside, Mr. Gerald."
"Fire all batteries!" Gerald cried.
"Aye-aye. Fire all batteries," came the reply from the starboard ordnance room.
Kilrathi cannon fire hammered the unshielded cruiser in rumbling waves, but Gerald ignored it, focusing on the four torpedoes. Three lanced through the cruiser's shield to impact on its hull, ravaging portside batteries and a launch bay in an impressive conflagration. The fourth torpedo found the ship's bridge and severed the entire superstructure from the hull in a cascade of detonations.
As the cruiser yawed, a dozen of the Claw's guided missiles burrowed into her hull, stopped short somewhere inside the ship, then exploded. Fiery light filtered through the ruptures.
"Commodore," Falk said. "Two fighters have broken through our wing. One has targeted ion engine control. If he scores a direct hit, we'll lose all propulsion."
"Where are our fighters?" Taggart demanded.
Falk grimaced. "They're being swarmed."
Part Seven
"Hey, Maniac? Where the hell are you going? Don't leave my wing!" Polanski shouted.
Maniac continued in his eighty-degree dive to escape the raging furball over the cap ships. "Two Krants broke loose. They're after the Claw. Now don't leave my wing!"
"I'm with you, buddy."
The blue blip that was Polanski's Rapier slid onto Maniac's radar display. "Take the one going for the bridge. I'll get the other."
"Dammit, he's really moving," Polanski said.
"Get him, man! Get him!"
Jamming the stick back, Maniac pulled out of his dive and streaked toward the carrier's stern. He targeted the Krant swooping down on the Claw, and his VDU showed that the bastard had missile lock. Maniac hollered his war cry and issued last rites to the cat with Neutron guns. Once a fighter, the Krant blew into a flaming trail that cut through Maniac's path. "Whoa, whoa, whoa," he muttered, going inverted. Showers of burning fuel doused the Rapier's belly. He angled away, and the last of the fuel burned off.
From his new vantage point, Maniac saw that the Tiger Claw glided alongside the cruiser at point-blank range. "And they say I'm crazy."
A flash at his port quarter gained his attention. Polanski's Rapier cut a jagged line across the heavens. "That's six kills today, Maniac. You won't top me."
"Oh, no?" Maniac pinned the throttle and went ballistic. The horde of fighters rushed toward him.
"Hey, don't do anything reckless," Polanski warned. "Not without me."
Part Eight
Obutu actually grinned as he looked up from his console. "Commander. The cruiser has lost guidance and propulsion. Life support failing. We got her, sir."
As the bridge crew whooped and cheered, Gerald unbuckled and went to the viewport. The cruiser's stern floated ahead, fires still flashing behind breaches and portholes. Were she a seafaring vessel, she would be capsized and ringed in foam. As it was, she plunged into the void, expelling gas and fluids and sloughing off scorched and twisted plates of plastisteel.
"Clearing the cruiser," Obutu said. "The destroyer has moved out of range."
Taggart left his command chair. "Not bad for a rogue, eh?" he asked, coming toward Gerald.
"Sir, you have to understand that I was putting the safety of this ship and her crew--"
"Relax," Taggart said, backhanding sweat from his brow.
"You don't surrender your trust to just anyone. Know what? Neither do I."
Part Nine
The jump drive shrieked, and the rattle had become an indistinct noise that made it nearly impossible to concentrate. "Second set of coordinates at four-seven-five-five-three-nine-nine," Blair shouted.
"Warning. Course deviation. Do you wish to--"
"Hell, no. Stay on course."
"Five seconds," Merlin reported. "Four, three, two--"
The striped vortex winked out of existence.
"Mother?"
"You shouldn't do this to yourself, Christopher. You weren't meant to see me. This is not your continuum."
"It is mine. I chose it."
"You don't have the right to choose. Only one does."
"What do you mean? There aren't any rules. I feel this. I can do what I feel."
"Then you'll fall. Like the others."
"You're not my mother, are you?"
"I'm everything your mother was, is, and will be. I'm in every part of the universe at once, as you are now, as you shouldn't be."
"Why?"
"I wish you could understand. I wish that more than anything. But I've seen your path. And there's nothing I can do to change it."
"Wait. We've had this conversation before. This has already happened."
"No, it hasn't. But it will."
"I don't understand."
"You don't need to."
"Where are you going? We have to talk! I need to know--"
Thunder overpowered his words, and the harness dug into his shoulders. His head fell forward, then ripped back. Star lines whirled, grew shorter, coalesced into points as the jump drive disengaged with a whine. The faint stench of heated metal permeated his O₂ flow. He shook his head to clear the mental gossamers of the gravity field, then squinted at the stars and knew, knew with his eyes and with his blood, that he was on the perimeter of the Sol system. "We did it," he muttered. "We did it!" He patted the canopy. "I love this baby. She held together."
"I'm not sure I did," Merlin moaned.
Blair quickly dialed up a secure Confederation channel on his comm system. "This is Lieutenant Christopher Blair of the TCS Tiger Claw calling any Confed ship. A Kilrathi battle group has the Chary bdis jump coordinates. They'll breech at one-six-seven mark eight-eight-nine, Sol system. Do you read?" Only static replied.
"Merlin. Check your frequencies for signs of the fleet."
"Nothing ... Wait a minute. Check behind us."
"Behind us?"
The still and silent void exploded in a terrific white orb spanned by phosphorescent webs of energy. Out of the orb surfaced a colossal vessel whose copper-colored hull and sharp angles betrayed it as a--
"Kilrathi capital ship," Merlin said gravely. "Snakeir-class."
Blair pounded the instrument panel. "Shit! We're too late."