Wing Commander (novelization) Chapter 13: Difference between revisions

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{{infobox Novel Chapter
{{infobox Novel Chapter
|faction = terran
|faction = terran
|title = Chapter Thirteen
|title = Chapter 13
|image = image:Movienovel.jpg
|image = image:Movienovel.jpg
|book = [[Wing Commander (novelization)|Wing Commander]]
|book = [[Wing Commander (novelization)|Wing Commander]]
|parts = 2
|parts = 10
|previous = [[Wing Commander (novelization) Chapter Twelve|Chapter Twelve]]
|previous = [[Wing Commander (novelization) Chapter 12|Chapter 12]]
|next = [[Wing Commander (novelization) Chapter Fourteen|Chapter Fourteen]]
|next = [[Wing Commander (novelization) Chapter 14|Chapter 14]]
}}
|pages = 92-101
}}


== Dramatis Personae ==
== Dramatis Personae ==


=== Part One ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!
! Part 1
! Part 2
! Part 3
! Part 4
! Part 5
! Part 6
! Part 7
! Part 8
! Part 9
! Part 10
|-
! POV
|valign=top|
[[Justin Jones]]
|valign=top|
[[Raznick]]
|valign=top|
[[Miguel Rodriguez]]
|valign=top|
[[Todd Marshall|Todd "Maniac" Marshall]]
|valign=top|
[[Davies]]
|valign=top|
[[Christopher Blair]]
|valign=top|
[[Justin Jones]]
|valign=top|
[[Raznick]]
|valign=top|
[[Miguel Rodriguez]]
|valign=top|
[[Todd Marshall|Todd "Maniac" Marshall]]
|-
! Speaking
|valign=top|
[[David Olivia]]
|valign=top|
[[Joseph Khumelo|Joseph "Knight" Khumelo]]<br>
[[Tanaka Mariko|Tanaka "Spirit" Mariko]]
|valign=top|
[[Ashley Galway]]
|valign=top|
[[Adam Polanski|Adam "Bishop" Polanski]]
|valign=top|
[[Oxendine]]<br>
[[Jay Sansky]]<br>
Unnamed Engineer
|valign=top|
[[Jeanette Deveraux|Jeanette "Angel" Deveraux]]<br>
[[Paul Gerald]]<br>
[[Corey Obutu]]<br>
[[Jay Sansky]]<br>
[[Devi Soulsong]]<br>
[[James Taggart|James "Paladin" Taggart]]<br>
Unnamed Helmsman<br>
Unnamed Rader Officer
|valign=top|


* [[Justin Jones]]
|valign=top|
* [[Joseph Khumalo]]
* [[David Olivia]]
* [[Raznick]]
* [[Tanaka Mariko]]
* Unnamed Crews
* Unnamed Department Heads


=== Part Two ===
|valign=top|
[[Ashley Galway]]
|valign=top|
[[Rosalind Forbes|Rosalind "Sassy" Forbes]]<br>
[[Jay Sansky]]<br>
[[Ian St. John|Ian "Hunter" St. John]]
|-
! Non-Speaking
|valign=top|


* [[Miguel Rodriguez]]
|valign=top|
Unnamed Crews<BR>
Unnamed Department Heads
|valign=top|


== Text ==
|valign=top|
[[Rosalind Forbes|Rosalind "Sassy" Forbes]]
|valign=top|


== Part One ==
|valign=top|


<B>UNITED</B>
|valign=top|


<B>CONFEDERATION</B>
|valign=top|


<B>CARRIER <I>TIGER CLAW</I></B>
|valign=top|


<B>MARCH 16, 2654</B>
|valign=top|


<B>1430 HOURS</B>
|-
|}


<B>ZULU TIME</B>
== Text ==


<B>VEGA SECTOR</B>
{{infobox wcm
 
|line1 = UNITED<br>CONFEDERATION<br>CARRIER <I>TIGER CLAW</I>
<B>JUMP POINT</B>
|line2 = MARCH 16, 2654<br>1430 HOURS<br>ZULU TIME
 
|line3 = VEGA SECTOR
<B>CLASS 2 PULSAR</B>
|line4 = JUMP POINT<br>CLASS 2 PULSAR
}}


=== Part One ===


Spacecraft Ordnance Specialist Justin Jones jogged across the carrier's
Spacecraft Ordnance Specialist Justin Jones jogged across the carrier's
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off this arming crew?"
off this arming crew?"


"C'mon," Jones said, then ran ahead of Olivia to reach another brace.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"C'mon," Jones said, then ran ahead of Olivia to reach another brace.
"You know I've still got my problem."
"You know I've still got my problem."


"Well, you'd better do something before it winds up in my report."
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Well, you'd better do something before it winds up in my report."


Jones's mouth fell open. "So how are you gonna write that up, anyway?"
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Jones's mouth fell open. "So how are you gonna write that up, anyway?"


Olivia paused, holding a brace, his face glistening with sweat. "Easy. I'll
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Olivia paused, holding a brace, his face glistening with sweat. "Easy. I'll
just tell them the truth."
just tell them the truth."


"You wouldn't…"
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"You wouldn't ..."


He wiped sweat from his mouth. "Oh yeah, I would."
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He wiped sweat from his mouth. "Oh yeah, I would."


"I thought we were friends."
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I thought we were friends."


"We are. But now you're screwing with my career. I'm not covering for
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"We are. But now you're screwing with my career. I'm not covering for
you anymore."
you anymore."


"Just give me some more time," Jones pleaded, dashing ahead to seize
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Just give me some more time," Jones pleaded, dashing ahead to seize
another brace. "I think I'll have it solved in a couple of days."
another brace. "I think I'll have it solved in a couple of days."


"That's what you said last week. I don't got any more time. You either
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"That's what you said last week. I don't got any more time. You either
get to a doctor, or I'm getting you off this crew."
get to a doctor, or I'm getting you off this crew."


"All right. All right. But do you think they can do anything for me?"
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"All right. All right. But do you think they can do anything for me?"
"For God's sake, man. It's just diarrhea."
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"For God's sake, man. It's just diarrhea."


"Not this. No way. This is a curse. I wouldn't wish this on my worst
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Not this. No way. This is a curse. I wouldn't wish this on my worst
enemy." With that, Jones sprinted off.
enemy." With that, Jones sprinted off.


"Where are you…" Olivia began.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Where are you ..." Olivia began.
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Then it was obvious.


Then it was obvious.
=== Part Two ===


In the flight control room, Boss Raznick buckled himself into his seat,
In the flight control room, Boss Raznick buckled himself into his seat,
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fighters and bombers.
fighters and bombers.


The readiness reports came funneling back to him, and, as usual, the
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The readiness reports came funneling back to him, and, as usual, the
arming crew was last to check in. "Specialist Olivia here, sir. My weapons
arming crew was last to check in. "Specialist Olivia here, sir. My weapons
are tucked in."
are tucked in."


"Then move your ass, Spaceman. You've got all of eight seconds to get
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Then move your ass, Spaceman. You've got all of eight seconds to get
to your jump station."
to your jump station."


"Yes, sir!"
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Yes, sir!"


Raznick dialed up the two pilots who would fly the first security patrol
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Raznick dialed up the two pilots who would fly the first security patrol
once the Tiger Claw made the jump. They sat strapped in their idling
once the <I>Tiger Claw</I> made the jump. They sat strapped in their idling
fighters. "Knight? Spirit? Report?"
fighters. "Knight? Spirit? Report?"


"Systems nominal here," Spirit said, then she muttered something in
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Systems nominal here," Spirit said, then she muttered something in
Japanese that Raznick couldn't decipher.
Japanese that Raznick couldn't decipher.


"What was that, Lieutenant?"
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"What was that, Lieutenant?"


"Oh, nothing sir. It's just a little prayer."
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Oh, nothing sir. It's just a little prayer."


"Knight?"
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Knight?"


"We're good to go, Boss. That is, if this old lady survives the jump."
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"We're good to go, Boss. That is, if this old lady survives the jump."


Raznick nodded grimly. "I hear that."
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Raznick nodded grimly. "I hear that."


== Part Two ==
=== Part Three ===


Spaceman 2nd Class Miguel Rodriguez checked for the third and final
Spaceman 2nd Class Miguel Rodriguez checked for the third and final
time that the missiles in his section of the Claw's secondary ordnance
time that the missiles in his section of the <i>Claw's</i> secondary ordnance
room were locked and that all laser batteries held steady at full charge.
room were locked and that all laser batteries held steady at full charge.
With that done, he hurried to his seat and belted in next to Spaceman
With that done, he hurried to his seat and belted in next to Spaceman
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the carrier shifted suddenly, and the conduits rattled like metal tubes
the carrier shifted suddenly, and the conduits rattled like metal tubes
striking a tiled floor.
striking a tiled floor.
"Don't worry, mi amiga," Rodriguez said, summoning up a false
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Don't worry, <I>mi amiga</I>," Rodriguez said, summoning up a false
bravado perfected by neighborhood skirmishes in his youth. "When God
bravado perfected by neighborhood skirmishes in his youth. "When God
created Senor Miguel Rodriguez, he thought, Damn! Now that is a
created <I>Senor</I> Miguel Rodriguez, he thought, Damn! Now that is a
good-looking hombre. So there's no way he'll tamper with perfection."
good-looking <I>hombre</I>. So there's no way he'll tamper with perfection."
"Or when he created you, he thought, Hmmm. This young man loves
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Or when he created you, he thought, Hmmm. This young man loves
himself too much. When I have the time, I'll stomp him out of existence.
himself too much. When I have the time, I'll stomp him out of existence.
So I guess God's got some time on Her hands…"
So I guess God's got some time on Her hands ..."
Rodriguez looked at her and tsked.
 
The ship suddenly rolled a few degrees, shoving them against their
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Rodriguez looked at her and <I>tsked</I>.
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The ship suddenly rolled a few degrees, shoving them against their
seats.
seats.
Galaway began whispering to God, making her peace. Rodriguez
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Galaway began whispering to God, making her peace. Rodriguez
blessed himself, closed his eyes, and joined her.
blessed himself, closed his eyes, and joined her.
=== Part Four ===
"You know, somebody told me about a time when government didn't
"You know, somebody told me about a time when government didn't
control your personal life, when you could, say, get into a ground vehicle
control your personal life, when you could, say, get into a ground vehicle
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were too busy adjusting their jumpseat harnesses to listen. "Hey, I asked
were too busy adjusting their jumpseat harnesses to listen. "Hey, I asked
you people a question."
you people a question."
Polanski rose and paraded up to Maniac, using his index finger to poke
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Polanski rose and paraded up to Maniac, using his index finger to poke
Maniac's chest. "You wanna know what happened to our personal
Maniac's chest. "You wanna know what happened to our personal
freedom? Idiots like you ruined it. You abuse every bit of freedom you get.
freedom? Idiots like you ruined it. You abuse every bit of freedom you get.
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plant my ass on a jumpseat and buckle it down. You wanna live to abuse
plant my ass on a jumpseat and buckle it down. You wanna live to abuse
more of your freedom, doncha?"
more of your freedom, doncha?"
Maniac eyed Forbes. She shook her head. No, both of them would ride
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Maniac eyed Forbes. She shook her head. No, both of them would ride
this out naturally, unfettered by the convention and cowardice that ruled
this out naturally, unfettered by the convention and cowardice that ruled
the others.
the others.
=== Part Five ===
Staring up some twenty meters at the overhead, Engineer Davies
Staring up some twenty meters at the overhead, Engineer Davies
swallowed as a quake passed through the durasteel, making the engine
swallowed as a quake passed through the durasteel, making the engine
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a gut, crinkled his nose and said, "You smell that? Hey, everybody? You
a gut, crinkled his nose and said, "You smell that? Hey, everybody? You
smell that?"
smell that?"
Murmurs erupted, and Davies said, "What? What is it? Fire?"
 
Oxendine took a few exaggerated whiffs of the air. "No. I think it's you,
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Murmurs erupted, and Davies said, "What? What is it? Fire?"
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Oxendine took a few exaggerated whiffs of the air. "No. I think it's you,
Davies."
Davies."
"What do you mean?" he asked, lowering his nose to his armpit. "I
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"What do you mean?" he asked, lowering his nose to his armpit. "I
don't smell."
don't smell."
"Are you kidding? Your fear is stinkin' up the place."
 
"Shuddup, Oxy," someone ordered.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Are you kidding? Your fear is stinkin' up the place."
"Five seconds to jump," the captain said on the intercom.
 
Davies leered at Oxendine, then tightened his grip on the handhold.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Shuddup, Oxy," someone ordered.
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Five seconds to jump," the captain said on the intercom.
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Davies leered at Oxendine, then tightened his grip on the handhold.
 
=== Part Six ===
 
With the vibrations increasing by what felt like a factor of ten, Blair
With the vibrations increasing by what felt like a factor of ten, Blair
envisioned his arms as sticks of durasteel and hung on to the bridge
envisioned his arms as sticks of durasteel and hung on to the bridge
railing, his feet occasionally leaving the floor. Deveraux, too, struggled to
railing, his feet occasionally leaving the floor. Deveraux, too, struggled to
keep standing, her poker face faltering as the pulsar tightened its grip.
keep standing, her poker face faltering as the pulsar tightened its grip.
Taggart, whose cool remained unruffled, clung to the helmsman's chair
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Taggart, whose cool remained unruffled, clung to the helmsman's chair
and shifted behind the officer, alternating his gaze between screens and
and shifted behind the officer, alternating his gaze between screens and
viewports. "Steady now. Steady…"
viewports. "Steady now. Steady ..."
Apparently bored with simply tugging on the carrier, the pulsar
 
decided to jerk the Tiger Claw in as though she were a sail-fish on a line.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Apparently bored with simply tugging on the carrier, the pulsar
decided to jerk the <I>Tiger Claw</I> in as though she were a sail-fish on a line.
The force sent Deveraux crashing into Blair. They fell away from the
The force sent Deveraux crashing into Blair. They fell away from the
railing and rose to grab the bulkhead.
railing and rose to grab the bulkhead.
"What the hell was that?" Deveraux asked.
 
"The ship's trying to tear itself free of the space-time fabric," Blair said,
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"What the hell was that?" Deveraux asked.
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"The ship's trying to tear itself free of the space-time fabric," Blair said,
his stomach acting out a similar battle.
his stomach acting out a similar battle.
Growing in pitch, the vibrations continued until Blair's ears filled with
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Growing in pitch, the vibrations continued until Blair's ears filled with
a single, deafening hum. The pulsar coruscated again, momentarily
a single, deafening hum. The pulsar coruscated again, momentarily
blinding him. As his vision cleared, he looked down to see Deveraux's hand
blinding him. As his vision cleared, he looked down to see Deveraux's hand
reaching toward his shoulder—
reaching toward his shoulder--
And at that moment, the Tiger Claw plunged into the pulsar, into the
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And at that moment, the <I>Tiger Claw</I> plunged into the pulsar, into the
gap in the space-time continuum calculated by Taggart.
gap in the space-time continuum calculated by Taggart.
The hum, the vibrations, and the taste of bile at the back of Blair's
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The hum, the vibrations, and the taste of bile at the back of Blair's
throat fell off into nothingness. He should feel more comfortable in the
throat fell off into nothingness. He should feel more comfortable in the
moment, knowing what to expect. But the feeling had returned, and like a
moment, knowing what to expect. But the feeling had returned, and like a
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billion-year second, to live an entirely different life in which he knew his
billion-year second, to live an entirely different life in which he knew his
parents, really knew them.
parents, really knew them.
Then you'll fall. Like the others.
 
Such power. And only a thought away. How could he control it? How
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<I>Then you'll fall. Like the others.</i>
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Such power. And only a thought away. How could he control it? How
could anyone control it? The only thing that kept him in place, bound to a
could anyone control it? The only thing that kept him in place, bound to a
minute portion of the universe, was the fear evoked by his mother. Yes, he
minute portion of the universe, was the fear evoked by his mother. Yes, he
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mass and infinite awareness, he would still struggle to find happiness,
mass and infinite awareness, he would still struggle to find happiness,
love, friendship, hope, wisdom, all of the things that defined being human.
love, friendship, hope, wisdom, all of the things that defined being human.
Or he could choose to abandon them.
 
Christopher Blair stood at a cosmic crossroads, and he refused to make
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Or he could choose to abandon them.
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Christopher Blair stood at a cosmic crossroads, and he refused to make
a decision, refused to surrender to the intoxication of the feeling. If he did
a decision, refused to surrender to the intoxication of the feeling. If he did
that, he felt it would forever control him. There had to be a way to achieve
that, he felt it would forever control him. There had to be a way to achieve
balance, to preserve his humanity while sharing a relationship with the
balance, to preserve his humanity while sharing a relationship with the
universe more intimate than he had ever known.
universe more intimate than he had ever known.
He searched his thoughts for a way to contend with the feeling, but a
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He searched his thoughts for a way to contend with the feeling, but a
powerful shudder passed through his body, wrenching him from his
powerful shudder passed through his body, wrenching him from his
introspection. His senses returned with an electrifying vengeance. He
introspection. His senses returned with an electrifying vengeance. He
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bridge. Sansky, Gerald, Taggart, and the helmsman, once pillars of salt,
bridge. Sansky, Gerald, Taggart, and the helmsman, once pillars of salt,
now fought to maintain balance.
now fought to maintain balance.
Deveraux's hand finally settled on Blair's shoulder, and as he turned to
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Deveraux's hand finally settled on Blair's shoulder, and as he turned to
look at her, the deck buckled and tossed her into him. They fell back
look at her, the deck buckled and tossed her into him. They fell back
toward the bulkhead, and Deveraux's forehead struck the merciless
toward the bulkhead, and Deveraux's forehead struck the merciless
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and he grabbed her shoulders, shifting her back to observe a bleeding
and he grabbed her shoulders, shifting her back to observe a bleeding
laceration on her forehead. "Are you all right?"
laceration on her forehead. "Are you all right?"
Her eyes seemed vague, her head swaying. "We make it?"
 
A glance to the bank of forward viewports gave Blair his reply. The
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Her eyes seemed vague, her head swaying. "We make it?"
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A glance to the bank of forward viewports gave Blair his reply. The
pulsar had slid back into her gloomy cavern of gravity that lay four days
pulsar had slid back into her gloomy cavern of gravity that lay four days
and three jump points away. In the distance loomed a massive planet, a
and three jump points away. In the distance loomed a massive planet, a
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quiet and dark vacuum, bejeweled by ancient starlight. "We're through
quiet and dark vacuum, bejeweled by ancient starlight. "We're through
the jump point."
the jump point."
Even as Blair finished telling her, the carrier's alarms clicked off, and
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Even as Blair finished telling her, the carrier's alarms clicked off, and
the rumbling deck and bulkheads grew still, giving way to the routine din
the rumbling deck and bulkheads grew still, giving way to the routine din
of the bridge's instrumentation.
of the bridge's instrumentation.
Taggart considered the helmsman's screen, then glanced through the
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Taggart considered the helmsman's screen, then glanced through the
viewport. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Ulysses Corridor."
viewport. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Ulysses Corridor."
Lieutenant Commander Obutu craned his head toward Captain Sansky,
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Lieutenant Commander Obutu craned his head toward Captain Sansky,
one hand on his headset. "Launching Rapiers. Now."
one hand on his headset. "Launching Rapiers. Now."
After a few seconds, two fighters shot by the viewport, their
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;After a few seconds, two fighters shot by the viewport, their
afterburners aglow. Blair followed their path until they ascended out of
afterburners aglow. Blair followed their path until they ascended out of
view.
view.
"Shields up," Sansky ordered, getting to his feet. "Mr. Obutu, stealth
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Shields up," Sansky ordered, getting to his feet. "Mr. Obutu, stealth
mode, please."
mode, please."
Obutu threw a toggle. Every console grew dim. "Going to stealth. Seven
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Obutu threw a toggle. Every console grew dim. "Going to stealth. Seven
percent electronic emissions, zero communications."
percent electronic emissions, zero communications."
Arriving at the radar station, Sansky leaned over the beanpole of a boy
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Arriving at the radar station, Sansky leaned over the beanpole of a boy
seated there. "Status?"
seated there. "Status?"
"Scanners picking up strong electromagnetic signature at one-eleven
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Scanners picking up strong electromagnetic signature at one-eleven
mark four-three. An asteroid field. I'd say she's a Kilrathi, sir."
mark four-three. An asteroid field. I'd say she's a Kilrathi, sir."
Sansky nodded, then brought himself to full height to consult with a
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Sansky nodded, then brought himself to full height to consult with a
dour-looking Gerald.
dour-looking Gerald.
Meanwhile, Blair struggled to his feet. "Don't move," he told Deveraux.
 
"I'll be right back." He hustled to the rear of the bridge and unclipped a
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Meanwhile, Blair struggled to his feet. "Don't move," he told Deveraux. "I'll be right back." He hustled to the rear of the bridge and unclipped a
first aid kit from the wall. He returned with the kit and removed a laser
first aid kit from the wall. He returned with the kit and removed a laser
pen from its holder. "Don't move," he said, then lifted the pen to her
pen from its holder. "Don't move," he said, then lifted the pen to her
forehead.
forehead.
"You already said that."
 
"This time I really mean it." He thumbed on the power and began
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"You already said that."
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"This time I really mean it." He thumbed on the power and began
sealing the laceration. "You're a good patient," he said softly, then his aim
sealing the laceration. "You're a good patient," he said softly, then his aim
shifted.
shifted.
"Ouch."
 
"Sorry." He finished the seal, lowered the pen, and edged closer to her,
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Ouch."
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Sorry." He finished the seal, lowered the pen, and edged closer to her,
studying his handiwork.
studying his handiwork.
"It's all right," she assured him, drawing back. She lifted her brow,
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"It's all right," she assured him, drawing back. She lifted her brow,
breaking the seal.
breaking the seal.
He quickly shook his head and brought the laser pen toward her. "It's
 
still bleeding. If I—"
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He quickly shook his head and brought the laser pen toward her. "It's
"It's all right," she insisted, then grabbed his wrist, forcing the pen
still bleeding. If I--"
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"It's all right," she insisted, then grabbed his wrist, forcing the pen
away.
away.
"Yes, ma'am." He stood and proffered his hand.
 
She dismissed the offer. Using the bulkhead for support, she clambered
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Yes, ma'am." He stood and proffered his hand.
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She dismissed the offer. Using the bulkhead for support, she clambered
to her feet, wavered a moment, then found her balance.
to her feet, wavered a moment, then found her balance.
Blair opened his mouth, wanting to tell her he was sorry, that he didn't
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Blair opened his mouth, wanting to tell her he was sorry, that he didn't
mean to move so close to her, that all he had wanted to do was help. He
mean to move so close to her, that all he had wanted to do was help. He
also wanted to say that her perfume made him lightheaded, that her skin
also wanted to say that her perfume made him lightheaded, that her skin
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that, well, some of that, but Captain Sansky suddenly came between them.
that, well, some of that, but Captain Sansky suddenly came between them.
"That head all right?" he asked Deveraux.
"That head all right?" he asked Deveraux.
"Little scratch. I'm fine."
 
"Good. Security patrol's been launched, but I'm keeping them in tight. I
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Little scratch. I'm fine."
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Good. Security patrol's been launched, but I'm keeping them in tight. I
want you to prepare a recon. I want to know what's out there."
want you to prepare a recon. I want to know what's out there."
"Yes, sir." She started for the corridor.
 
"And Deveraux," Sansky called after her. "No contact with the enemy.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Yes, sir." She started for the corridor.
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"And Deveraux," Sansky called after her. "No contact with the enemy.
Not yet."
Not yet."
She looked over her shoulder and nodded, then faced Blair. "Let's go,
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She looked over her shoulder and nodded, then faced Blair. "Let's go,
Lieutenant."
Lieutenant."
=== Part Seven ===
Twenty decks below the bridge, in a dank, cramped latrine, Specialist
Twenty decks below the bridge, in a dank, cramped latrine, Specialist
Justin Jones struggled up, gripped his stomach, then released a moan. He
Justin Jones struggled up, gripped his stomach, then released a moan. He
was, he suspected, the only man alive who had jumped a pulsar while
was, he suspected, the only man alive who had jumped a pulsar while
seated on a toilet.
seated on a toilet.
Then again, some feats were better left unreported.
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Then again, some feats were better left unreported.
 
=== Part Eight ===
 
Flight Boss Raznick swore as he removed the coffee mug from his lap. A
Flight Boss Raznick swore as he removed the coffee mug from his lap. A
large stain darkened the front of his uniform. He vowed to find the idiot
large stain darkened the front of his uniform. He vowed to find the idiot
Line 309: Line 451:
remove a stain of this magnitude. He looked up to the heavens and
remove a stain of this magnitude. He looked up to the heavens and
demanded a refund for the day.
demanded a refund for the day.
He thought he heard God laugh.
 
Miguel Rodriguez reached into his shirt and withdrew the St.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He thought he heard God laugh.
Christopher medallion hanging from his neck. He kissed the patron saint
 
of travelers and whispered a thank you.
=== Part Nine ===
"I think we made it," Ashley Galaway said, removing her seat straps.
 
"We did, mi amiga," Rodriguez said. "Come. Give me a hug."
Miguel Rodriguez reached into his shirt and withdrew the St. Christopher medallion hanging from his neck. He kissed the patron saint of travelers and whispered a thank you.
"Yeah, right."
 
"No, really. On my world it's customary to hug the nearest person after
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I think we made it," Ashley Galaway said, removing her seat straps.
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"We did, <I>mi amiga</I>," Rodriguez said. "Come. Give me a hug."
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Yeah, right."
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"No, really. On my world it's customary to hug the nearest person after
a dangerous situation."
a dangerous situation."
"On my world, the men don't lie to get close to their women."
 
"Oh, come now, mi amiga. Do you see a lie in this face?" He mustered
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"On my world, the men don't lie to get close to their women."
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Oh, come now, <I>mi amiga</I>. Do you see a lie in this face?" He mustered
his most sincere look.
his most sincere look.
"No. I see lust." She stood and abruptly kissed him on the cheek. "Don't
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"No. I see lust." She stood and abruptly kissed him on the cheek. "Don't
try so hard. If we're going to violate regs, let's make it worth it." She
try so hard. If we're going to violate regs, let's make it worth it." She
strutted off, leaving him to contend with his runaway pulse.
strutted off, leaving him to contend with his runaway pulse.
=== Part Ten ===
"That'll be a nice bruise, mate," Hunter told Maniac as the older pilot
"That'll be a nice bruise, mate," Hunter told Maniac as the older pilot
inspected Maniac's forearm. "Have you found your manhood yet? Or does
inspected Maniac's forearm. "Have you found your manhood yet? Or does
the quest continue?"
the quest continue?"
Rubbing his swelling arm, Maniac smirked and left Hunter, weaving
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Rubbing his swelling arm, Maniac smirked and left Hunter, weaving
his way through the mess to join Forbes, who had gone to fetch a drink.
his way through the mess to join Forbes, who had gone to fetch a drink.
As she spotted him, her eyes lit over the rim of her glass. "That was
As she spotted him, her eyes lit over the rim of her glass. "That was
good. Very, very good," she cooed.
good. Very, very good," she cooed.
"Some men know how to show a lady a good time"—he scowled at
 
Hunter—"and some don't."
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Some men know how to show a lady a good time"--he scowled at
"And speaking of time, have you noticed the shift?"
Hunter--"and some don't."
"What time is it?"
 
"It's nearly oh-three-hundred Zulu."
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"And speaking of time, have you noticed the shift?"
He checked his watch; it read 1434. "It only took a few minutes to make
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"What time is it?"
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"It's nearly oh-three-hundred Zulu."
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He checked his watch; it read 1434. "It only took a few minutes to make
that jump."
that jump."
"But we still lost over half a standard day."
 
He lifted his brow. "Then we have some time to make up."
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"But we still lost over half a standard day."
She began to answer, but the intercom speaker emitted a short beep.
 
"This is the captain. As most of you have guessed, we just made one hell of
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He lifted his brow. "Then we have some time to make up."
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;She began to answer, but the intercom speaker emitted a short beep.
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"This is the captain. As most of you have guessed, we just made one hell of
a jump."
a jump."
"Is that what that was?" Polanski groaned.
 
"Actually, we've just taken a little short cut into the Ulysses Corridor,
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Is that what that was?" Polanski groaned.
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Actually, we've just taken a little short cut into the Ulysses Corridor,
where, as I told you, the Pegasus Station was attacked and destroyed. The
where, as I told you, the Pegasus Station was attacked and destroyed. The
main Kilrathi battle group is in the quadrant and headed for the Chary
main Kilrathi battle group is in the quadrant and headed for the Charybdis Quasar. In just over ten hours it'll be in position to jump into Earth
bdis Quasar. In just over ten hours it'll be in position to jump into Earth
space. Our mission is to find the Kilrathi, assess their capacities and plan
space. Our mission is to find the Kilrathi, assess their capacities and plan
of action, and if necessary, stop them."
of action, and if necessary, stop them."
Maniac exchanged a look with Forbes: Action! Yes!
 
"We're the only Confed ship within range, people," Sansky continued.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Maniac exchanged a look with Forbes: Action! Yes!
"We'll have no help and no rescue. We can only count on each other. That
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"We're the only Confed ship within range, people," Sansky continued.
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"We'll have no help and no rescue. We can only count on each other. That
is all."
is all."
== Scans ==
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Latest revision as of 03:26, 9 April 2024

Chapter 13
Movienovel.jpg
Book Wing Commander
Parts 10
Previous Chapter 12
Next Chapter 14
Pages 92-101


Dramatis Personae

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10
POV

Justin Jones

Raznick

Miguel Rodriguez

Todd "Maniac" Marshall

Davies

Christopher Blair

Justin Jones

Raznick

Miguel Rodriguez

Todd "Maniac" Marshall

Speaking

David Olivia

Joseph "Knight" Khumelo
Tanaka "Spirit" Mariko

Ashley Galway

Adam "Bishop" Polanski

Oxendine
Jay Sansky
Unnamed Engineer

Jeanette "Angel" Deveraux
Paul Gerald
Corey Obutu
Jay Sansky
Devi Soulsong
James "Paladin" Taggart
Unnamed Helmsman
Unnamed Rader Officer

Ashley Galway

Rosalind "Sassy" Forbes
Jay Sansky
Ian "Hunter" St. John

Non-Speaking

Unnamed Crews
Unnamed Department Heads

Rosalind "Sassy" Forbes

Text

UNITED
CONFEDERATION
CARRIER TIGER CLAW
MARCH 16, 2654
1430 HOURS
ZULU TIME
VEGA SECTOR
JUMP POINT
CLASS 2 PULSAR


Part One

Spacecraft Ordnance Specialist Justin Jones jogged across the carrier's shaking flight hangar toward a long, high row of missile racks, where Specialist David Olivia slammed down pairs of bracing arms, locking the projectiles into place. "Where the hell have you been?" Olivia asked, then grunted as he slammed down another set of arms. "Do you wanna be on or off this arming crew?"

     "C'mon," Jones said, then ran ahead of Olivia to reach another brace. "You know I've still got my problem."

     "Well, you'd better do something before it winds up in my report."

     Jones's mouth fell open. "So how are you gonna write that up, anyway?"

     Olivia paused, holding a brace, his face glistening with sweat. "Easy. I'll just tell them the truth."

     "You wouldn't ..."

     He wiped sweat from his mouth. "Oh yeah, I would."

     "I thought we were friends."

     "We are. But now you're screwing with my career. I'm not covering for you anymore."

     "Just give me some more time," Jones pleaded, dashing ahead to seize another brace. "I think I'll have it solved in a couple of days."

     "That's what you said last week. I don't got any more time. You either get to a doctor, or I'm getting you off this crew."

     "All right. All right. But do you think they can do anything for me?"

     "For God's sake, man. It's just diarrhea."

     "Not this. No way. This is a curse. I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy." With that, Jones sprinted off.

     "Where are you ..." Olivia began.

     Then it was obvious.

Part Two

In the flight control room, Boss Raznick buckled himself into his seat, took a sip of his coffee, then placed the mug on the vibrating work surface of his console. He stared down through the Plexi at his flight hangar. His department heads seemed to have everything under control. Their crews battened down ordnance, tools, rolling carts, moorings, and scores of fighters and bombers.

     The readiness reports came funneling back to him, and, as usual, the arming crew was last to check in. "Specialist Olivia here, sir. My weapons are tucked in."

     "Then move your ass, Spaceman. You've got all of eight seconds to get to your jump station."

     "Yes, sir!"

     Raznick dialed up the two pilots who would fly the first security patrol once the Tiger Claw made the jump. They sat strapped in their idling fighters. "Knight? Spirit? Report?"

     "Systems nominal here," Spirit said, then she muttered something in Japanese that Raznick couldn't decipher.

     "What was that, Lieutenant?"

     "Oh, nothing sir. It's just a little prayer."

     "Knight?"

     "We're good to go, Boss. That is, if this old lady survives the jump."

     Raznick nodded grimly. "I hear that."

Part Three

Spaceman 2nd Class Miguel Rodriguez checked for the third and final time that the missiles in his section of the Claw's secondary ordnance room were locked and that all laser batteries held steady at full charge. With that done, he hurried to his seat and belted in next to Spaceman Ashley Galaway, her smile as transparent as his. She let out a tiny cry as the carrier shifted suddenly, and the conduits rattled like metal tubes striking a tiled floor.

     "Don't worry, mi amiga," Rodriguez said, summoning up a false bravado perfected by neighborhood skirmishes in his youth. "When God created Senor Miguel Rodriguez, he thought, Damn! Now that is a good-looking hombre. So there's no way he'll tamper with perfection."

     "Or when he created you, he thought, Hmmm. This young man loves himself too much. When I have the time, I'll stomp him out of existence. So I guess God's got some time on Her hands ..."

     Rodriguez looked at her and tsked.

     The ship suddenly rolled a few degrees, shoving them against their seats.

     Galaway began whispering to God, making her peace. Rodriguez blessed himself, closed his eyes, and joined her.

Part Four

"You know, somebody told me about a time when government didn't control your personal life, when you could, say, get into a ground vehicle and drive as fast as you want without wearing a seatbelt. You didn't have some government regulating your personal freedom, defining for you what's safe and what isn't. When it came to stuff that you wanted to do, good old-fashioned common sense was the law. What ever happened to that?" Maniac searched the faces in the mess hall, but most of the pilots were too busy adjusting their jumpseat harnesses to listen. "Hey, I asked you people a question."

     Polanski rose and paraded up to Maniac, using his index finger to poke Maniac's chest. "You wanna know what happened to our personal freedom? Idiots like you ruined it. You abuse every bit of freedom you get. And so to control you idiots, the Confederation steps in. So, I'm you, I plant my ass on a jumpseat and buckle it down. You wanna live to abuse more of your freedom, doncha?"

     Maniac eyed Forbes. She shook her head. No, both of them would ride this out naturally, unfettered by the convention and cowardice that ruled the others.

Part Five

Staring up some twenty meters at the overhead, Engineer Davies swallowed as a quake passed through the durasteel, making the engine room's ceiling look like gray waves fanned by a north wind. He slapped his palms on a handhold, then leaned out to look at his crewmates, wondering if the other eighteen-year-olds felt as scared as he did. One new recruit, Engineer Oxendine, a tall blond boy with big arms but a bag of gelatin for a gut, crinkled his nose and said, "You smell that? Hey, everybody? You smell that?"

     Murmurs erupted, and Davies said, "What? What is it? Fire?"

     Oxendine took a few exaggerated whiffs of the air. "No. I think it's you, Davies."

     "What do you mean?" he asked, lowering his nose to his armpit. "I don't smell."

     "Are you kidding? Your fear is stinkin' up the place."

     "Shuddup, Oxy," someone ordered.

     "Five seconds to jump," the captain said on the intercom.

     Davies leered at Oxendine, then tightened his grip on the handhold.

Part Six

With the vibrations increasing by what felt like a factor of ten, Blair envisioned his arms as sticks of durasteel and hung on to the bridge railing, his feet occasionally leaving the floor. Deveraux, too, struggled to keep standing, her poker face faltering as the pulsar tightened its grip.

     Taggart, whose cool remained unruffled, clung to the helmsman's chair and shifted behind the officer, alternating his gaze between screens and viewports. "Steady now. Steady ..."

     Apparently bored with simply tugging on the carrier, the pulsar decided to jerk the Tiger Claw in as though she were a sail-fish on a line. The force sent Deveraux crashing into Blair. They fell away from the railing and rose to grab the bulkhead.

     "What the hell was that?" Deveraux asked.

     "The ship's trying to tear itself free of the space-time fabric," Blair said, his stomach acting out a similar battle.

     Growing in pitch, the vibrations continued until Blair's ears filled with a single, deafening hum. The pulsar coruscated again, momentarily blinding him. As his vision cleared, he looked down to see Deveraux's hand reaching toward his shoulder--

     And at that moment, the Tiger Claw plunged into the pulsar, into the gap in the space-time continuum calculated by Taggart.

     The hum, the vibrations, and the taste of bile at the back of Blair's throat fell off into nothingness. He should feel more comfortable in the moment, knowing what to expect. But the feeling had returned, and like a siren, it sang a bewitching song, trying to lure him out to explore the universe, to move beyond the corporeal, to comprehend eternity in a billion-year second, to live an entirely different life in which he knew his parents, really knew them.

     Then you'll fall. Like the others.

     Such power. And only a thought away. How could he control it? How could anyone control it? The only thing that kept him in place, bound to a minute portion of the universe, was the fear evoked by his mother. Yes, he could refine the feeling, hone himself into a true Pilgrim, he sensed that. But even with a perfect sense of direction and the power to achieve infinite mass and infinite awareness, he would still struggle to find happiness, love, friendship, hope, wisdom, all of the things that defined being human.

     Or he could choose to abandon them.

     Christopher Blair stood at a cosmic crossroads, and he refused to make a decision, refused to surrender to the intoxication of the feeling. If he did that, he felt it would forever control him. There had to be a way to achieve balance, to preserve his humanity while sharing a relationship with the universe more intimate than he had ever known.

     He searched his thoughts for a way to contend with the feeling, but a powerful shudder passed through his body, wrenching him from his introspection. His senses returned with an electrifying vengeance. He gagged as the atonal roar of the carrier's passage echoed through the bridge. Sansky, Gerald, Taggart, and the helmsman, once pillars of salt, now fought to maintain balance.

     Deveraux's hand finally settled on Blair's shoulder, and as he turned to look at her, the deck buckled and tossed her into him. They fell back toward the bulkhead, and Deveraux's forehead struck the merciless durasteel with a thud that made Blair grimace. She dropped to her knees, and he grabbed her shoulders, shifting her back to observe a bleeding laceration on her forehead. "Are you all right?"

     Her eyes seemed vague, her head swaying. "We make it?"

     A glance to the bank of forward viewports gave Blair his reply. The pulsar had slid back into her gloomy cavern of gravity that lay four days and three jump points away. In the distance loomed a massive planet, a gas giant banded in mauve, yellow, and orange. Several large spots blemished its surface, and tiny points of light hovered about it, moons gliding peacefully in their orbits. Beyond the Jovian-like system lay the quiet and dark vacuum, bejeweled by ancient starlight. "We're through the jump point."

     Even as Blair finished telling her, the carrier's alarms clicked off, and the rumbling deck and bulkheads grew still, giving way to the routine din of the bridge's instrumentation.

     Taggart considered the helmsman's screen, then glanced through the viewport. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Ulysses Corridor."

     Lieutenant Commander Obutu craned his head toward Captain Sansky, one hand on his headset. "Launching Rapiers. Now."

     After a few seconds, two fighters shot by the viewport, their afterburners aglow. Blair followed their path until they ascended out of view.

     "Shields up," Sansky ordered, getting to his feet. "Mr. Obutu, stealth mode, please."

     Obutu threw a toggle. Every console grew dim. "Going to stealth. Seven percent electronic emissions, zero communications."

     Arriving at the radar station, Sansky leaned over the beanpole of a boy seated there. "Status?"

     "Scanners picking up strong electromagnetic signature at one-eleven mark four-three. An asteroid field. I'd say she's a Kilrathi, sir."

     Sansky nodded, then brought himself to full height to consult with a dour-looking Gerald.

     Meanwhile, Blair struggled to his feet. "Don't move," he told Deveraux. "I'll be right back." He hustled to the rear of the bridge and unclipped a first aid kit from the wall. He returned with the kit and removed a laser pen from its holder. "Don't move," he said, then lifted the pen to her forehead.

     "You already said that."

     "This time I really mean it." He thumbed on the power and began sealing the laceration. "You're a good patient," he said softly, then his aim shifted.

     "Ouch."

     "Sorry." He finished the seal, lowered the pen, and edged closer to her, studying his handiwork.

     "It's all right," she assured him, drawing back. She lifted her brow, breaking the seal.

     He quickly shook his head and brought the laser pen toward her. "It's still bleeding. If I--"

     "It's all right," she insisted, then grabbed his wrist, forcing the pen away.

     "Yes, ma'am." He stood and proffered his hand.

     She dismissed the offer. Using the bulkhead for support, she clambered to her feet, wavered a moment, then found her balance.

     Blair opened his mouth, wanting to tell her he was sorry, that he didn't mean to move so close to her, that all he had wanted to do was help. He also wanted to say that her perfume made him lightheaded, that her skin seemed like the smooth surface of some ripe, exotic fruit, and that he would like to explore the secrets in her hair. He wanted to tell her most of that, well, some of that, but Captain Sansky suddenly came between them. "That head all right?" he asked Deveraux.

     "Little scratch. I'm fine."

     "Good. Security patrol's been launched, but I'm keeping them in tight. I want you to prepare a recon. I want to know what's out there."

     "Yes, sir." She started for the corridor.

     "And Deveraux," Sansky called after her. "No contact with the enemy. Not yet."

     She looked over her shoulder and nodded, then faced Blair. "Let's go, Lieutenant."

Part Seven

Twenty decks below the bridge, in a dank, cramped latrine, Specialist Justin Jones struggled up, gripped his stomach, then released a moan. He was, he suspected, the only man alive who had jumped a pulsar while seated on a toilet.

     Then again, some feats were better left unreported.

Part Eight

Flight Boss Raznick swore as he removed the coffee mug from his lap. A large stain darkened the front of his uniform. He vowed to find the idiot responsible for convincing the captain to jump a pulsar. And when he did, he would have that idiot busted down to spacehand. The laundry detail repeatedly did a poor job of cleaning his uniforms; they could never remove a stain of this magnitude. He looked up to the heavens and demanded a refund for the day.

     He thought he heard God laugh.

Part Nine

Miguel Rodriguez reached into his shirt and withdrew the St. Christopher medallion hanging from his neck. He kissed the patron saint of travelers and whispered a thank you.

     "I think we made it," Ashley Galaway said, removing her seat straps.

     "We did, mi amiga," Rodriguez said. "Come. Give me a hug."

     "Yeah, right."

     "No, really. On my world it's customary to hug the nearest person after a dangerous situation."

     "On my world, the men don't lie to get close to their women."

     "Oh, come now, mi amiga. Do you see a lie in this face?" He mustered his most sincere look.

     "No. I see lust." She stood and abruptly kissed him on the cheek. "Don't try so hard. If we're going to violate regs, let's make it worth it." She strutted off, leaving him to contend with his runaway pulse.

Part Ten

"That'll be a nice bruise, mate," Hunter told Maniac as the older pilot inspected Maniac's forearm. "Have you found your manhood yet? Or does the quest continue?"

     Rubbing his swelling arm, Maniac smirked and left Hunter, weaving his way through the mess to join Forbes, who had gone to fetch a drink. As she spotted him, her eyes lit over the rim of her glass. "That was good. Very, very good," she cooed.

     "Some men know how to show a lady a good time"--he scowled at Hunter--"and some don't."

     "And speaking of time, have you noticed the shift?"

     "What time is it?"

     "It's nearly oh-three-hundred Zulu."

     He checked his watch; it read 1434. "It only took a few minutes to make that jump."

     "But we still lost over half a standard day."

     He lifted his brow. "Then we have some time to make up."

     She began to answer, but the intercom speaker emitted a short beep.

     "This is the captain. As most of you have guessed, we just made one hell of a jump."

     "Is that what that was?" Polanski groaned.

     "Actually, we've just taken a little short cut into the Ulysses Corridor, where, as I told you, the Pegasus Station was attacked and destroyed. The main Kilrathi battle group is in the quadrant and headed for the Charybdis Quasar. In just over ten hours it'll be in position to jump into Earth space. Our mission is to find the Kilrathi, assess their capacities and plan of action, and if necessary, stop them."

     Maniac exchanged a look with Forbes: Action! Yes!

     "We're the only Confed ship within range, people," Sansky continued.

     "We'll have no help and no rescue. We can only count on each other. That is all."

Scans