Wing Commander (novelization) Chapter 12: Difference between revisions

The Terran Knowledge Bank
Jump to: navigation, search
 
(11 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{infobox Novel Chapter
{{infobox Novel Chapter
|faction = terran
|faction = terran
|title = Chapter Twelve
|title = Chapter 12
|image = image:Movienovel.jpg
|image = image:Movienovel.jpg
|book = [[Wing Commander (novelization)|Wing Commander]]
|book = [[Wing Commander (novelization)|Wing Commander]]
|parts = 3
|parts = 4
|previous = [[Wing Commander (novelization) Chapter Eleven|Chapter Eleven]]
|previous = [[Wing Commander (novelization) Chapter 11|Chapter 11]]
|next = [[Wing Commander (novelization) Chapter Thirteen|Chapter Thirteen]]
|next = [[Wing Commander (novelization) Chapter 13|Chapter 13]]
}}
|pages = 83-91
}}


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


* [[Christopher Blair]]
{| class="wikitable"
* [[Jeanette Devereaux]]
|-
* [[Rosalind Forbes]]
!
* [[Paul Gerald]]
! Part 1
* [[Joseph Khumalo]]
! Part 2
* [[Todd Marshall]]
! Part 3
* [[Adam Polanski]]
! Part 4
* [[Jay Sansky]]
|-
* [[Devi Soulsong]]
! POV
* [[James Taggart]]
|valign=top|
* [[Corey Obutu]]
[[Jay Sansky]]
* Unnamed Helmsman
|valign=top|
* Unnamed Noncoms
[[Christopher Blair]]
* Unnamed Officers
|valign=top|
[[Todd Marshall|Todd "Maniac" Marshall]]
|valign=top|
[[Christopher Blair]]
|-
! Speaking
|valign=top|
[[Corey Obutu]]
|valign=top|
[[Jeanette Deveraux|Jeanette "Angel" Deveraux]]<br>
[[Paul Gerald]]<br>
[[Merlin]]<br>
[[Jay Sansky]]<br>
[[James Taggart|James "Paladin" Taggart]]
|valign=top|
[[Rosalind Forbes|Rosalind "Sassy" Forbes]]<br>
[[Joseph Khumelo|Joseph "Knight" Khumelo]]<br>
[[Adam Polanski|Adam "Bishop" Polanski]]<br>
[[Ian St. John|Ian "Hunter" St. John]]
|valign=top|
[[CS Tiger Claw NAVCOM]]<br>
[[Jeanette Deveraux|Jeanette "Angel" Deveraux]]<br>
[[Paul Gerald]]
[[Jay Sansky]]<br>
[[Devi Soulsong]]
|-
! Non-Speaking
|valign=top|


== Text ==
|valign=top|


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


<B>CONFEDERATION</B>
|valign=top|
Unidentified Helmsman<BR>
Unidentified Noncoms<br>
Unidentified Officers
|-
! Mentioned
|valign=top|
[[Geoffrey Tolwyn]]<br>
[[William Wilson]]
|valign=top|


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


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


<B>1415 HOURS</B>
|-
|}


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


<B>VEGA SECTOR</B>
{{infobox wcm
 
|line1 = UNITED<BR>CONFEDERATION<BR>CARRIER <I>TIGER CLAW</I>
<B>ETA TO CLASS 2</B>
|line2 = MARCH 16, 2654<BR>1415 HOURS<BR>ZULU TIME
 
|line3 = VEGA SECTOR
<B>PULSAR FIFTEEN </B>
|line4 = ETA TO CLASS 2<BR>PULSAR FIFTEEN<BR>MINUTES
 
}}
<B>MINUTES</B>


=== Part One ===


Captain Jay Sansky sat at his desk in the welcome solitude of his
Captain Jay Sansky sat at his desk in the welcome solitude of his
Line 55: Line 93:
before the jump, to gather some thoughts while pushing others away.
before the jump, to gather some thoughts while pushing others away.


In truth, he had come to bury the past.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In truth, he had come to bury the past.


He turned once more to the holopic sitting on his desk, a framed,
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He turned once more to the holopic sitting on his desk, a framed,
three-dimensional doorway leading him through twenty-five years of
three-dimensional doorway leading him through twenty-five years of
memories. He smiled wanly at the group of young men and women posed
memories. He smiled wanly at the group of young men and women posed
Line 67: Line 105:
grin proudly, and he had never betrayed his rebel's heart.
grin proudly, and he had never betrayed his rebel's heart.


Every officer in the Confederation Navy played a role. Some played
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Every officer in the Confederation Navy played a role. Some played
theirs better than others. But no one played his role more passionately,
theirs better than others. But no one played his role more passionately,
more honestly than Bill Wilson. Despite navigating through years of
more honestly than Bill Wilson. Despite navigating through years of
Line 76: Line 114:
could do such a thing. A military officer wielded such power.
could do such a thing. A military officer wielded such power.


But Sansky still felt uncertain of his role, unsure of his future, and
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But Sansky still felt uncertain of his role, unsure of his future, and
guilt-stricken by his past. So many people had helped him over the years.
guilt-stricken by his past. So many people had helped him over the years.
So many souls had given. Had he returned their generosity? Could he
So many souls had given. Had he returned their generosity? Could he
Line 82: Line 120:
again?
again?


He closed his eyes tightly. "Oh, God," he whispered. "Oh, God. If I'm
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He closed his eyes tightly. "Oh, God," he whispered. "Oh, God. If I'm
right, forgive me. And if I'm wrong, forgive me even more."
right, forgive me. And if I'm wrong, forgive me even more."


"This terminal has been idle for five minutes. Do you wish to continue?"
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"This terminal has been idle for five minutes. Do you wish to continue?"
came a computer voice.
came a computer voice.


Sansky looked at the small monitor, at the green navigation lines
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Sansky looked at the small monitor, at the green navigation lines
superimposed on the Ulysses Corridor. He had thoroughly studied the
superimposed on the Ulysses Corridor. He had thoroughly studied the
map, knew the region, and knew the odds of getting there. If he just had
map, knew the region, and knew the odds of getting there. If he just had
Line 94: Line 132:
Some said war represented the true enemy; Sansky knew otherwise.
Some said war represented the true enemy; Sansky knew otherwise.


"Computer. Shut down."
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Computer. Shut down."


"Shutting down."
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Shutting down."


He glanced at the hard-copy map he had printed out, took up his pen,
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He glanced at the hard-copy map he had printed out, took up his pen,
and noted the coordinates where the <I>Tiger Claw</I> should appear after the
and noted the coordinates where the <I>Tiger Claw</I> should appear after the
jump.
jump.


Should appear.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Should appear.


Lieutenant Commander Obutu's voice boomed over the intercom.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Lieutenant Commander Obutu's voice boomed over the intercom.


"Captain Sansky?"
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Captain Sansky?"


"Yes?"
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Yes?"


"Sorry to bother you, sir. You're needed in the chart room."
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Sorry to bother you, sir. You're needed in the chart room."


"On my way."
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"On my way."


Sansky set down his pen and picked up the holopic. He stared fondly at
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Sansky set down his pen and picked up the holopic. He stared fondly at
the two young men with their whole lives ahead of them, two young men
the two young men with their whole lives ahead of them, two young men
naive of the fire that lay in their hearts. He replaced the holopic, opened a
naive of the fire that lay in their hearts. He replaced the holopic, opened a
Line 127: Line 165:
allow Sansky to do the same.
allow Sansky to do the same.


<center><B><nowiki>* * *</nowiki></B></center>
=== Part Two ===


As Blair stepped into the carrier's chart room, a huge holographic
As Blair stepped into the carrier's chart room, a huge holographic
Line 135: Line 173:
trancelike at his screen.
trancelike at his screen.


A red blip designated by tiny letters as the <I>Tiger Claw</I> lay at the
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A red blip designated by tiny letters as the <I>Tiger Claw</I> lay at the
holograph's center. The blip flashed as it moved toward a pulsating,
holograph's center. The blip flashed as it moved toward a pulsating,
constantly moving series of circles: a mathematical representation of the
constantly moving series of circles: a mathematical representation of the
Line 142: Line 180:
carrier's NAVCOM AI by Taggart.
carrier's NAVCOM AI by Taggart.


"They told me you were here, sir," Blair said.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"They told me you were here, sir," Blair said.
 
"Look at it, Lieutenant," Taggart suggested, still intent on his screen.


"What do you see?"
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Look at it, Lieutenant," Taggart suggested, still intent on his screen. "What do you see?"


Blair shrugged; wasn't it obvious? "That's a Class Two pulsar."
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Blair shrugged; wasn't it obvious? "That's a Class Two pulsar."


"Explain."
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Explain."


"Well, unlike a black hole, which is a discrete singularity, or a quasar,
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Well, unlike a black hole, which is a discrete singularity, or a quasar,
which has the potential of containing thousands of discrete singularities,
which has the potential of containing thousands of discrete singularities,
this pulsar is a discrete singularity with an infinite number of constantly
this pulsar is a discrete singularity with an infinite number of constantly
changing permutations."
changing permutations."


"Great. You remember that academy crap. Now just look at it and read
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Great. You remember that academy crap. Now just look at it and read
the map."
the map."


"I don't know what to say. Those permutations, they, uh, each one is
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I don't know what to say. Those permutations, they, uh, each one is
capable of taking us to another part of the galaxy. The problem is, most of
capable of taking us to another part of the galaxy. The problem is, most of
them are dead ends."
them are dead ends."


"With an emphasis on dead." Taggart swung around and cocked a
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"With an emphasis on dead." Taggart swung around and cocked a
brow.
brow.


The grid surrounding the <I>Tiger Claw</I> began to deform as a long spike
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The grid surrounding the <I>Tiger Claw</I> began to deform as a long spike
impaled it, then gradually pulled itself inside out to form a stalagmite with
impaled it, then gradually pulled itself inside out to form a stalagmite with
a thick, wide hole at its neck. Blair watched, fascinated, as the carrier
a thick, wide hole at its neck. Blair watched, fascinated, as the carrier
came to a halt, poised before the gap.
came to a halt, poised before the gap.


"Now, Lieutenant Christopher Blair. You've told me what the pulsar is.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Now, Lieutenant Christopher Blair. You've told me what the pulsar is.
Tell me how it feels."
Tell me how it feels."


"I don't feel anything yet."
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I don't feel anything yet."


"That's good."
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"That's good."


"It is?"
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"It is?"


He gave a slight nod, then resumed his work.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He gave a slight nod, then resumed his work.


With a low hiss, the chart room's hatch abruptly opened. Gerald and
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;With a low hiss, the chart room's hatch abruptly opened. Gerald and
Lieutenant Commander Deveraux passed into the holograph's eerie glow.
Lieutenant Commander Deveraux passed into the holograph's eerie glow.
Blair craned his head, wanting to dema-terialize into the shadows. Then
Blair craned his head, wanting to dema-terialize into the shadows. Then
Line 189: Line 225:
Lieutenant?"
Lieutenant?"


Blair faced them, their eyes like two pairs of muzzles, locked on target.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Blair faced them, their eyes like two pairs of muzzles, locked on target. "Ma'am, I--"
 
"Ma'am, I—"


"I asked Lieutenant Blair to be here," Taggart interjected.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I asked Lieutenant Blair to be here," Taggart interjected.


The hatch opened again.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The hatch opened again.


"Why?" Gerald asked.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Why?" Gerald asked.


"I authorized it," Captain Sansky said, entering the room and
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I authorized it," Captain Sansky said, entering the room and
double-timing toward Taggart. "Status?"
double-timing toward Taggart. "Status?"


"Coordinates are laid in," Taggart said. "One keystroke, and the upload
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Coordinates are laid in," Taggart said. "One keystroke, and the upload
will be finished." He went to holograph and pointed to the tip of the
will be finished." He went to holograph and pointed to the tip of the
stalagmite, letting his finger follow a trajectory across the wide gap in the
stalagmite, letting his finger follow a trajectory across the wide gap in the
quadrant. "The Ulysses Corridor. Four days' hard travel using three known
quadrant. "The Ulysses Corridor. Four days' hard travel using three known
jump points. By using the pulsar, we'll be there in"—he glanced to a digital
jump points. By using the pulsar, we'll be there in"--he glanced to a digital
clock above his station—"less than three minutes."
clock above his station--"less than three minutes."


"If your calculations are correct," Gerald said, grinding out the words.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"If your calculations are correct," Gerald said, grinding out the words.
Back at his console, Taggart touched the final key, finishing the upload.


"They're right."
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Back at his console, Taggart touched the final key, finishing the upload. "They're right."


Gerald steered himself toward Taggart. "NAVCOM and the finest
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Gerald steered himself toward Taggart. "NAVCOM and the finest
minds in the Confederation couldn't plot this jump. What makes you so
minds in the Confederation couldn't plot this jump. What makes you so
sure you're right?"
sure you're right?"


A flicker of a grin wiped across Taggart's lips. "Because they're Pilgrim
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;A flicker of a grin wiped across Taggart's lips. "Because they're Pilgrim
coordinates, Mr. Gerald."
coordinates, Mr. Gerald."


"What?" Gerald's gaze swept back to the databar.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"What?" Gerald's gaze swept back to the databar.


Taggart crossed into the big commander's line of sight. "We'll have a
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Taggart crossed into the big commander's line of sight. "We'll have a
lovely view from the bridge." Then he hurried toward the hatch.
lovely view from the bridge." Then he hurried toward the hatch.


Deveraux gave Blair a frosty look before following Taggart. Gerald and
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Deveraux gave Blair a frosty look before following Taggart. Gerald and
Sansky left together, their voices low and tense.
Sansky left together, their voices low and tense.


Alone in the chart room, Blair stepped into the holograph and ran his
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Alone in the chart room, Blair stepped into the holograph and ran his
finger along the same path that Taggart had marked. He strayed toward
finger along the same path that Taggart had marked. He strayed toward
the data bar, his entire body now illuminated by millions of scrolling
the data bar, his entire body now illuminated by millions of scrolling
calculations.
calculations.


Merlin sparked to life and paced along the top of Taggart's console. "If
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Merlin sparked to life and paced along the top of Taggart's console. "If
the entry trajectory is wrong, we'll be trapped in a moment outside of time
the entry trajectory is wrong, we'll be trapped in a moment outside of time
and space. That is, until the ship plummets into the pulsar and we become
and space. That is, until the ship plummets into the pulsar and we become
Line 240: Line 273:
fifty-seven-point-one percent chance that we're doomed."
fifty-seven-point-one percent chance that we're doomed."


Blair looked down at his chest, now scintillating with numbers. "The
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Blair looked down at his chest, now scintillating with numbers. "The
coordinates are right."
coordinates are right."


<center><B><nowiki>* * *</nowiki></B></center>
=== Part Three ===


"Maniac" Marshall jockeyed for a look through one of the huge
"Maniac" Marshall jockeyed for a look through one of the huge
Line 253: Line 286:
drew back from the porthole, about to say something.
drew back from the porthole, about to say something.


"This thing is eating suns for breakfast," Polanski interrupted.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"This thing is eating suns for breakfast," Polanski interrupted.
Khumalo, who Maniac had learned went by the moniker of "Knight,"
Khumalo, who Maniac had learned went by the moniker of "Knight,"
turned from a porthole, a look of deep puzzlement knitting his brow. The
turned from a porthole, a look of deep puzzlement knitting his brow. The
Line 259: Line 292:
here?"
here?"


Hunter chewed on his cigar. "You know what we're not doing?"
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Hunter chewed on his cigar. "You know what we're not doing?"


"Turning around," Forbes answered.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Turning around," Forbes answered.


Maniac regarded the pulsar with exaggerated awe, then addressed his
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Maniac regarded the pulsar with exaggerated awe, then addressed his
audience. "Do you know what you people are staring at? Do you have any
audience. "Do you know what you people are staring at? Do you have any
idea?"
idea?"


With a sigh, Hunter replied, "A Class Two pulsar, mate. I've seen a lot
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;With a sigh, Hunter replied, "A Class Two pulsar, mate. I've seen a lot
of 'em."
of 'em."


"No." He cocked his thumb toward the porthole. "That, ladies and
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"No." He cocked his thumb toward the porthole. "That, ladies and
gentlemen, is the ultimate rush."
gentlemen, is the ultimate rush."


Sure, the others gaped at him as though he had gone off the deep end
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Sure, the others gaped at him as though he had gone off the deep end
and had returned with gray hair and strange prophecies. He could live
and had returned with gray hair and strange prophecies. He could live
with that.
with that.


As long as he had Forbes smiling.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As long as he had Forbes smiling.


Which he did.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Which he did.


<center><B><nowiki>* * *</nowiki></B></center>
=== Part Four ===


Blair took up a position near the back of the bridge, beside Deveraux.
Blair took up a position near the back of the bridge, beside Deveraux.
She noticed him and edged away. He gave a slight snort and held his
She noticed him and edged away. He gave a slight snort and held his
ground.
ground.


An unsettling air pervaded the bridge, evidenced in the ashen faces of
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;An unsettling air pervaded the bridge, evidenced in the ashen faces of
the officers and noncoms who dutifully and nervously ran through their
the officers and noncoms who dutifully and nervously ran through their
prejump checklists. The casual murmuring Blair had heard during his
prejump checklists. The casual murmuring Blair had heard during his
Line 294: Line 326:
acknowledgments.
acknowledgments.


An inverted triangle of consoles divided the forward bridge, with the
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;An inverted triangle of consoles divided the forward bridge, with the
helmsman seated at the triangle's top and gripping his wheel. Sansky and
helmsman seated at the triangle's top and gripping his wheel. Sansky and
Gerald manned observation consoles at the base angles, near the bank of
Gerald manned observation consoles at the base angles, near the bank of
Line 300: Line 332:
chosen his position.
chosen his position.


Sansky touched a key on the shipwide intercom panel. "Ladies and
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Sansky touched a key on the shipwide intercom panel. "Ladies and
gentlemen, this is the captain. I'll put an end to the scuttlebutt by
gentlemen, this is the captain. I'll put an end to the scuttlebutt by
informing you that in sixty seconds we're going to jump the Class Two
informing you that in sixty seconds we're going to jump the Class Two
Line 309: Line 341:
found his own trepidation mirrored in the captain's face. "May God be
found his own trepidation mirrored in the captain's face. "May God be
with us all." Then Sansky favored the helmsman with a nod. "Take us in."
with us all." Then Sansky favored the helmsman with a nod. "Take us in."
The carrier lurched for a moment, then started for the pulsar. Anything
 
that wasn't battened down—and even a few things that were—began to
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The carrier lurched for a moment, then started for the pulsar. Anything
that wasn't battened down--and even a few things that were--began to
tremble in a cacophony that reminded Blair of the earthquakes on
tremble in a cacophony that reminded Blair of the earthquakes on
Nephele. He found a nearby railing and gripped it for support. Deveraux
Nephele. He found a nearby railing and gripped it for support. Deveraux
folded her arms over her chest and wouldn't join him.
folded her arms over her chest and wouldn't join him.


As they glided closer to the pulsar, it better resembled Scylla, but this
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As they glided closer to the pulsar, it better resembled Scylla, but this
Scylla, perhaps a distant cousin, had only one head and the brilliantly
Scylla, perhaps a distant cousin, had only one head and the brilliantly
flashing eye of a Cyclops. As she gobbled up stars, planets, planetoids, and
flashing eye of a Cyclops. As she gobbled up stars, planets, planetoids, and
Line 323: Line 356:
He felt her magnetic fields.
He felt her magnetic fields.


And, in his mind's eye, he saw an avenue through space-time itself, a
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And, in his mind's eye, he saw an avenue through space-time itself, a
shiny black funnel of infinite mass that he sensed promised infinite
shiny black funnel of infinite mass that he sensed promised infinite
awareness.
awareness.


"Lieutenant?"
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Lieutenant?"


With a shiver, he looked askance at Deveraux. "Yes, ma'am?"
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;With a shiver, he looked askance at Deveraux. "Yes, ma'am?"


"For a second there I thought—"
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"For a second there I thought--"


"Attention! Attention! Course error. Adjust course immediately," came
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Attention! Attention! Course error. Adjust course immediately," came
the NAVCOM's automated voice. An alarm squawked.
the NAVCOM's automated voice. An alarm squawked.


"Ignore that," Taggart said confidently. "Helm. Hold steady as she
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Ignore that," Taggart said confidently. "Helm. Hold steady as she
goes."
goes."


"Captain," the NAVCOM began, its tone waxing persuasive. "The ship
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Captain," the NAVCOM began, its tone waxing persuasive. "The ship
is headed into the PNR zone of an uncharted Class Two pulsar. One
is headed into the PNR zone of an uncharted Class Two pulsar. One
minute before gravitational pull is one hundred percent."
minute before gravitational pull is one hundred percent."


Sansky spun toward the helm, his voice freighted with tension. "What
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Sansky spun toward the helm, his voice freighted with tension. "What
about it, Taggart?"
about it, Taggart?"


"The readings are wrong. Your AI's sensors are not calibrated to the
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"The readings are wrong. Your AI's sensors are not calibrated to the
pulsar. They've already been warped by the gravitational field."
pulsar. They've already been warped by the gravitational field."


"I must insist that we change course immediately," the NAV-COM said.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"I must insist that we change course immediately," the NAV-COM said.
"Initiating AI override."
"Initiating AI override."


"No!" Taggart screamed.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"No!" Taggart screamed.


The <I>Tiger Claw</I> suddenly bucked, and Deveraux came crashing forward
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The <I>Tiger Claw</I> suddenly bucked, and Deveraux came crashing forward
into the railing, near Blair. She found her grip as the ship began pulling to
into the railing, near Blair. She found her grip as the ship began pulling to
port, throwing them parallel to the rail.
port, throwing them parallel to the rail.


Taggart, who now held fast to the helmsman's console, shouldered his
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Taggart, who now held fast to the helmsman's console, shouldered his
way to a touchpad. "Manual override! Now! Disregard your artificial
way to a touchpad. "Manual override! Now! Disregard your artificial
intelligence—or we're all dead."
intelligence--or we're all dead."


"Captain," Gerald said through clenched teeth. "I believe you should
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Captain," Gerald said through clenched teeth. "I believe you should
reconsider."
reconsider."


Sansky cocked a brow. "I already have. Steady as she goes, helm."
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Sansky cocked a brow. "I already have. Steady as she goes, helm."


Like a cosmic predator with talons of gravitational force, the pulsar
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Like a cosmic predator with talons of gravitational force, the pulsar
reached out and clutched the carrier. Fighting to stabilize the ship's pitch
reached out and clutched the carrier. Fighting to stabilize the ship's pitch
and yaw, the helmsman's face locked in a grimace as the <I>Tiger Claw</I>
and yaw, the helmsman's face locked in a grimace as the <I>Tiger Claw</I>
convulsed, her bulkheads writhed, and her overhead threatened to cave in.
convulsed, her bulkheads writhed, and her overhead threatened to cave in.


"This is the captain," Sansky said over the intercom. "Brace for jump
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"This is the captain," Sansky said over the intercom. "Brace for jump
point interphase. Fifteen seconds to jump point."
point interphase. Fifteen seconds to jump point."


"Jesus…" Deveraux said as the ship released a ghoulish bellow.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Jesus ..." Deveraux said as the ship released a ghoulish bellow.


But Blair scarcely heard Deveraux, scarcely saw the bridge or felt the
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;But Blair scarcely heard Deveraux, scarcely saw the bridge or felt the
rail. His senses began shutting down as they had when nearing Scylla.
rail. His senses began shutting down as they had when nearing Scylla.


And the feeling, the awe-inspiring feeling, lived in him, a vital,
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And the feeling, the awe-inspiring feeling, lived in him, a vital,
unstoppable force that placed the moment inside a subatomic particle, in
unstoppable force that placed the moment inside a subatomic particle, in
a universe whose boundaries he longed to explore. He glimpsed the entire
a universe whose boundaries he longed to explore. He glimpsed the entire
Line 390: Line 423:
meant to see me. This is not your continuum."
meant to see me. This is not your continuum."


"It is mine. I chose it."
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"It is mine. I chose it."


"You don't have the right to choose. Only one does."
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"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
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"What do you mean? There aren't any rules. I feel this. I can do what I
feel."
feel."


"Then you'll fall. Like the others."
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Then you'll fall. Like the others."


"You're not my mother, are you?"
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"You're not my mother, are you?"


"I'm everything your mother was, is, and will be. I'm in every part of the
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"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."
universe at once, as you are now, as you shouldn't be."


"Why?"
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"Why?"


"I wish you could understand. I wish that more than anything. But I've
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"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." Her features
seen your path. And there's nothing I can do to change it." Her features
grew younger, more narrow, until Blair stared at Lieutenant Commander
grew younger, more narrow, until Blair stared at Lieutenant Commander
Line 412: Line 445:
jump. Better hang on."
jump. Better hang on."


He reached with trembling hands for the rail and blinked as a burst of
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He reached with trembling hands for the rail and blinked as a burst of
light shot from the pulsar.
light shot from the pulsar.


Then he found a bewildered Taggart staring at him. Blair could only
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Then he found a bewildered Taggart staring at him. Blair could only
imagine how strange he looked. He had not just seen a ghost.
imagine how strange he looked. He had not just seen a ghost.
He had seen the universe itself.


And the experience had left him frightened of who he was and might
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;He had seen the universe itself.
 
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;And the experience had left him frightened of who he was and might
become.
become.


No warning had stunned him more.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;No warning had stunned him more.
 
== Scans ==
 
<gallery>
Wing_Commander_novelization_page_083.jpg
Wing_Commander_novelization_page_084.jpg
Wing_Commander_novelization_page_085.jpg
Wing_Commander_novelization_page_086.jpg
Wing_Commander_novelization_page_087.jpg
Wing_Commander_novelization_page_088.jpg
Wing_Commander_novelization_page_089.jpg
Wing_Commander_novelization_page_090.jpg
Wing_Commander_novelization_page_091.jpg
</gallery>
 
{{novelindex/wingcommander}}
 
[[Category:Wing Commander (novelization)]]

Latest revision as of 03:25, 9 April 2024

Chapter 12
Movienovel.jpg
Book Wing Commander
Parts 4
Previous Chapter 11
Next Chapter 13
Pages 83-91


Dramatis Personae

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4
POV

Jay Sansky

Christopher Blair

Todd "Maniac" Marshall

Christopher Blair

Speaking

Corey Obutu

Jeanette "Angel" Deveraux
Paul Gerald
Merlin
Jay Sansky
James "Paladin" Taggart

Rosalind "Sassy" Forbes
Joseph "Knight" Khumelo
Adam "Bishop" Polanski
Ian "Hunter" St. John

CS Tiger Claw NAVCOM
Jeanette "Angel" Deveraux
Paul Gerald Jay Sansky
Devi Soulsong

Non-Speaking

Unidentified Helmsman
Unidentified Noncoms
Unidentified Officers

Mentioned

Geoffrey Tolwyn
William Wilson

Text

UNITED
CONFEDERATION
CARRIER TIGER CLAW
MARCH 16, 2654
1415 HOURS
ZULU TIME
VEGA SECTOR
ETA TO CLASS 2
PULSAR FIFTEEN
MINUTES


Part One

Captain Jay Sansky sat at his desk in the welcome solitude of his quarters. The antique clock hanging on the bulkhead above him ticked nearly in sync with the drums and violins of a contemporary classical theme resonating from his minidisc player. He had come here to meditate before the jump, to gather some thoughts while pushing others away.

     In truth, he had come to bury the past.

     He turned once more to the holopic sitting on his desk, a framed, three-dimensional doorway leading him through twenty-five years of memories. He smiled wanly at the group of young men and women posed in crisp Naval Academy uniforms, their eyes full of hope, their expressions hard and brimming with courage. Sansky had been with them that day, a brash officer with a thin face and full head of hair. Beside him, looking for all the world like an accomplice in rashness, stood Bill Wilson, former commander of Pegasus Station, now assumed dead. Bill wore his twisted grin proudly, and he had never betrayed his rebel's heart.

     Every officer in the Confederation Navy played a role. Some played theirs better than others. But no one played his role more passionately, more honestly than Bill Wilson. Despite navigating through years of military corruption, Wilson had never lost sight of who he was. And he had tried for many years to make Sansky realize the same. One day, it simply dawned on Sansky that, like Wilson, he could reconcile with the universe, that he could correct years of wrongdoing. A military officer could do such a thing. A military officer wielded such power.

     But Sansky still felt uncertain of his role, unsure of his future, and guilt-stricken by his past. So many people had helped him over the years. So many souls had given. Had he returned their generosity? Could he ever? Was it even right to believe that he owed them? Or was that the guilt again?

     He closed his eyes tightly. "Oh, God," he whispered. "Oh, God. If I'm right, forgive me. And if I'm wrong, forgive me even more."

     "This terminal has been idle for five minutes. Do you wish to continue?" came a computer voice.

     Sansky looked at the small monitor, at the green navigation lines superimposed on the Ulysses Corridor. He had thoroughly studied the map, knew the region, and knew the odds of getting there. If he just had more time to better weigh his options, but was there ever enough time? Some said war represented the true enemy; Sansky knew otherwise.

     "Computer. Shut down."

     "Shutting down."

     He glanced at the hard-copy map he had printed out, took up his pen, and noted the coordinates where the Tiger Claw should appear after the jump.

     Should appear.

     Lieutenant Commander Obutu's voice boomed over the intercom.

     "Captain Sansky?"

     "Yes?"

     "Sorry to bother you, sir. You're needed in the chart room."

     "On my way."

     Sansky set down his pen and picked up the holopic. He stared fondly at the two young men with their whole lives ahead of them, two young men naive of the fire that lay in their hearts. He replaced the holopic, opened a drawer, and lifted his hip flask. With an unsteady hand, he brought the flask to his lips and took several swigs before stowing the whiskey. He started for the hatch, then hurried back to the desk, where he scooped up Tolwyn's ring.

Admiral Geoffrey Tolwyn had an unspoken agreement with the universe that allowed him to take tremendous risks while managing to emerge triumphant and unscathed. Perhaps carrying a piece of the admiral would allow Sansky to do the same.

Part Two

As Blair stepped into the carrier's chart room, a huge holographic display swept up his attention. Stretching from deck to overhead, the semitransparent images drew long shadows across the walls and over the navigation subterminal where Taggart sat, keying in numbers and gazing trancelike at his screen.

     A red blip designated by tiny letters as the Tiger Claw lay at the holograph's center. The blip flashed as it moved toward a pulsating, constantly moving series of circles: a mathematical representation of the Class 2 pulsar. The data bar beside the pulsar showed thousands of scrolling coordinates in space-time, coordinates being fed into the carrier's NAVCOM AI by Taggart.

     "They told me you were here, sir," Blair said.

     "Look at it, Lieutenant," Taggart suggested, still intent on his screen. "What do you see?"

     Blair shrugged; wasn't it obvious? "That's a Class Two pulsar."

     "Explain."

     "Well, unlike a black hole, which is a discrete singularity, or a quasar, which has the potential of containing thousands of discrete singularities, this pulsar is a discrete singularity with an infinite number of constantly changing permutations."

     "Great. You remember that academy crap. Now just look at it and read the map."

     "I don't know what to say. Those permutations, they, uh, each one is capable of taking us to another part of the galaxy. The problem is, most of them are dead ends."

     "With an emphasis on dead." Taggart swung around and cocked a brow.

     The grid surrounding the Tiger Claw began to deform as a long spike impaled it, then gradually pulled itself inside out to form a stalagmite with a thick, wide hole at its neck. Blair watched, fascinated, as the carrier came to a halt, poised before the gap.

     "Now, Lieutenant Christopher Blair. You've told me what the pulsar is. Tell me how it feels."

     "I don't feel anything yet."

     "That's good."

     "It is?"

     He gave a slight nod, then resumed his work.

     With a low hiss, the chart room's hatch abruptly opened. Gerald and Lieutenant Commander Deveraux passed into the holograph's eerie glow. Blair craned his head, wanting to dema-terialize into the shadows. Then he cringed as he heard Deveraux's voice. "Why aren't you at your station, Lieutenant?"

     Blair faced them, their eyes like two pairs of muzzles, locked on target. "Ma'am, I--"

     "I asked Lieutenant Blair to be here," Taggart interjected.

     The hatch opened again.

     "Why?" Gerald asked.

     "I authorized it," Captain Sansky said, entering the room and double-timing toward Taggart. "Status?"

     "Coordinates are laid in," Taggart said. "One keystroke, and the upload will be finished." He went to holograph and pointed to the tip of the stalagmite, letting his finger follow a trajectory across the wide gap in the quadrant. "The Ulysses Corridor. Four days' hard travel using three known jump points. By using the pulsar, we'll be there in"--he glanced to a digital clock above his station--"less than three minutes."

     "If your calculations are correct," Gerald said, grinding out the words.

     Back at his console, Taggart touched the final key, finishing the upload. "They're right."

     Gerald steered himself toward Taggart. "NAVCOM and the finest minds in the Confederation couldn't plot this jump. What makes you so sure you're right?"

     A flicker of a grin wiped across Taggart's lips. "Because they're Pilgrim coordinates, Mr. Gerald."

     "What?" Gerald's gaze swept back to the databar.

     Taggart crossed into the big commander's line of sight. "We'll have a lovely view from the bridge." Then he hurried toward the hatch.

     Deveraux gave Blair a frosty look before following Taggart. Gerald and Sansky left together, their voices low and tense.

     Alone in the chart room, Blair stepped into the holograph and ran his finger along the same path that Taggart had marked. He strayed toward the data bar, his entire body now illuminated by millions of scrolling calculations.

     Merlin sparked to life and paced along the top of Taggart's console. "If the entry trajectory is wrong, we'll be trapped in a moment outside of time and space. That is, until the ship plummets into the pulsar and we become an infinitely small part of a special singularity. My guess is there's a fifty-seven-point-one percent chance that we're doomed."

     Blair looked down at his chest, now scintillating with numbers. "The coordinates are right."

Part Three

"Maniac" Marshall jockeyed for a look through one of the huge portholes outside the pilots' mess. The once black and distant mass of the pulsar now dominated the view, its edges streaked by dying stars. The pulsar reminded Maniac of Scylla, though it flashed brilliantly at three-second intervals, living up to its name. The other pilots took no pleasure in the carrier's present position. Maniac would educate them. He drew back from the porthole, about to say something.

     "This thing is eating suns for breakfast," Polanski interrupted. Khumalo, who Maniac had learned went by the moniker of "Knight," turned from a porthole, a look of deep puzzlement knitting his brow. The stocky black man had Hunter's attention. "What the hell are we doing here?"

     Hunter chewed on his cigar. "You know what we're not doing?"

     "Turning around," Forbes answered.

     Maniac regarded the pulsar with exaggerated awe, then addressed his audience. "Do you know what you people are staring at? Do you have any idea?"

     With a sigh, Hunter replied, "A Class Two pulsar, mate. I've seen a lot of 'em."

     "No." He cocked his thumb toward the porthole. "That, ladies and gentlemen, is the ultimate rush."

     Sure, the others gaped at him as though he had gone off the deep end and had returned with gray hair and strange prophecies. He could live with that.

     As long as he had Forbes smiling.

     Which he did.

Part Four

Blair took up a position near the back of the bridge, beside Deveraux. She noticed him and edged away. He gave a slight snort and held his ground.

     An unsettling air pervaded the bridge, evidenced in the ashen faces of the officers and noncoms who dutifully and nervously ran through their prejump checklists. The casual murmuring Blair had heard during his first visit here had shifted to terse orders and even more terse acknowledgments.

     An inverted triangle of consoles divided the forward bridge, with the helmsman seated at the triangle's top and gripping his wheel. Sansky and Gerald manned observation consoles at the base angles, near the bank of viewports. Taggart stood at the helmsman's shoulder, having carefully chosen his position.

     Sansky touched a key on the shipwide intercom panel. "Ladies and gentlemen, this is the captain. I'll put an end to the scuttlebutt by informing you that in sixty seconds we're going to jump the Class Two pulsar directly ahead. We've been ordered to the Ulysses Corridor, and we need to get there quickly." Sansky went on to give a capsule summary of the events surrounding the destruction of the Pegasus Station. When he finished, he looked over his shoulder at everyone on the bridge, and Blair found his own trepidation mirrored in the captain's face. "May God be with us all." Then Sansky favored the helmsman with a nod. "Take us in."

     The carrier lurched for a moment, then started for the pulsar. Anything that wasn't battened down--and even a few things that were--began to tremble in a cacophony that reminded Blair of the earthquakes on Nephele. He found a nearby railing and gripped it for support. Deveraux folded her arms over her chest and wouldn't join him.

     As they glided closer to the pulsar, it better resembled Scylla, but this Scylla, perhaps a distant cousin, had only one head and the brilliantly flashing eye of a Cyclops. As she gobbled up stars, planets, planetoids, and smaller debris, she forged the thunderbolts of her namesake that now struck the Claw with massive tremors. And in her work, Blair sensed a perfect balance, a simplicity that tingled at the base of his spine. He felt her magnetic fields.

     And, in his mind's eye, he saw an avenue through space-time itself, a shiny black funnel of infinite mass that he sensed promised infinite awareness.

     "Lieutenant?"

     With a shiver, he looked askance at Deveraux. "Yes, ma'am?"

     "For a second there I thought--"

     "Attention! Attention! Course error. Adjust course immediately," came the NAVCOM's automated voice. An alarm squawked.

     "Ignore that," Taggart said confidently. "Helm. Hold steady as she goes."

     "Captain," the NAVCOM began, its tone waxing persuasive. "The ship is headed into the PNR zone of an uncharted Class Two pulsar. One minute before gravitational pull is one hundred percent."

     Sansky spun toward the helm, his voice freighted with tension. "What about it, Taggart?"

     "The readings are wrong. Your AI's sensors are not calibrated to the pulsar. They've already been warped by the gravitational field."

     "I must insist that we change course immediately," the NAV-COM said. "Initiating AI override."

     "No!" Taggart screamed.

     The Tiger Claw suddenly bucked, and Deveraux came crashing forward into the railing, near Blair. She found her grip as the ship began pulling to port, throwing them parallel to the rail.

     Taggart, who now held fast to the helmsman's console, shouldered his way to a touchpad. "Manual override! Now! Disregard your artificial intelligence--or we're all dead."

     "Captain," Gerald said through clenched teeth. "I believe you should reconsider."

     Sansky cocked a brow. "I already have. Steady as she goes, helm."

     Like a cosmic predator with talons of gravitational force, the pulsar reached out and clutched the carrier. Fighting to stabilize the ship's pitch and yaw, the helmsman's face locked in a grimace as the Tiger Claw convulsed, her bulkheads writhed, and her overhead threatened to cave in.

     "This is the captain," Sansky said over the intercom. "Brace for jump point interphase. Fifteen seconds to jump point."

     "Jesus ..." Deveraux said as the ship released a ghoulish bellow.

     But Blair scarcely heard Deveraux, scarcely saw the bridge or felt the rail. His senses began shutting down as they had when nearing Scylla.

     And the feeling, the awe-inspiring feeling, lived in him, a vital, unstoppable force that placed the moment inside a subatomic particle, in a universe whose boundaries he longed to explore. He glimpsed the entire Ulysses Corridor and beyond, saw Nephele, the Sol system, whatever he wanted to see because distances no longer held meaning. Time no longer held meaning. He thought of his mother. And there, before him, she gave a mild frown, her hair and complexion as smooth and dark as he remembered. "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." Her features grew younger, more narrow, until Blair stared at Lieutenant Commander Deveraux, who said, "Didn't you hear him, Lieutenant? Fifteen seconds to jump. Better hang on."

     He reached with trembling hands for the rail and blinked as a burst of light shot from the pulsar.

     Then he found a bewildered Taggart staring at him. Blair could only imagine how strange he looked. He had not just seen a ghost.

     He had seen the universe itself.

     And the experience had left him frightened of who he was and might become.

     No warning had stunned him more.

Scans