Precorut on such short notice, to prevent
the Ben Objure from attacking the station, in the event they discovered we were
there. At this point, we are on full alert. We have to draw the Ben Objure away
from the settlements, and away from all Regency-held colonies.”
“Don’t the
Ben Objure realize the queen ship had been rigged to explode?” Plymon
questioned.
“It doesn’t
matter to them. That, or they aren’t aware of the fact. Regardless, I don’t
think they’d be willing to listen to reason if we tried to explain.”
“Think
they’ll follow us into the void?” Magnus wondered.
“That’s
what I’m hoping. If we can lure them away from populated areas, we stand an
excellent chance of defeating any attempt they make to try and take us.”
She noticed Plymon
glancing toward the doorway, and a dark anger roiled in the pit of her stomach.
His action was a blatant but silent question directed at her.
“The
Anglites have been delivered to their people, and Vall is in the hands of
Precorut’s scientists, who I fully expect will discover what he is and where he
came from.”
She saw the man
visibly relax, as if his worst fears had been dissolved. It wasn’t until he
turned his back to her that Will realized she would never let the man take her
body again. She had seen a side of the Sub-captain she didn’t know existed, and
discovered she didn’t like. Of course, this new knowledge would not affect her
working relationship with him. But it would definitely lock him out of her
personal life.
“Approaching
void,” the navigator intoned.
“There’s no
hurry, Magnus. Take it slowly but surely. Let’s be a casual presence.”
“Dangling
the bait, Captain?”
She recognized
Dierk’s voice behind her. As the ship’s weapons master, he had been rebuilding
the Trinity’s arsenal and re-energizing the ship’s shields during their
down time.
“Exactly.
If the Ben Objure want to pick a fight, well, here I am. Let them come after
me, instead of innocent colonists.” She cocked her head. “Give me a
report on the weapons’ systems.”
“All
weapons fully loaded. Shields are at one hundred percent.” The weapons
master grinned at her appreciative nod.
Will hit a
button on the chair arm. “Engineering! Baladon!”
“Baladon
here, Captain.”
“How’s our
fuel?”
“We’re
filled to the brim.”
“Excellent.
Thank you.”
“But we
didn’t blow up that ship!” Plymon reiterated.
Will swiveled
her command chair around to face him. “Tell me, Plymon. If we hadn’t
boarded that ship, would it have blown?”
As the
Sub-captain chewed over his answer, she got to feet. She was tired, irritable,
and hungry, and definitely in no mood to argue.
“I’m going
to retire to my cabin for a brief rest. Granth, call me if anything shoots at
us.”
“Will do,
Captain.”
She moved toward
the doorway, keeping her face averted from the Sub-captain. He would recognize
the snub. It’ll be interesting how he takes being ejected out of my personal
life , she mused as the tube closed around her.
She ate a small
bowl of soup before retiring, even though her stomach growled for more when she
was finished. But she was afraid eating a heavier meal would leave her nearly
comatose when she laid down.
Leaving her
uniform on, she settled on top of her bed and tried to relax. Unfortunately,
visions of Vall were burned behind her eyelids. Golden-brown eyes pleaded with
her not to go, not to leave him. Those eyes spoke more eloquently than words
ever could.
Tears
unexpectedly filled her eyes. Overflowing, they ran down the sides of her face
and into the hair at her temple. Covering her face with her hands, Will sobbed.
Why am I feeling
like this? Why? Why is leaving you tearing at me?
Vall…
What is wrong
with me?
For several long
minutes, she cried openly. Confused, unsure, and worried, she allowed herself to
release those feelings which had been eating her, until weariness finally made
her succumb to
the Ben Objure from attacking the station, in the event they discovered we were
there. At this point, we are on full alert. We have to draw the Ben Objure away
from the settlements, and away from all Regency-held colonies.”
“Don’t the
Ben Objure realize the queen ship had been rigged to explode?” Plymon
questioned.
“It doesn’t
matter to them. That, or they aren’t aware of the fact. Regardless, I don’t
think they’d be willing to listen to reason if we tried to explain.”
“Think
they’ll follow us into the void?” Magnus wondered.
“That’s
what I’m hoping. If we can lure them away from populated areas, we stand an
excellent chance of defeating any attempt they make to try and take us.”
She noticed Plymon
glancing toward the doorway, and a dark anger roiled in the pit of her stomach.
His action was a blatant but silent question directed at her.
“The
Anglites have been delivered to their people, and Vall is in the hands of
Precorut’s scientists, who I fully expect will discover what he is and where he
came from.”
She saw the man
visibly relax, as if his worst fears had been dissolved. It wasn’t until he
turned his back to her that Will realized she would never let the man take her
body again. She had seen a side of the Sub-captain she didn’t know existed, and
discovered she didn’t like. Of course, this new knowledge would not affect her
working relationship with him. But it would definitely lock him out of her
personal life.
“Approaching
void,” the navigator intoned.
“There’s no
hurry, Magnus. Take it slowly but surely. Let’s be a casual presence.”
“Dangling
the bait, Captain?”
She recognized
Dierk’s voice behind her. As the ship’s weapons master, he had been rebuilding
the Trinity’s arsenal and re-energizing the ship’s shields during their
down time.
“Exactly.
If the Ben Objure want to pick a fight, well, here I am. Let them come after
me, instead of innocent colonists.” She cocked her head. “Give me a
report on the weapons’ systems.”
“All
weapons fully loaded. Shields are at one hundred percent.” The weapons
master grinned at her appreciative nod.
Will hit a
button on the chair arm. “Engineering! Baladon!”
“Baladon
here, Captain.”
“How’s our
fuel?”
“We’re
filled to the brim.”
“Excellent.
Thank you.”
“But we
didn’t blow up that ship!” Plymon reiterated.
Will swiveled
her command chair around to face him. “Tell me, Plymon. If we hadn’t
boarded that ship, would it have blown?”
As the
Sub-captain chewed over his answer, she got to feet. She was tired, irritable,
and hungry, and definitely in no mood to argue.
“I’m going
to retire to my cabin for a brief rest. Granth, call me if anything shoots at
us.”
“Will do,
Captain.”
She moved toward
the doorway, keeping her face averted from the Sub-captain. He would recognize
the snub. It’ll be interesting how he takes being ejected out of my personal
life , she mused as the tube closed around her.
She ate a small
bowl of soup before retiring, even though her stomach growled for more when she
was finished. But she was afraid eating a heavier meal would leave her nearly
comatose when she laid down.
Leaving her
uniform on, she settled on top of her bed and tried to relax. Unfortunately,
visions of Vall were burned behind her eyelids. Golden-brown eyes pleaded with
her not to go, not to leave him. Those eyes spoke more eloquently than words
ever could.
Tears
unexpectedly filled her eyes. Overflowing, they ran down the sides of her face
and into the hair at her temple. Covering her face with her hands, Will sobbed.
Why am I feeling
like this? Why? Why is leaving you tearing at me?
Vall…
What is wrong
with me?
For several long
minutes, she cried openly. Confused, unsure, and worried, she allowed herself to
release those feelings which had been eating her, until weariness finally made
her succumb to
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