Chapter 10
Avent leaped into his Captain's chair, and pushed 101's throttle to maximum. The engine's angry roar filled the cockpit, reflecting their Captain's mood.
Star Cruiser 101 quickly outpaced Star Cruiser 42 and closed within weapons range of the Mira 2.
"Phop, charge the plasma cannon to fifteen percent, and Terra, open a channel to the Mira 2," Avent ordered.
"Jolly-good sir," Phop confirmed.
"Channel open," Terra informed Avent.
"Mira 2, last chance, power down now," Avent ordered.
No response.
"Power down, power down, power down," Avent repeated.
A shot from the Mira 2 splashed off Star Cruiser 101's hull.
"Mira 2 is crossing into Zerg space," Savy warned.
"Fine," Avent told the fleeing Mira 2, and squeezed the trigger.
The plasma charge smashed through the Mira 2's shields and disintegrated three of her four engines.
"Direct hit," Savy reported. "But she's still running one engine, somehow."
"They can't get away now," Avent stated as Star Cruiser 101 closed in on the crippled Mira 2.
"Oh-no!" Savy exclaimed. "I have something big, closing fast!" she informed Avent.
"Zerg," Avent breathed.
The incoming dreadnaught opened fire on Star Cruiser 101.
Avent maneuvered through the storm of weapons fire of every kind. "Deploy all weapons, plasma cannon to one-hundred percent," he ordered.
"Multiple contacts incoming!" Savy called.
Avent's mind calculated a dozen plans at once. They could still do this! They could still recover that phone…
Avent shook his head, too much risk. The Galactic Alliance would simply have to sign a two year contract and get another phone.
"Power down weapons," he counter ordered himself, looping Star Cruiser 101 around. "This is Star Cruiser 101 disengaging," he informed the trailing Star Cruiser 42. "Disengage I repeat, disengage."
X X X
Back at Palutes:
Star Cruiser 101 came back to pick up the two Rangers left behind.
"Set course for Star Command, please," Avent ordered wearily.
"I'm sorry Avent," Mira offered, feeling miserably guilty.
"Ah, it's okay," Avent replied. "I'm just really glad you're safe."
His kind words, meant to alleviate, only added to her misery. Oh man, Mira moaned to herself.
X X X
Star Command:
The eight Rangers and one Junior Ranger, halted in front of Commander Nebula's office door. Avent turned back to his crew. "You all pray for me now," he joked, then turned to Buzz. "I'm sorry I failed your mission sir," he began.
Buzz stepped up and put a hand on his shoulder. "You did good out there Ranger. Now let's get this over with, shall we?" Buzz said.
They entered Commander Nebula's office side-by-side, and the doors closed behind them.
"Poor Avent," Terra said. "Commander Nebula never seemed to like him to begin with, there's no telling what he'll do to Avent now!"
"Don't worry Terra," Andromeda said, "Avent can take anything Commander Nebula throws at him and then some. But we could take him to Cosmos afterwards and try to cheer him up," she suggested. "You know, administer a little, heart-to-heart. What do you think Phop?"
"A jolly good idea, what?" Phop replied.
"Oh yes!" Terra cheered. "Lets!"
"Hey! What about me?" Savy wanted to know.
X X X
Meanwhile: In Commander Nebula's Office:
Avent marched up to Commander Nebula's desk and saluted. "Ranger Avent reporting, sir. Mission failed. The presidential phone was delivered to planet Z."
"Alright," Commander Nebula acknowledged. "That earns you twelve-extra hours on the training floor next week, dismissed Ranger Avent," then returned to his paperwork.
Avent blinked in surprise. "Really?" he had to asked.
There are two kinds of Rangers son," Nebula said without looking up. "Those who have failed missions and those that will fail missions. Learn from it, so it don't happen again."
"Ah, yes sir," Avent saluted and left with Buzz.
X X X
Elsewhere on Star Command:
Mira sat at her computer desk, typing up her report. In doing so, she once again relived the critical moments of the failed mission, and her part in them. Despite all that, Avent had not shifted one milligram of blame onto her, or anyone else. Even now, he was taking responsibility for the failed mission. Well, isn't that what Avent wanted—responsibility?
Rollmac, on the other hand, had spent his life working for cash, and not being particular about who paid him that cash. And, at the cost of this last mission, he got what he wanted—more cash.
As for herself, she did not have to answer for her emotionally tainted decisions. But the question remained, was that all she really wanted?
Mira got to the end of her report, somehow, and sent it off.
When she had cleared her screen, she noticed the mail icon was flashing. Curious, Mira clicked on it.
Rollmac's face appeared on the screen. "Mira, I didn't get to thank you properly for saving my life from that trigger-happy Ranger. Thank you, Mira. Someday soon I'm going to come back like a hero, and win your heart. And you know, I never quit a job."
The recording ended.
Mira clenched her fists and closed her eyes. If she had not gotten in the way, if Avent had not been concerned for her safety… Avent would be delivering that cursed red presidential phone to Commander Nebula right now! She would not have a lie weighing down on her conscious… And Rollmac's perfect record, and possibly his head, would have a gaping hole blasted right through it.
Mira sighed deeply. The past could not be changed, the million unibuck question was, what was she going to do about it now…?