" Commander, I'm picking up some kind of signal. It's on an old Earth
frequency," Terrien said from the communication console.
" Old Earth?" Goddard asked.
" It predates the UPP by a year or two," Terrien said. He and Goddard were manning the midnight shift.
" Then they could be refugee ships from the war," Goddard suggested.
" Refugees?" Terrien asked.
" Yes. There were several people who believed that the Spung were going to win during one of the low points of the war, and they slaved their ships together and made a blind hyperspace jump. The UPP was formed and they didn't focus on them, as they weren't as worried about refugees as they were about Spung revenge," Goddard explained. He hit a comm device. " All hands to the Command Post," he ordered.
Harlan rolled over and checked the chrono.
" What is the Commander doing, calling at 0400?" he muttered.
" I don't know, but whatever it is, it'll probably destroy us," Bova muttered. Harlan threw his pillow at the Uranusian.
" No, the Commander and Terrien... they're talking about some... refugee ships they discovered," Radu said.
" You and those ears," Harlan muttered, before getting out of bed. Goddard's voice came back over the intercom.
" Mr. Band, that means you," his voice growled.
" How does he do that? Is he part Andromedan?" Harlan muttered.
" Probably," Bova murmured.
Thirty minutes after Goddard's first announcement, the crew had assembled.
" Commander Goddard, this had better be good," Davenport growled as she came through the door with her mud mask on. Harlan, Goddard, Terrien, Radu, and Cat had the same reaction: They jumped, then began to snicker.
" Miss Davenport, are you... ill?" T.H.E.L.M.A. asked. Davenport looked at her for a second, then remembered her mud mask.
" From now on, I expect ample warning," she growled.
" Commander, we're within visual range of the refugee ships," Terrien said.
" Hail the lead vessel," Goddard ordered.
" They're responding," Terrien said, then delegated the communication post to Rosie.
" Screen on," Goddard ordered. The image of the young teen girl appeared.
" Humans? This far in space? Are you refugees too?" she asked.
" No. We're with the UPP- United Populated Planets," Goddard said. At the girl's confused look, he added, " Earth is a part of it."
" Earth? Earth survived the war?" she asked. Goddard nodded. The girl was swept up in a wave of happiness. " Hold on, would you? I'll connect you with Commander Kinwon," she said. Her image vanished.
" Commander Kinwon?" Terrien asked.
" Apparently these refugees have wanted to put someone in charge and be able to differentiate them from anyone else," Goddard suggested. The image of a man in his mid- to late fifties appeared on the screen.
" You are human!" he gasped. " When Tierra told me about it, I didn't dare believe it." Then, the man noticed Elmira and Radu.
" Excuse me. Are you aware that there is a Spung and an Andromedan on your bridge?" he asked.
" Mr. Radu and Miss Elmira are valued members of this crew. The war is over and the Andromedans are our allies," Goddard said.
" And the Spung?"
" Elmira is our guide to the territory. She is part of a group of Spung who wish for peace instead of warfare."
" You'll pardon my paranoia, sir, but there have been a few. close scraps with the Spung since we left Earth. Perhaps when you visit our vessels before escorting us back to Earth, you should leave her on your-"
" Excuse me, but did you say 'Escort you back to Earth?'" Goddard asked.
" Yes. I presume you're testing some new engine technology or Earth's ring of influence has expanded," Kinwon said hopefully.
" I'm afraid not, sir. We went through a disruption in space/time. As a result it threw us..." Goddard looked to Cat.
" At the time we emerged from what we've dubbed the white circle, we calculated it would take us seven years, four months, and twenty-two days to get back to the Starcademy in the far edge of the Sol system," Cat said.
" And, how long until you return?" Kinwon asked. The crew looked to Thelma.
" Six years, nine months, and twelve days," she said. Kinwon suddenly seemed to age fifty years. " So you cannot return us to Earth," he sighed. " I'm afraid not, sir," Goddard said. Kinwon was silent for a minute then said,
" Well, I would appreciate any assistance you may offer to us. You see, our systems are not in the best state of repair. Perhaps you could..."
" Suzee?" Goddard asked.
" Commander Quinwon, I'll be over to help your people in say... five hours?" she asked.
" That sounds good. We're on a night cycle over here as well. Undoubtedly, it would be best for all concerned that we have our engineers well rested," Kinwon said.
" Good. We'll contact you when we're ready. Screen off," Goddard said.
" Well, that went well. Can we go back to sleep now?" Harlan asked.
" Yes. Go back to the bunkrooms and get a bit of sleep," Goddard ordered.
When Suzee entered the refugee flagship's engineering section, she was shocked by the state of disarray.
" What went through here, a bunch of Spung shock troops?" she wondered out loud.
" Close, but not quite," said someone behind her. She turned.
" May I ask who you are?" Suzee asked.
" The Winger's chief engineer," he said. " Most people call me Frankie or Engineer Thomas."
" Charmed, I'm sure," Suzee said.
" You must be from the ship my girlfriend discovered," Frankie said.
" Your girlfriend?"
" Tierra Arussa? About ye big, slightly ditzy, blonde hair, in charge of scanning during the night shift?" Frankie asked.
" Oh. Her," Suzee said.
" Yeah. Her," Frankie said. Suddenly, something ruptured. " Aw, dang it! That's the tank! It's releasing deadly gas into that section!" Frankie cried. He ran to get a gas mask for Suzee and himself.
" Are there people in there?"
" There's a repair crew over on the other side. But no one can survive a walk through there!"
" I'll run," Suzee said, flipping the flaps over her gills so she could breathe. Within minutes she was able to seal off the flow of the gas long enough to evacuate the compartment. Frankie sealed it with a magnetic door. Then he looked at Suzee.
" What are you?" he asked.
" I'm a Yensidian. We developed gills on my world because there were a dangerous aspect in our air, killing those unable to breathe it. It's a nature evolution feature," she explained.
" I don't care what you are. The people you saved owe their lives to you. You're welcome here anytime," Frankie said.
" Suzee, your heroic actions saved the lives of five men, from what Engineer Thomas tells me," Kinwon said over the screen.
" It was nothing, Commander Kinwon," Suzee said.
" Nevertheless, we are even more in your crew's debt for this," Kinwon smiled. He deactivated the communications from his side.
" Commander, I think you'd better come take a look at this scan. I just picked it up on long range scanners," Rosie reported. Goddard looked.
" Spung," he nearly spat.
" Not just any Spung. I'm able to get a look at her markings. It's the Super Killcruiser we ran into a little while back," Cat reported.
" Battle stations! Rosie, hail Kinwon and inform him of this. development," Goddard said.
On the bridge of the Spung Super Killcruiser T'Kay, Warlord Shank growled.
" How long until we reach the alien ships-s-s-s-s?" he growled.
" Approximately four hours," the pilot said, " but if we divert power from shields, it should only take one."
" None of those ships have weapon sys-stems-s-s. Divert 75% shield strength to engines-s-s-s-s-s," growled Shank. Then he spotted the Christa.
" Those infernal children! Do they not know to stay out of Warlord Shank's way yet?" he growled. " Once more they have changed their ship's colors, but it is still them. I will recognize them no matter where they go. Lieutenant Krage?"
" Yes, my Warlord?"
" Prepare a containment beam. We shall s-s-soon see who the better is- s-s-s-s-s," he hissed.
" The Spung have increased their engine speed! They'll be here in approximately one hour!" Radu cried.
" Anyone have any ideas?" Goddard asked.
" If we had all the refugees go to a habitable planet, we could use the ships as mines, or ram them into the Killcruiser," Harlan suggested after a moments thought.
" Not a bad idea, Mr. Band," Goddard smiled.
" Not only are you thinking of escaping the Spung, you have remembered the refugees. However, I'm finding one flaw in your plan," Davenport said.
" I see it too. What's stopping the Spung from returning and wiping out the colony down there?" Terrien asked.
" Wait a minute. Suzee, exactly what system are we in?" Goddard asked.
" Let me check." Suzee said, checking the star charts. " We're in the Kritan system."
" Kritan. I thought I recognized this sector," Goddard muttered.
" Commander, are you familiar with this area of space?" Davenport asked.
" I fought on Kritan IV during the war. There was a network of underground caverns the Spung never were able to reach, even with a constant bombing. That should allow them to survive for at least twelve years. We had an underground biosphere with enough food to feed fifty troops for fifty years." Goddard received a few looks from that remark. " At the time we had no idea how long the war would last. We were planning for the worse. We left some auto-keepers down there that should have kept everything ready for a return, since we were suspicious about the treaty," Goddard said.
" Why are we standing around here? We've got to evacuate the refugees!" Terrien said.
There was pandemonium on the refugee ships. Frankie was in charge of getting people out of the engine room of the flagship. Suzee arrived to help.
" Just in time. Kinwon just informed us. What can you do?" he asked.
" I've got a few evac ideas. Can any ship land?" Suzee asked.
" Just the Winger and a few other of the larger ships," Frankie said.
" Good. Have them land immediately. It'll be a little quicker that way. What about the smaller ships?"
" People are using those escape pods. Kinwon told them what to do in
that case."
" Good. Okay, any other thoughts?"
" Just one. I was thinking that if we were abandoning the ships for a planet, I'd... prefer to stay in space. Could you use an extra pair of hands?" Frankie asked.
" Don't you have a girlfriend here?"
" Tierra would want to stay with me. It may look like I want to join your crew because of you, but I love Tierra. I just thought that from what I've gathered through the messages you sent to Kinwon that you've got a small crew," Frankie sighed.
" I could use some help in the main engine room. I'm basically the only engineer on the ship, and there are two engine rooms."
" Frankie!" Suzee and Frankie turned.
" Tierra. Would you like to go to the. what's your ship called?" Frankie asked Suzee.
" The Christa."
" Would you like to join her crew?"
" Are you?"
" Yes."
" I'll go wherever you go, Frankie. You know that."
" Uh, I hate to interrupt this tender moment, but the Christa isn't going to wait for the honeymoon. Let's go," Suzee said.
" Band, how's it going down there?" Goddard asked via Harlan's comm link.
" Pretty good, Commander. There are still a few pods coming down, but most of the refugees are down," Harlan said.
" Commander Kinwon would like a word with you Commander," Radu said.
" Commander, my aide and chief engineer have yet to come down, and from what your people have told me, my flagship is empty," Kinwon said.
" They have asked to join my crew. Your engineer has offered to assist in our engineering section, and Miss Arussa has some familiarity with cooking. We could use food in the galley instead of reprocessed. gruel," Goddard muttered. Kinwon was silent.
" Neither one of them seemed happy whenever we attempted to make a home somewhere. Very well, Commander Goddard. Take care of them," Quinwon nodded. He then hurried down into the caverns.
" Commander, the last pod just arrived. The people on board are heading here now," Harlan said.
" Good Band. Once they're in there, get aboard the Starling and get back up here," Goddard ordered.
" Commander Goddard, perhaps there is something I may do?" Elmira asked.
" If I have to, I'd like to think that I could pretend to use you as a hostage against the Spung. Would it be possible?" Goddard asked.
" I do not believe so, Commander. You will remember what happened with Warlord Kram?" Elmira pointed out.
" You're right. All right. Stay off to the side. You might make them want to destroy us even more," Goddard said. Elmira nodded.
" Commander, we just intercepted a transmission. It's directed in the direction of Spung territory. And guess who's in command of the Super Killcruiser?" Bova asked.
" Who?" Goddard said, though he already knew the answer.
" Warlord Shank," Terrien said. While Terrien's face was the picture of calm, Goddard could tell there was fury just under the surface. Shank's last encounter with Terrien had left his family and friends dead.
" Commander, I strongly suggest we-" Davenport started.
" Commander, I've got an idea. We set the refugee ships to self destruct and we run. After leading the Killcruiser right into the heart of them. When they blow, the Killcruiser should blow too," Terrien said. The vengeance and fury was apparent in his eyes.
" That's our best plan for now. Plan how we do this," Goddard ordered. Terrien and Bova nodded.
" Commander, Harlan and Radu are back," Catalina reported.
" Good. Tell them to get up here stat," Goddard ordered.
" Commander, Spung will be in firing range in five minutes, sixteen seconds," Thelma said. Harlan and Radu arrived through the jumptubes.
" Band. Helm. Radu. Navigation. Rosie, hail the Super Killcruiser. I'd rather try and see if a peaceful solution is at all possible," Goddard said when he received odd looks from the crew.
" Four minutes, forty-seconds," Thelma said.
" Commander, they're-" The ship rocked. " -increasing speed," Rosie sighed.
" Spung are now in firing range," Thelma said.
" Commander, I don't believe talking is an aspect the Spung are interested in," Davenport said.
" I'll agree!" Terrien called, bumping into one of the Christa's veins. It glew. " Okay, what was that?" he asked, removing his hand.
" You're bonded with the ship. Help Bova at Tactical," Goddard said. " Band. Take us over to the middle of the ships," Goddard ordered.
" You got it, Commander!" Harlan cried.
" Those foolish children. They think that by luring me into a field full of derelicts-s-s they will s-s-s-slow me down enough to get away? Fire another frag torpedo," Shank growled.
" Incoming frag torpedo!" Rosie cried.
" Hold on! We're in the middle!" Harlan cried. The ship shook violently.
" That one nearly clipped the port solar sail!" Cat cried.
" Band, we cannot afford to lose a solar sail," Goddard growled.
" Tell that to the Spung, not me, Commander," Harlan muttered.
" Spung will be in the middle of the field in... twenty seconds," Rosie cried.
" Keep us away from their frag torpedoes," Goddard warned.
" Commander, the Spung are firing some unknown weapon!" Bova called.
" Band!"
" I'm on it!" Harlan cried, forcing the ship into a tight turn. Davenport screamed, and those without a handhold on something fell to the floor.
" Sound off if your hurt!" Goddard barked. Assorted moans were his response. " Good. Rosie, how long until they hit the middle?" he asked.
" They just hit it," Rosie said.
" Suzee! Now," Goddard hissed.
" Here goes nothing," Suzee muttered. She then pressed the button marked 'Do Not Press!'
The T'Kay rumbled.
" What was that?" Shank asked.
" An explosion, oh dreaded one. One of the derelicts exploded-" There was another. Then another. Then another.
" Band, let's get out of here," Goddard smirked.
" We're gone," Harlan smirked. The Christa sped out of the system, as the last of the refugee ships exploded.
" Report! Give me a damage report!" Shank growled.
" Almost everything is out. There is enough power for us to reach the nearest Spung vessel. Other than that, it will take our main repair yard to fix the ship," the lieutenant reported.
" Those blasted children! They will enjoy their victory for now, but I will see them pay!"
" Welcome to the Christa's main engine room. This is where the main hyperdrive engine is," Suzee said, introducing Frankie to the ship's main engine room.
" And you don't work here... why?"
" I prefer to be hands on in the secondary engine room," Suzee explained.
" Ah. I like this place. Reminds me of the Heart at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia that my father had holo-photos of. I think I made the right choice," Frankie smiled.
" And this is the galley. That's the food wheel over there. It's an interesting piece of technology, but it doesn't always work. That's why we have the Biosphere," Cat said.
" I can work with this. You haven't lived until you've had my Leeola Root Soufflé," Tierra smiled.
" So, now we've got two more kids to take care of. Next time we stop at a planet and take out the communication device, maybe we should ask Admiral Cody to give them all honorary Starcademy cadet status," Goddard muttered.
" More students to teach? Commander Goddard, do you intentionally do these things to me? Teaching five students who were failing is difficult enough, but now I have five more?" Davenport asked.
" I seem to recall you handling a group of seventeen Trabe students for seven hours without even breaking a sweat," Goddard pointed out.
" That was different!"
" How?"
" I... I'll get back to you on that," Davenport said. Goddard smiled triumphantly and the Christa continued on its course for the Starcademy.
" Old Earth?" Goddard asked.
" It predates the UPP by a year or two," Terrien said. He and Goddard were manning the midnight shift.
" Then they could be refugee ships from the war," Goddard suggested.
" Refugees?" Terrien asked.
" Yes. There were several people who believed that the Spung were going to win during one of the low points of the war, and they slaved their ships together and made a blind hyperspace jump. The UPP was formed and they didn't focus on them, as they weren't as worried about refugees as they were about Spung revenge," Goddard explained. He hit a comm device. " All hands to the Command Post," he ordered.
Harlan rolled over and checked the chrono.
" What is the Commander doing, calling at 0400?" he muttered.
" I don't know, but whatever it is, it'll probably destroy us," Bova muttered. Harlan threw his pillow at the Uranusian.
" No, the Commander and Terrien... they're talking about some... refugee ships they discovered," Radu said.
" You and those ears," Harlan muttered, before getting out of bed. Goddard's voice came back over the intercom.
" Mr. Band, that means you," his voice growled.
" How does he do that? Is he part Andromedan?" Harlan muttered.
" Probably," Bova murmured.
Thirty minutes after Goddard's first announcement, the crew had assembled.
" Commander Goddard, this had better be good," Davenport growled as she came through the door with her mud mask on. Harlan, Goddard, Terrien, Radu, and Cat had the same reaction: They jumped, then began to snicker.
" Miss Davenport, are you... ill?" T.H.E.L.M.A. asked. Davenport looked at her for a second, then remembered her mud mask.
" From now on, I expect ample warning," she growled.
" Commander, we're within visual range of the refugee ships," Terrien said.
" Hail the lead vessel," Goddard ordered.
" They're responding," Terrien said, then delegated the communication post to Rosie.
" Screen on," Goddard ordered. The image of the young teen girl appeared.
" Humans? This far in space? Are you refugees too?" she asked.
" No. We're with the UPP- United Populated Planets," Goddard said. At the girl's confused look, he added, " Earth is a part of it."
" Earth? Earth survived the war?" she asked. Goddard nodded. The girl was swept up in a wave of happiness. " Hold on, would you? I'll connect you with Commander Kinwon," she said. Her image vanished.
" Commander Kinwon?" Terrien asked.
" Apparently these refugees have wanted to put someone in charge and be able to differentiate them from anyone else," Goddard suggested. The image of a man in his mid- to late fifties appeared on the screen.
" You are human!" he gasped. " When Tierra told me about it, I didn't dare believe it." Then, the man noticed Elmira and Radu.
" Excuse me. Are you aware that there is a Spung and an Andromedan on your bridge?" he asked.
" Mr. Radu and Miss Elmira are valued members of this crew. The war is over and the Andromedans are our allies," Goddard said.
" And the Spung?"
" Elmira is our guide to the territory. She is part of a group of Spung who wish for peace instead of warfare."
" You'll pardon my paranoia, sir, but there have been a few. close scraps with the Spung since we left Earth. Perhaps when you visit our vessels before escorting us back to Earth, you should leave her on your-"
" Excuse me, but did you say 'Escort you back to Earth?'" Goddard asked.
" Yes. I presume you're testing some new engine technology or Earth's ring of influence has expanded," Kinwon said hopefully.
" I'm afraid not, sir. We went through a disruption in space/time. As a result it threw us..." Goddard looked to Cat.
" At the time we emerged from what we've dubbed the white circle, we calculated it would take us seven years, four months, and twenty-two days to get back to the Starcademy in the far edge of the Sol system," Cat said.
" And, how long until you return?" Kinwon asked. The crew looked to Thelma.
" Six years, nine months, and twelve days," she said. Kinwon suddenly seemed to age fifty years. " So you cannot return us to Earth," he sighed. " I'm afraid not, sir," Goddard said. Kinwon was silent for a minute then said,
" Well, I would appreciate any assistance you may offer to us. You see, our systems are not in the best state of repair. Perhaps you could..."
" Suzee?" Goddard asked.
" Commander Quinwon, I'll be over to help your people in say... five hours?" she asked.
" That sounds good. We're on a night cycle over here as well. Undoubtedly, it would be best for all concerned that we have our engineers well rested," Kinwon said.
" Good. We'll contact you when we're ready. Screen off," Goddard said.
" Well, that went well. Can we go back to sleep now?" Harlan asked.
" Yes. Go back to the bunkrooms and get a bit of sleep," Goddard ordered.
When Suzee entered the refugee flagship's engineering section, she was shocked by the state of disarray.
" What went through here, a bunch of Spung shock troops?" she wondered out loud.
" Close, but not quite," said someone behind her. She turned.
" May I ask who you are?" Suzee asked.
" The Winger's chief engineer," he said. " Most people call me Frankie or Engineer Thomas."
" Charmed, I'm sure," Suzee said.
" You must be from the ship my girlfriend discovered," Frankie said.
" Your girlfriend?"
" Tierra Arussa? About ye big, slightly ditzy, blonde hair, in charge of scanning during the night shift?" Frankie asked.
" Oh. Her," Suzee said.
" Yeah. Her," Frankie said. Suddenly, something ruptured. " Aw, dang it! That's the tank! It's releasing deadly gas into that section!" Frankie cried. He ran to get a gas mask for Suzee and himself.
" Are there people in there?"
" There's a repair crew over on the other side. But no one can survive a walk through there!"
" I'll run," Suzee said, flipping the flaps over her gills so she could breathe. Within minutes she was able to seal off the flow of the gas long enough to evacuate the compartment. Frankie sealed it with a magnetic door. Then he looked at Suzee.
" What are you?" he asked.
" I'm a Yensidian. We developed gills on my world because there were a dangerous aspect in our air, killing those unable to breathe it. It's a nature evolution feature," she explained.
" I don't care what you are. The people you saved owe their lives to you. You're welcome here anytime," Frankie said.
" Suzee, your heroic actions saved the lives of five men, from what Engineer Thomas tells me," Kinwon said over the screen.
" It was nothing, Commander Kinwon," Suzee said.
" Nevertheless, we are even more in your crew's debt for this," Kinwon smiled. He deactivated the communications from his side.
" Commander, I think you'd better come take a look at this scan. I just picked it up on long range scanners," Rosie reported. Goddard looked.
" Spung," he nearly spat.
" Not just any Spung. I'm able to get a look at her markings. It's the Super Killcruiser we ran into a little while back," Cat reported.
" Battle stations! Rosie, hail Kinwon and inform him of this. development," Goddard said.
On the bridge of the Spung Super Killcruiser T'Kay, Warlord Shank growled.
" How long until we reach the alien ships-s-s-s-s?" he growled.
" Approximately four hours," the pilot said, " but if we divert power from shields, it should only take one."
" None of those ships have weapon sys-stems-s-s. Divert 75% shield strength to engines-s-s-s-s-s," growled Shank. Then he spotted the Christa.
" Those infernal children! Do they not know to stay out of Warlord Shank's way yet?" he growled. " Once more they have changed their ship's colors, but it is still them. I will recognize them no matter where they go. Lieutenant Krage?"
" Yes, my Warlord?"
" Prepare a containment beam. We shall s-s-soon see who the better is- s-s-s-s-s," he hissed.
" The Spung have increased their engine speed! They'll be here in approximately one hour!" Radu cried.
" Anyone have any ideas?" Goddard asked.
" If we had all the refugees go to a habitable planet, we could use the ships as mines, or ram them into the Killcruiser," Harlan suggested after a moments thought.
" Not a bad idea, Mr. Band," Goddard smiled.
" Not only are you thinking of escaping the Spung, you have remembered the refugees. However, I'm finding one flaw in your plan," Davenport said.
" I see it too. What's stopping the Spung from returning and wiping out the colony down there?" Terrien asked.
" Wait a minute. Suzee, exactly what system are we in?" Goddard asked.
" Let me check." Suzee said, checking the star charts. " We're in the Kritan system."
" Kritan. I thought I recognized this sector," Goddard muttered.
" Commander, are you familiar with this area of space?" Davenport asked.
" I fought on Kritan IV during the war. There was a network of underground caverns the Spung never were able to reach, even with a constant bombing. That should allow them to survive for at least twelve years. We had an underground biosphere with enough food to feed fifty troops for fifty years." Goddard received a few looks from that remark. " At the time we had no idea how long the war would last. We were planning for the worse. We left some auto-keepers down there that should have kept everything ready for a return, since we were suspicious about the treaty," Goddard said.
" Why are we standing around here? We've got to evacuate the refugees!" Terrien said.
There was pandemonium on the refugee ships. Frankie was in charge of getting people out of the engine room of the flagship. Suzee arrived to help.
" Just in time. Kinwon just informed us. What can you do?" he asked.
" I've got a few evac ideas. Can any ship land?" Suzee asked.
" Just the Winger and a few other of the larger ships," Frankie said.
" Good. Have them land immediately. It'll be a little quicker that way. What about the smaller ships?"
" People are using those escape pods. Kinwon told them what to do in
that case."
" Good. Okay, any other thoughts?"
" Just one. I was thinking that if we were abandoning the ships for a planet, I'd... prefer to stay in space. Could you use an extra pair of hands?" Frankie asked.
" Don't you have a girlfriend here?"
" Tierra would want to stay with me. It may look like I want to join your crew because of you, but I love Tierra. I just thought that from what I've gathered through the messages you sent to Kinwon that you've got a small crew," Frankie sighed.
" I could use some help in the main engine room. I'm basically the only engineer on the ship, and there are two engine rooms."
" Frankie!" Suzee and Frankie turned.
" Tierra. Would you like to go to the. what's your ship called?" Frankie asked Suzee.
" The Christa."
" Would you like to join her crew?"
" Are you?"
" Yes."
" I'll go wherever you go, Frankie. You know that."
" Uh, I hate to interrupt this tender moment, but the Christa isn't going to wait for the honeymoon. Let's go," Suzee said.
" Band, how's it going down there?" Goddard asked via Harlan's comm link.
" Pretty good, Commander. There are still a few pods coming down, but most of the refugees are down," Harlan said.
" Commander Kinwon would like a word with you Commander," Radu said.
" Commander, my aide and chief engineer have yet to come down, and from what your people have told me, my flagship is empty," Kinwon said.
" They have asked to join my crew. Your engineer has offered to assist in our engineering section, and Miss Arussa has some familiarity with cooking. We could use food in the galley instead of reprocessed. gruel," Goddard muttered. Kinwon was silent.
" Neither one of them seemed happy whenever we attempted to make a home somewhere. Very well, Commander Goddard. Take care of them," Quinwon nodded. He then hurried down into the caverns.
" Commander, the last pod just arrived. The people on board are heading here now," Harlan said.
" Good Band. Once they're in there, get aboard the Starling and get back up here," Goddard ordered.
" Commander Goddard, perhaps there is something I may do?" Elmira asked.
" If I have to, I'd like to think that I could pretend to use you as a hostage against the Spung. Would it be possible?" Goddard asked.
" I do not believe so, Commander. You will remember what happened with Warlord Kram?" Elmira pointed out.
" You're right. All right. Stay off to the side. You might make them want to destroy us even more," Goddard said. Elmira nodded.
" Commander, we just intercepted a transmission. It's directed in the direction of Spung territory. And guess who's in command of the Super Killcruiser?" Bova asked.
" Who?" Goddard said, though he already knew the answer.
" Warlord Shank," Terrien said. While Terrien's face was the picture of calm, Goddard could tell there was fury just under the surface. Shank's last encounter with Terrien had left his family and friends dead.
" Commander, I strongly suggest we-" Davenport started.
" Commander, I've got an idea. We set the refugee ships to self destruct and we run. After leading the Killcruiser right into the heart of them. When they blow, the Killcruiser should blow too," Terrien said. The vengeance and fury was apparent in his eyes.
" That's our best plan for now. Plan how we do this," Goddard ordered. Terrien and Bova nodded.
" Commander, Harlan and Radu are back," Catalina reported.
" Good. Tell them to get up here stat," Goddard ordered.
" Commander, Spung will be in firing range in five minutes, sixteen seconds," Thelma said. Harlan and Radu arrived through the jumptubes.
" Band. Helm. Radu. Navigation. Rosie, hail the Super Killcruiser. I'd rather try and see if a peaceful solution is at all possible," Goddard said when he received odd looks from the crew.
" Four minutes, forty-seconds," Thelma said.
" Commander, they're-" The ship rocked. " -increasing speed," Rosie sighed.
" Spung are now in firing range," Thelma said.
" Commander, I don't believe talking is an aspect the Spung are interested in," Davenport said.
" I'll agree!" Terrien called, bumping into one of the Christa's veins. It glew. " Okay, what was that?" he asked, removing his hand.
" You're bonded with the ship. Help Bova at Tactical," Goddard said. " Band. Take us over to the middle of the ships," Goddard ordered.
" You got it, Commander!" Harlan cried.
" Those foolish children. They think that by luring me into a field full of derelicts-s-s they will s-s-s-slow me down enough to get away? Fire another frag torpedo," Shank growled.
" Incoming frag torpedo!" Rosie cried.
" Hold on! We're in the middle!" Harlan cried. The ship shook violently.
" That one nearly clipped the port solar sail!" Cat cried.
" Band, we cannot afford to lose a solar sail," Goddard growled.
" Tell that to the Spung, not me, Commander," Harlan muttered.
" Spung will be in the middle of the field in... twenty seconds," Rosie cried.
" Keep us away from their frag torpedoes," Goddard warned.
" Commander, the Spung are firing some unknown weapon!" Bova called.
" Band!"
" I'm on it!" Harlan cried, forcing the ship into a tight turn. Davenport screamed, and those without a handhold on something fell to the floor.
" Sound off if your hurt!" Goddard barked. Assorted moans were his response. " Good. Rosie, how long until they hit the middle?" he asked.
" They just hit it," Rosie said.
" Suzee! Now," Goddard hissed.
" Here goes nothing," Suzee muttered. She then pressed the button marked 'Do Not Press!'
The T'Kay rumbled.
" What was that?" Shank asked.
" An explosion, oh dreaded one. One of the derelicts exploded-" There was another. Then another. Then another.
" Band, let's get out of here," Goddard smirked.
" We're gone," Harlan smirked. The Christa sped out of the system, as the last of the refugee ships exploded.
" Report! Give me a damage report!" Shank growled.
" Almost everything is out. There is enough power for us to reach the nearest Spung vessel. Other than that, it will take our main repair yard to fix the ship," the lieutenant reported.
" Those blasted children! They will enjoy their victory for now, but I will see them pay!"
" Welcome to the Christa's main engine room. This is where the main hyperdrive engine is," Suzee said, introducing Frankie to the ship's main engine room.
" And you don't work here... why?"
" I prefer to be hands on in the secondary engine room," Suzee explained.
" Ah. I like this place. Reminds me of the Heart at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia that my father had holo-photos of. I think I made the right choice," Frankie smiled.
" And this is the galley. That's the food wheel over there. It's an interesting piece of technology, but it doesn't always work. That's why we have the Biosphere," Cat said.
" I can work with this. You haven't lived until you've had my Leeola Root Soufflé," Tierra smiled.
" So, now we've got two more kids to take care of. Next time we stop at a planet and take out the communication device, maybe we should ask Admiral Cody to give them all honorary Starcademy cadet status," Goddard muttered.
" More students to teach? Commander Goddard, do you intentionally do these things to me? Teaching five students who were failing is difficult enough, but now I have five more?" Davenport asked.
" I seem to recall you handling a group of seventeen Trabe students for seven hours without even breaking a sweat," Goddard pointed out.
" That was different!"
" How?"
" I... I'll get back to you on that," Davenport said. Goddard smiled triumphantly and the Christa continued on its course for the Starcademy.