Hello, my name is Jack.\u00a0 Do you know when it is the best time to mount a sneak attack?\u00a0 I do.\u00a0 So do the Shang.\u00a0 You wait for them to be all fat and happy.\u00a0 Best is right after they\u2019ve won a great victory.\u00a0 Once they eat, drink, and bed Mary, they\u2019ll be slow to respond when you hit them again.\u00a0 It does take a particularly calculating mind to write off the first attack wave of course.\u00a0 It just so happens the Shang are quite calculating.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Jack held the best tasting loaf of bread he\u2019d ever eaten.\u00a0 He tore another chunk out of it and chewed, watching the pilots relive the battle with sweeps of their hands and whoops of exaltation.\u00a0 The table they sat at or stood over overflowed with amazing ale and fruit and breads and meats.\u00a0 Jack glanced down at the bread in his hand and swallowed his mouthful.\u00a0 He had formed a number of expectations from what he\u2019d seen of the Peloran over the years and this room did bad things to most of them.<\/p>\n
He shifted his gaze to where Hal leaned against a pure white bulkhead, looking at complete and utter ease in the battleship he controlled.\u00a0 The cyber watched the men and women who lived on his ship celebrating the fact that they still lived.\u00a0 A smile came over his face and the cyber glanced over to Jack for a moment before turning back to the other pilots.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey really are amazing, aren\u2019t they?\u201d Aneerin asked and Jack turned to give the much older Peloran a questioning eyebrow.\u00a0 \u201cOur preconceptions, I mean.\u00a0 So much of what we see depends on them, doesn\u2019t it?\u201d\u00a0 Aneerin smiled again.\u00a0 \u201cWhat do we do when they collide with reality?\u201d<\/p>\n
Jack frowned and studied the shouting and laughing Peloran pilots, partying in victory along with the handful of other American pilots.\u00a0 He\u2019d never seen a Peloran party, never realized that the quiet and calm tree hugging Peloran he\u2019d seen on the news and in the movies all his life would<\/em> party in any way that he would consider a party at all.\u00a0 Jack took another bite of the bread and considered as he chewed on it.\u00a0 He glanced over to where Charles stood on the other side of Aneerin, the heir of a vast family fortune who had been to thousands of parties with tens of thousands of people, and caught the other pilot\u2019s thoughtful gaze.\u00a0 Charles nodded and Jack had the feeling he\u2019d come to the same conclusion.\u00a0 He was a real smart cookie.<\/p>\n \u201cWell,\u201d Jack finally said with a shrug.\u00a0 \u201cI suppose I reassess.\u201d\u00a0 Aneerin\u2019s smile broadened.\u00a0 Jack shook his head and met the older man\u2019s gaze.\u00a0 \u201cThough I wonder why you show us this.\u00a0 You brought us here on purpose; you showed us this on purpose.\u00a0 You want us to believe that your people are different than what we have been led to believe.\u00a0 Either you are, or you are playing<\/em> like you are.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou know<\/em> we can\u2019t lie, Jack,\u201d Aneerin said, spreading his hands out wide.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, but mislead?\u201d he asked with tight smile.<\/p>\n \u201cPerhaps,\u201d Aneerin returned with sigh.\u00a0 \u201cPerhaps not.\u00a0 What do you think?\u201d<\/p>\n Jack glanced at Charles again, measuring where the man stood.\u00a0 A shadow of a smile cracked his face, telling Jack the man stood with him.\u00a0 \u201cI think you have a vested interest in making us see your people as something other than the calm and cultured aliens from the great beyond who brought miracle medicines and advanced technologies,\u201d Jack said, cocking his head to spear Aneerin with his gaze.\u00a0 \u201cAnd I think we need to find out what that vested interest is.\u201d<\/p>\n Aneerin\u2019s smile erupted into laughter that mixed into the celebration in the room perfectly.\u00a0 \u201cAh, Jack,\u201d he said after composing himself.\u00a0 \u201cI like you.\u00a0 Never stop asking why people want you to believe anything.\u00a0 Sometimes it is for your benefit, and sometimes for their<\/em> benefit.\u00a0 Understand the reason and you understand the truth<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n Alarms rang out and words in Peloran began to transmit over the speakers.<\/p>\n \u201cAh.\u00a0 It appears our conversation is at an end,\u201d Aneerin said with a frown and Hal\u2019s avatar turned to walk towards them.<\/p>\n Betty\u2019s hand appeared on Jack\u2019s shoulder and she leaned in close to his ear.\u00a0 \u201cThey are calling for battle stations,\u201d she whispered as the Peloran pilots dropped their food and drink and ran for the hatch.<\/p>\n A hologram of Hal flickered into existence before them.\u00a0 \u201cThe Shang are attacking Fort London.\u00a0 The British are trying to hold but they are having issues.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThese Terran defense squadrons are too small.\u00a0 It was a mistake for you to rely on the Lunar Treaty,\u201d Aneerin said with an unhappy frown.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Chinese and Russians have held to it,\u201d Charles said, disagreeing with Aneerin\u2019s statement.<\/p>\n Aneerin pursed his lips.\u00a0 \u201cAnd that\u2019s done you so<\/em> much good.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cActually, it has,\u201d Charles countered.\u00a0 \u201cThey could have finished us by breaking it.\u00a0 They haven\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n Aneerin studied him for several seconds before nodding.\u00a0 \u201cTrue.\u00a0 But if you had more forces at Terra, you could better handle these Shang strikes.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles gave him a smile and a raised finger.\u00a0 \u201cTurn around, Reverend, because you\u2019re preaching to the choir on that<\/em> point.\u201d<\/p>\n Aneerin chuckled and turned to Hal\u2019s hologram.\u00a0 \u201cCan we fight a sustained battle?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo,\u201d Hal answered with a definitive shake of his head.<\/p>\n Aneerin turned back to Charles, all calm business.\u00a0 \u201cWill you fly with us?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOf course,\u201d Charles said without hesitation, before aiming a sly smile at Aneerin.\u00a0 \u201cI have been to many parties on the Isle of Man and would like to do so again.\u201d<\/p>\n Aneerin\u2019s eyebrows rose at the admission.\u00a0 \u201cYes.\u00a0 I have been there myself.\u201d\u00a0 He paused for a second, his eyes glossed over as he remembered.\u00a0 He shook his head and returned to the present with a swallow.\u00a0 \u201cThat was some time ago though.\u00a0 Walk with me please,\u201d Aneerin said and began to follow his men towards the hatch.<\/p>\n Charles waved the other Cowboys over and followed Aneerin towards the hatch.\u00a0 Jack shadowed Charles and Aneerin.<\/p>\n \u201cHow long does it take your fighters to recharge for another jump?\u201d\u00a0 Aneerin asked.<\/p>\n \u201cFour minutes.\u201d\u00a0 Aneerin gave him a disbelieving gaze.\u00a0 \u201cBut we have capacitors that hold up to four charges,\u201d Charles added.<\/p>\n Aneerin let out a breath as he considered the information and followed his pilots out of the hatch.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s a hack,\u201d Aneerin said to Hal as he turned left to walk towards the hangar bay.\u00a0 Jack frowned as he noticed that the Peloran pilots had turned right, wondering where they were going.\u00a0 \u201cThey didn\u2019t put in a generator<\/em> powerful enough to make a jump, they filled them up with batteries<\/em> with enough charge to do it.\u00a0 Now I understand how they managed it.\u201d\u00a0 He turned back to Charles.\u00a0 \u201cWhen you jump into battle, how quickly can you jump back out?\u201d<\/p>\n Charles grimaced.\u00a0 \u201cThirty seconds.\u201d<\/p>\n Aneerin winced at the answer and looked up as Hal\u2019s body walked into his hologram.\u00a0 Jack\u2019s practiced eyes noticed when the hologram faded away, leaving behind the real body as the cyber shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cWhat is the absolute minimum?\u201d Aneerin asked.<\/p>\n Charles cocked his head towards Dorothy and she gave them all a tight smile.\u00a0 \u201cTen seconds,\u201d Dorothy answered in a cultured voice that chief advisors to powerful and rich families had perfected over the millennia.\u00a0 \u201cBut that is with a ten percent failure rate due to overloading the capacitors during the energy transfer.\u00a0 We\u2019d be losing a fighter on average with each jump if we did that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow about fifteen seconds?\u201d Aneerin asked, pursing his lips in thought.<\/p>\n \u201cFailure rates go down to four percent.\u201d Dorothy said and gave a slight shrug.\u00a0 \u201cProbably survivable, if we take time for repairs between attacks.\u201d<\/p>\n Aneerin turned to Hal.\u00a0 \u201cCan we do it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFifteen seconds is a long time,\u201d Hal said with a pessimistic shake of his head.\u00a0 \u201cWe will take heavy damage.\u00a0 Are you certain they are worth it?\u201d<\/p>\n Aneerin gave an unhappy sigh.\u00a0 \u201cTen heavy fighters.\u00a0 Considering our losses in that category, they are heavy reinforcements.\u00a0 They could guard one of your flanks.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTrue,\u201d Hal said with a frown.\u00a0 \u201cWe can make do.\u00a0 Perhaps we can even use it to our advantage.\u00a0 If we stay longer than usual, the Shang may believe we are there to stay and shift their battle line to face us.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIndeed,\u201d Aneerin returned with a nod and walked into the main hangar.\u00a0 \u201cI will leave the particulars to you.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack followed him in and looked around.\u00a0 It was as large and imposing as before, the massive tree on one end and the flickering energy curtain looking out into a black sky filled with stars on the other.\u00a0 The great white bulkheads gleamed, and against one of them the Avengers sat, powering up again for battle.\u00a0 Jack frowned and looked around, realizing that none of the Peloran fighters were still here.<\/p>\n Aneerin turned towards the American pilots as they filed into the hanger.\u00a0 \u201cGentleman.\u00a0 Ladies.\u00a0 I believe it is time to fight again.\u201d\u00a0 As if on cue, the lights dimmed for a second and Jack swallowed as he looked out on the crazy quilt of colors that made up hyperspace.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m afraid we have no launch bays that can accommodate your Avengers.\u00a0 I trust you are willing to launch from here?\u201d<\/p>\n Jack blinked in realization of where the Peloran pilots had gone.\u00a0 They had launch bays separate from and completely independent of the main landing bay.<\/p>\n \u201cOf course we are,\u201d Charles answered without a pause and waved everybody to their fighters.\u00a0 He aimed a quick look at Jack, and Jack realized the man had caught that little tidbit as well.<\/p>\n Jack ran off towards his, Betty beside him.\u00a0 He frowned, considering what all of this meant.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s on your mind?\u201d Betty asked as they stopped at the foot of the fighter and the ladder extruded out of its skin for him.<\/p>\n Jack looked between Aneerin and Hal as he pulled himself up the ladder.\u00a0 Something was odd but he couldn\u2019t put his finger on it.\u00a0 \u201cThese people are strange.\u00a0 Deeply strange.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTrue,\u201d Betty answered with a smile.\u00a0 \u201cFar more alien than you thought from their faces?\u201d<\/p>\n Jack blinked again and froze on the ladder for a moment.\u00a0 \u201cYeah.\u00a0 Alien.\u00a0 I think that covers it.\u201d\u00a0 He aimed a long look at Aneerin and Hal, standing side by side like twins, watching the Americans board their fighters.\u00a0 \u201cHave you noticed they talk very much alike?\u201d he finally asked.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, they have<\/em> been partners for over two thousand years,\u201d Betty said with a smile and jumped up onto the console as she shrunk down to twenty centimeters in height.\u00a0 \u201cIf we last that long, people will be saying the same about us.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGod, I hope not,\u201d Jack answered and dropped into his seat.\u00a0 He winked at her surprised expression and locked his restraints in.\u00a0 \u201cI like my sexy baritone.\u201d<\/p>\n Betty laughed, a clear soprano sound that tinkled off the inside of the cockpit.\u00a0 Then she pursed her lips.\u00a0 \u201cWell, I could change,\u201d she said, her voice dropping down into the baritone range.<\/p>\n Jack rubbed his chin and cleared his throat, feeling uncomfortable with the discussion.\u00a0 \u201cI think I\u2019ll take yah the way your momma made yah,\u201d he finally said.<\/p>\n Her eyes opened wide, she slipped her hands behind her back, and gave him a pleased smile.\u00a0 \u201cNice,\u201d she said in her normal voice.\u00a0 \u201cGood save.\u201d\u00a0 She cocked her head to the side.\u00a0 \u201cAnd I am ready to fly\u2026now.\u00a0 Are you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo you need to ask?\u201d\u00a0 Jack leaned back in his seat, completely at ease again.<\/p>\n \u201cI suppose not,\u201d Betty said and they floated up off the deck.<\/p>\n He looked out to see the other Cowboys lifting off as well, and a scan of the displays showed their information popping up, confirming their readiness to fight.<\/p>\n \u201cCowboy Three to all Cowboys,\u201d Charles broadcast.\u00a0 \u201cLet\u2019s launch.\u00a0 We\u2019ll be holding the Guardian Light\u2019s<\/em> starboard flank against counter attack while assisting in offensive operations.\u201d\u00a0 A beam of light appeared on the displays, showing their route out of the hangar and around.\u00a0 \u201cFollow my beam,\u201d he ordered and accelerated out of the hangar.<\/p>\n Jack interlaced his fingers and cracked his knuckles as they accelerated out with the rest of the Cowboys and turned hard towards the Guardian Light\u2019s<\/em> starboard side, pulling into position with a final burst of thruster fire.\u00a0 He looked around at the small formation of six warships, scanning for the heavy fighters screening their flanks.\u00a0 There weren\u2019t very many of them.<\/p>\n Hal appeared on the comm. panel.\u00a0 \u201cWe are approaching jump location.\u201d\u00a0 Another screen came to life, showing him the battle.\u00a0 The British naval squadron and Fort London were surrounded, taking damage from all vectors, by nearly three times their number of Shang ships.\u00a0 Fort London seemed fully operational and its impressive point defense was the only thing keeping the squadron alive as far as he could see.<\/p>\n \u201cHow long ago is this?\u201d Jack asked, trying to get a feeling for how things might have changed since their last update.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is a live signal,\u201d Hal answered with a smile.<\/p>\n Jack blinked.\u00a0 \u201cWhat?\u00a0 How?\u201d\u00a0 It was impossible to send a message between normal and hyperspace.\u00a0 They had to be physically transported by a ship or drone.\u00a0 There was no way to have a live signal.<\/p>\n Hal shrugged.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s complicated.\u201d\u00a0 He chuckled.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll show you later if you wish, but for now you can rest assured that this is live.\u00a0 Now prepare to jump in three\u2026two\u2026one.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack closed his eyes against the flash, opened them and saw the battle laid out before him.\u00a0 Explosions wreathed Fort London and its mighty multi-layered deflection grid flickered in and out a section at a time.\u00a0 The destroyers and cruisers around it spewed weapons fire in all directions, supporting the main cannons on the fort.<\/p>\n The Shang surrounded them, firing broadside after broadside of missiles and lasers towards the fort.\u00a0 British point defense networks shot the missiles down by the scores and the deflection grids twisted the lasers away while the fort\u2019s gravitic cannons played across the Shang ships.\u00a0 Four British destroyers drifted away from the fight, lights flickering and massive wounds in their flanks.\u00a0 The fort had obviously not been able to stop all of the missiles.<\/p>\n \u201cFire,\u201d Hal ordered and a hundred gravitic cannons from the fighters escorting the capital ships opened up, twisting gravity between the two fleets.\u00a0 Across the Shang flank, deflection grids with most of their energy devoted to holding off the fort\u2019s weapons crumpled when five or more beams focused on one target.\u00a0 They ripped armor and weapons alike into space, leaving deep scars in the Shang ships.\u00a0 It was the sixteen heavy cannons mounted outside the Peloran warships\u2019 hulls that did most of the damage though, punching through every deflection grid they hit with thousands of gravities of gravitic sheer.\u00a0 Sixteen Shang ships belched atmosphere and debris and fell out of formation.\u00a0 No single ship exploded, but an entire flank of the Shang englobing force faltered.\u00a0 They shifted power to their deflection grids to protect their wounded flanks from the Peloran and most of the next salvo of grav beams twisted away, spraying in all directions until they faded away.<\/p>\n Missiles and lasers exploded from the Shang ships, charging the Peloran Battle Squadron, and the point defense lasers reached out to shoot them down.\u00a0 Most of the lasers missed the wildly maneuvering warships and fighters, and the few that hit twisted off into space.\u00a0 Explosions from incoming missiles wreathed the Peloran squadron, each succeeding wave closer to the deflection grid until the rolling front of explosions filled Jack\u2019s view.<\/p>\n \u201cJump in three,\u201d Hal transmitted.\u00a0 Jack saw the deflection grids of the squadron flickering under the assault.<\/p>\n \u201cTwo.\u201d\u00a0 Jack swallowed as their fighter\u2019s grav cannons finished powering up for another shot.<\/p>\n \u201cOne.\u201d<\/p>\n The cannons fired one more time as Jack closed his eyes and the world flashed around him.\u00a0 He opened his eyes to see hyperspace in all its colors around him again.\u00a0 He licked his lips and checked the sensors to make certain everybody made it.\u00a0 They had.<\/p>\n \u201cCongratulations,\u201d Hal transmitted.\u00a0 \u201cWe have completed our first strike.\u00a0 To those who have never done it before, you have drawn first blood.\u00a0 May you bleed our enemies well in the future.\u201d\u00a0 A beam appeared on the displays to another location and the squadron accelerated towards it.\u00a0 \u201cThe good news is that we have badly mauled them and received negligible damage in return.\u00a0 The bad news is that they know we are here now and they will be prepared for our next assault.\u00a0 Be ready.\u00a0 The rest of the battle will not be so easy.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh joy,\u201d Jack muttered.<\/p>\n Hal raised an eyebrow on the comm. panel but didn\u2019t say anything.<\/p>\n \u201cHow are we?\u201d Jack asked, looking to Betty.<\/p>\n She smiled back.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019re good.\u00a0 No issues at all.\u00a0 I\u2019m rerouting power for the next jump now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGood,\u201d Jack said and flicked his eyes over to the sensor screen to see they were almost at the next location.\u00a0 He checked the panel showing the battle and noted that the Shang had modified their englobement pattern.\u00a0 The damaged ships were spreading out into the rest of the formation, while undamaged ships took over their area.\u00a0 All of the ships had spread their deflection grids out to all sides.\u00a0 They were still good enough to twist most attacks away, but he saw a grav beam from Fort London spear through one of them and the ship jerked, atmosphere and debris spewing from its flank.<\/p>\n \u201cJump in three\u2026two\u2026one,\u201d Hal transmitted as the Shang ship struggled to maintain its position in the formation.\u00a0 Jack closed his eyes, saw the flash of light exploded through his lids, and opened them to see the wounded ship in their sights.<\/p>\n \u201cFire,\u201d Hal ordered and once again the grav cannons of every fighter in the Peloran squadron came to life.\u00a0 This time only half of the beams hit their now-wildly maneuvering targets, and the vast majority of those<\/em> twisted off into space, useless.\u00a0 Not even one of the Cowboys\u2019 shots did more than twist away from the ready prey, but each gravitic beam the deflection grids were forced to turn away weakened the grids a little bit.\u00a0 A swarm of breacher missiles enveloped the target area, most caught by point defense and their explosions rolled through space.\u00a0 A few found their range and exploded, causing deflection grids to further fluctuate.<\/p>\n That was when the sixteen main Peloran grav cannons powered up to life and reached out to grab the Shang.\u00a0 Once again, only half managed a hit, but every single one that did<\/em> hit smashed into an overtaxed deflection grid.\u00a0 The beams cut through and dug deep into their targets, ripping armor away from the hulls and sucking in atmosphere and pieces of ships.\u00a0 The beams rotated like drills, ripping and pulling on their targets, twisting back and forth, and panned across the ships.<\/p>\n Two of the Shang ships dropped their deflection grids and stopped maneuvering.\u00a0 That alone caused the grav beams to swing off target, but instead of shifting back to hit the ships again, they faded away.\u00a0 The two ships were dead in space, their main generators ripped apart.\u00a0 A third ship, the one speared by Fort London, broke in half under the assault, and the Peloran ceased their assault on it as well to concentrate on true threats.<\/p>\n And of course the true threats had not been idle.\u00a0 The Shang were prepared for this strike, and even though they couldn\u2019t know where the Peloran would strike from, having sensors on the watch for energy surges, having point defense in position, and more importantly having heavy weapons ready to fire back in all directions turned out to be a useful tactic.\u00a0 It took pressure off the British, and Jack could tell they were already beginning to pile the push back at the Shang, but it allowed the Shang to pour fire into anything that dared attack them, like a stray Peloran Battle Squadron.<\/p>\n Their first wave of missiles, fired instantly after the Peloran jumped in, washed over the Peloran formation and Jack winced as every deflection grid wavered.\u00a0 Several Peloran fighters screening the Peloran prows exploded or ripped apart, and the Shang lasers stabbed into the wavering grids, searching for weak spots.\u00a0 They found them and the lasers slashed into Peloran armor, vaporizing or cutting it off to send it floating away as the Peloran warships slewed away from the assault.\u00a0 Again and again, the lasers followed the Peloran maneuvers, searching for the weak spots, and Jack closed his eyes as an explosion engulfed one of the Peloran destroyers.\u00a0 He saw spots of light when it faded away and he blinked before looking at it again.\u00a0 Its starboard gravitic cannon was simply gone, and its entire starboard side looked like a car door mauled by an angry bear.<\/p>\n \u201cOuch,\u201d Jack whispered as the wounded destroyer spun its starboard side away from the Shang, taking hits on its fresh port armor.<\/p>\n \u201cNot as bad as it looks,\u201d Betty answered as their gravitic cannon spun up for another salvo into the fleet.\u00a0 This time one of the beams broke through a weakened grid and ripped into a Shang cruiser.<\/p>\n \u201cJump in three.\u201d Hal began as more missiles crisscrossed space between the two forces and point defense slashed across the incoming waves.<\/p>\n \u201cTwo.\u201d\u00a0 A massive gravitic cannon ripped through a Shang destroyer and the target exploded.<\/p>\n \u201cOne.\u201d\u00a0 Jack shut his eyes as the Shang missile swarm began to explode all around, flicking his stick and throttle back and forth to make them harder to hit.<\/p>\n A flash of light filled the world, a scream of tearing metal assaulted his ears, Jack opened his eyes, and hyperspace filled his view again.\u00a0 He sniffed at the smell of burning metal and winced.<\/p>\n \u201cOw!\u201d Betty said, her hologram recoiling in pain.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d Jack asked, wondering how bad it was.<\/p>\n \u201cOw!\u00a0 Ow!\u00a0 Ow!\u00a0 That hurt!\u201d Betty repeated, slapping her legs as if putting out a fire.<\/p>\n Jack sniffed at the burning smell again.\u00a0 \u201cAre\u2026are we supposed to be burning?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo!\u00a0 Ah\u2026no burning.\u201d\u00a0 Betty looked up at him, froze as if suddenly realizing her hologram was echoing her actions, and gave him a nervous smile.\u00a0 \u201cJust charring.\u00a0 We\u2019ll be fine in a few moments.\u00a0 Just let me nail this down.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is your situation?\u201d Hal asked, obviously for Jack\u2019s benefit.\u00a0 He probably already had the full download.<\/p>\n \u201cOooh, just a bit of burn in the capacitors.\u00a0 Give me a minute to slap together some repairs before we jump back in please.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat tearing sound?\u201d Jack asked, eyebrows raised.\u00a0 \u201cThat sounded like more than just capacitor burn.\u201d<\/p>\n Betty winced again, rose up on her tiptoes as if looking back, and pursed her lips.\u00a0 \u201cOooh, well nothing deadly or anything,\u201d she said, obviously not wanting to say what happened.\u00a0 \u201cWe just\u2026ah\u2026well\u2026just lost life support.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack froze for a spit second in shock.\u00a0 \u201cWait\u2026what?\u00a0 Life support!\u201d\u00a0 That was most definitely an important system to keep if he had anything to say about it.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, don\u2019t burst a blood vein, Jack,\u201d Betty said airily.\u00a0 \u201cWe have canned air that should last just fine.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack\u2019s jaw dropped.\u00a0 He shook his head and pulled it back up. \u201cYeah.\u00a0 Right.\u00a0 Should?\u201d<\/p>\n Betty shrugged.\u00a0 \u201cWell, try to breath slowly.\u00a0 Don\u2019t get excited.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack shook his head again.\u00a0 His life support, the one thing that kept him alive, was gone and she didn\u2019t want him to get excited about it?\u00a0 \u201cRight.\u00a0 That\u2019s like asking a high schooler not to get excited when he sees you in that sundress,\u201d he said, trying to push some humor into his voice.\u00a0 He really hoped it didn\u2019t sound frantic instead.<\/p>\n Betty smiled and twisted as if modeling for an audience.\u00a0 \u201cWhy, Jack.\u00a0 This old thing?\u00a0 I just picked this up off an old crystal I found.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack giggled, and this time he was certain the nerves had gotten through.\u00a0 He shut his eyes, breathed deeply, let the breath out, and reminded himself to be calm<\/em>.\u00a0 He opened his eyes again and looked at her.\u00a0 \u201cSeriously.\u00a0 We good?\u201d he asked.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah, Jack,\u201d Betty answered in a calming voice.\u00a0 \u201cJust let me finish running new power lines and\u2026got it.\u00a0 OK.\u00a0 I can start the charging process now.\u00a0 Ah\u2026ooh\u2026that\u2019s close.\u00a0 Hal, can I have another minute please?\u00a0 I had to back off on my charge.\u00a0 Nearly burned the lines again.\u00a0 Either I have faulty power lines or the ten second energy transfer tests under combat conditions were hopelessly optimistic.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, you might get more than a minute,\u201d Hal answered with a wince. \u00a0\u201cThe Swift Wing<\/em> is reporting problems recharging.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack looked over at the destroyer missing a starboard side.\u00a0 \u201cThat her?\u201d Jack asked.<\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d Hal said, pursing his lips as he obviously got some new data.<\/p>\n Jack frowned as an earlier concern returned to his mind.\u00a0 \u201cWas that her gravitic cannon exploding?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes,\u201d Hal said with a shrug.\u00a0 \u201cAnd now you know why we mount them outside the hull.\u00a0 You know the Albion used to say we had shiny big gun syndrome.\u00a0 We\u2026redline them for extra damage projection.\u00a0 Works great unless they have a catastrophic failure or they take damage at an inopportune moment.\u00a0 We still have a ship to repair afterwards.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRight,\u201d Jack said, thinking about the two grav cannons on either side of him.\u00a0 He looked down to either side where they rested.\u00a0 \u201cUm\u2026what about my Avenger here?\u201d he asked, feeling more nervous than he had about them.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, we wouldn\u2019t design them like that,\u201d Hal answered.<\/p>\n \u201cGee.\u00a0 Thanks for making me feel better,\u201d Jack said with a scowl.<\/p>\n \u201cOuch,\u201d Hal said with a larger wince.\u00a0 \u201cThe Swift Wing<\/em> reports complete core meltdown.\u00a0 Be ready to translate in a minute.\u00a0 We\u2019ll be leaving her behind for the next run.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be ready,\u201d Betty answered.<\/p>\n \u201cJust how serious is<\/em> that?\u201d Jack asked, glancing at the destroyer in question as she began to drift away from the formation.<\/p>\n Hal followed his gaze with a frown.\u00a0 \u201cOh\u2026long run, not at all.\u00a0 I\u2019ve come back from worse.\u00a0 Short run, she\u2019s dead in space.\u201d Hal said.\u00a0 \u201cWe\u2019re going to have to make sure we get back in time to keep her from dropping into your sun or something real<\/em> serious of course.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRight,\u201d Jack whispered, clearing his throat.\u00a0 \u201cLike dropping into a sun isn\u2019t serious.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah,\u201d Hal said with a wink.\u00a0 \u201cI think sunbathing is on Tuesday\u2019s schedule.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack couldn\u2019t help it.\u00a0 He chuckled, hoping it didn\u2019t sound too manic.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s the spirit,\u201d Hal continued.\u00a0 \u201cLaugh in the face of death.\u00a0 Make him know he\u2019s your bythad.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack blinked at the unfamiliar word and cocked his head to side.\u00a0 \u201cHuh?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDog,\u201d Betty supplied, covering her face with her hand, but he caught the amusement in her eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cRight,\u201d Jack said slowly.\u00a0 \u201cIf you two don\u2019t mind, I think I\u2019d like to hold off on my meeting with death for a few centuries or so.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAn even better<\/em> spirit,\u201d Hal said with a smile.\u00a0 His eyes unfocused for a second.\u00a0 \u201cNew information.\u00a0 Aneerin has decided on a new target.\u00a0 Follow me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMoving,\u201d Betty answered and Jack felt them accelerate.\u00a0 He glanced around to see the rest of the squadron accelerating as well, holding position off the Guardian Light\u2019s <\/em>flank.<\/p>\n Jack checked the screens to see the beam that illuminated their course, then checked to see what was on the other side, and swallowed.\u00a0 It was a massive Shang battleship, the largest moving space structure he\u2019d ever seen, and a cruiser squadron protected it against any stray attackers.\u00a0 It was by far the most dangerous part of the fleet surrounding Fort London and he figured there was a reason they\u2019d avoided it until now.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re going after that<\/em>?\u201d Jack asked in disbelief.<\/p>\n \u201cYes,\u201d Hal answered.\u00a0 \u201cIt is a worthy target.\u00a0 Once we destroy it, the Shang attack will falter.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut the cruisers alone<\/em> outnumber us four to one here!\u201d Jack shouted back.<\/p>\n \u201cJack,\u201d Hal said in a serious tone.\u00a0 \u201cWe are always<\/em> outnumbered.\u00a0 It is simply the way things are.\u00a0 Do not worry.\u00a0 We have a plan.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack opened his mouth, heard Betty clear her throat, shut his mouth, and looked at her.\u00a0 She shook her head and smiled.\u00a0 He let out a breath in acceptance and watched the squadron approach the jump point.<\/p>\n On the other side, the British still held but the Shang flagship hammered them again.\u00a0 A British cruiser drifted away from the fort, powerless and helpless.\u00a0 The flagship\u2019s escorts fired with it, smashing the fort\u2019s deflection grids back again and again to dig deeper into the armor.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry, but I can\u2019t give you any more time,\u201d Hal said, looking towards Betty\u2019s hologram.<\/p>\n \u201cI understand,\u201d she returned.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll make do.\u201d<\/p>\n Hal nodded.\u00a0 \u201cJump in three\u2026two\u2026one.\u201d<\/p>\n Jack closed his eyes against the flash of light, opened them, and gasped as he saw the massive Shang warship filling the sky in front of him.\u00a0 It was less than a kilometer away and he could actually see<\/em> the individual weapons turrets spinning towards him.\u00a0 They were too close.\u00a0 Way, way, way<\/em> too close for his comfort.<\/p>\n \u201cChaaaaaarge!\u201d Hal shouted and every weapon in the squadron opened up as the ships accelerated towards their target.<\/p>\n It was at that point that Jack came to the conclusion that the Peloran suffered from a severe case of split personality that had to approach complete insanity.\u00a0 This day had truly done bad things to his preconceptions about the Peloran race.\u00a0 One truth he knew for certain though.\u00a0 Aneerin was not misleading him.\u00a0 In a very deep way, that terrified him more than the battleship before him bristling with weapons and completely willing to crush him like a bug.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Hello, my name is Jack.\u00a0 Do you know when it is the best time to mount a sneak attack?\u00a0 I do.\u00a0 So do the Shang.\u00a0 You wait for them to be all fat and happy.\u00a0 Best is right after they\u2019ve[…]↓ Read 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