
Subj : New Beginnings
To   : All
From : Skyhawk #1
Date : Wed Jun 28 1995 01:05:38 PST

                           New Beginnings
                         By Daniel C. Harison(Skyhawk)

     Jerry stared at the floor a moment contemplating their situation. It was
grim, probably one of the worst he had ever been in. "We should turn this thing
around now. There's no sense continuing on in this condition."
     Candar nodded. "Normally I would agree. But, Kevin isn't permanently
injured and, despite what I was told, Sam Boil must know something about the
intertial dampeners anyway. He managed to patch them up." She looked at him
expectantly as he picked up a cup and sipped from it.
     "If your worried about losing your chance to leave on this trip, you'll
get another, Candar. Besides to be perfectly honest, I don't know if I can get
this ship back safely without you. Assuming of course we make it to Hycenda IV
at all in this condition. We need a top engineer, and Boil isn't it."
     She sighed and took a quick glance at her instruments. "We're about an
hour and a half from making the final decision to jump to hyperspace. If we do,
there will be no turning back. If we're gonna abort we need to do it now. But,
before we do, I want you to think about this. We still have a functional crew.
You've had engineer training and..."
     "Not like Kevin!" he cut her off harshly. "There's no way I can double for
him. Sure, I've dealt with dampeners and I know the emergency shut down
procedures, but I've never torn into a matter conversion drive or nursed a
damaged one back to health. It's insane to even consider going any further!  
Candar, think of your passengers."
     She put a hand on his shoulder gently. "They are what I'm thinking of. All
of these people gave up most if not all of their life savings to pay the
company for this voyage. If we abort, do you really think they'll get it back?
You know what "Universal Star" is like. They treat good pilots well cause they
have to. The rest of the employees eat shit and the execs don't care! This is
probably their last hope of a new world. It may be insane but, I'm going
through with it. We have detailed information in the computers about the
engines and any other type of system on this ship. Kevin will recover
eventually and, you have the knowledge to make this work. It's going to be
tough but, I'm going onward. Prepare the ship for final phase to hyperdrive."
     "Candar.." he began.
     "Do it! That's an order!" She stared hard at him waiting for him to
explode. If he was going to disobey her, it would be a first. This was the
first time they had been through such a major disagreement. She remembered back
when they seemed to connect. Even she could see this was insanity. But, it was
the only choice. If they did turn back, the company would try to pin it on them
both. It would damage any chance she had of spacing a ship to a new world again
and, Jerry's career would probably be permanently damaged. The company did not
forgive little mistakes. Yet, it made them all the time and expected it's
employees to live with the results. Many had died over those results, or been
permanently scarred. Jerry knew what was at stake.
     He turned away from her without answer and began setting up the guidance
systems for the final phase. "Terminal guidance locked in place. Were go for
hyperdrive systems."
     She smiled and hugged him close. "Thanks, babe. I'm sorry I yelled at you.
It will be okay. I need you down in the engine room now to take charge. If you
can, stop by the colony area and make a quick search for a pilot. I just need
someone to generally assist, they don't have to be an expert. They can stay up
here with me while you sub for Jerry. Then when Kevin comes arouund, we'll put
Dr. Grayson and the pilot sub in cryo for the rest of the trip. It'll all work
out."
     Jerry pulled away from her and stood up. "This isn't like you, Candar.
Your getting soft. I think this idea is crazy. I think were all gonna get
killed. It violates a shitload of regulations and if Crawford knew about it,
he'd have both our butts in a sling for not aborting. And unless this bucket of
bolts can be improved during the trip, you wont be able to leave when we reach
Hycenda. I'll need you to help me fly it back! Has that cheery thought ever
occured to you?" He stood firmly now staring her down. She had never seen him
like this. So bitter..
     "I understand the situation. And, I know the repercusions could be fatal
to us all. I've made my decision as Captain of this ship. Report to the engine
room, Commander."
     He pushed past her angrily and began to make his way down the ladder.
Stopping he looked hard at her. "Your the captain, and I respect that. I just
hope you don't go down with this ship, and take the rest of us with you!"
Swearing, he continued down and was gone.
     Was he right? Was this whole thing truly insanity? Was she only thinking
of herself, the fact she wanted to begin a new life and that if it failed, she
would never get another chance? Sure, she could continue to space. But, how
long before her luck ran out? Many a good crew had been wiped out from
unexpected disaster. And, the Outlander so far was nothing but a flying
nightmare from hell. Would it consume her? All these thoughts plagued her as
she checked and rechecked the systems. Jerry called her and, she confirmed with
him that, a sub pilot had been found and was on his way up. Good. At least
something was going right. The man from what Jerry had said didn't have much
experience. Mainly small craft and light runs between moonbase and Mars. But it
was better than nothing.
     The noise caught her attention as the man clambered up the ladder, "I was
told to report here, Captain."
     "Great, glad to have..." she began and suddenly stopped short. No!
Standing before her was the last person she wanted to see in the world. She had
thought of him only a little bit ago. Standing before her was, Henry Long.
     "So, you wanted to see me?" he asked again. His wide grin pissed her off.
Nothing was going right this trip. And they would be going to hyperdrive in
half an hour with no chance of turning back.

