
Subj : New Beginnnings(15)
To   : All
From : Skyhawk #1
Date : Mon Jul 03 1995 18:13:02 PST

                            New Beginnings
                          By Daniel C. Harrison(Skyhawk)
     
     A short time later, all those that remained out of cryo were in the pilots
lounge. This was a room that had been set aside for those crazy enough to make
the long voyage with colonists and remain cognizant of the entire voyage. It
was a room for the lonely, those who dared to tread the depths of space. Candar
had made it her life. Since Terry's death, she had turned within herself, and
outward to space to escape. Your only companions usually were a loyal crew,
many who had worked together for years. They would be ready to obey almost any
order no matter how insane because, they all knew she was the best.
     Now, all she could see was darkness. She could hear the sounds of feet
shuffling as they came in. Smell the sweat of body odor as the men took their
seats opposite her at the table. One of them coughed loudly. "I suppose you all
know why we are here." she began.
     "Well, we know the ship is a piece of crap." This had come from Sam Boil.
He was a little to the right of her. Purposely, she turned her head toward him
and looked where she thought he was sitting.
     "Yes, it is. I won't lie about that. It's obvious the company wanted to
get her out fast. It's clear that even with double and triple pre-flight checks
we missed quite a bit. No sense being upset over it. We have to get our heads
together and figure out what to do." She stopped a moment and listened. The
engines had gone silent, they were obviously drifting. "Jerry, what's with the
engines?'
     "Currently, I don't trust the computer to control them without being
watched. Since were all here, I shut them down."
     She nodded, "Next time, please ask me first. But, I understand. We should
start with getting to know each other. Obviously, I'm the Captain. My name is
Candar Millis and, I was planning on retiring on Hycenda. That doesn't seem to
be the case anymore. I know Jerry, Sam Boil I've met and, of course I know Dr.
Grayson." She looked toward the left where she knew Henry Long was. "Henry and
I go back a few years, not all of it pleasant, but we have to make do." She
turned back to the front. "Who are you two men?"
     One of the men from engineering coughed. "Excuse me, I've got a cold or
something. My name is, Victor Bison. I've never been in space before but, the
company offered good pay so, I couldn't turn it down. I don't know anything
about engineering type stuff. I was told all I had to do was grunt work. Is
there  any chance we'll get back to earth soon after dumping these people off?"
     "I have to be honest about our chances." Candar sighed heavily. " I don't
think were going to be dumpin these people off on Hycenda. In fact, there's a
damn good chance we wont make it back at all. We should consider another
option. Once the guidance system is repaired, if it can be, we should scout for
a new world. And settle it."     

                                              
