It's A Deadly Job, But Somebody's Gotta Do It

I couldn't understand anything Tempest said, so I prepared to punch the engines and dive through the window. Without warning, the jump window zoomed toward me, and I reflexively jerked back in my seat. The NOVA drive powered down, the whine faded, and the vibration of the cockpit all but stopped. I looked from left to right. After all the shaking, the actual nova was anticlimactic.

"Uhhh . . . Jonny?" Tempest said. "You want to take us into the rings?"

I shook myself and engaged the fusion drive, maneuvering the Dragon into the particles of ice orbiting the moon. I dodged some of the larger chunks, then let go of the controls. "Tempest, scan the system for gunships and carriers. The station will come into view in a few minutes. Once it does, get me some readings on its defensive capabilities. We'll make one orbit of the moon, then review the sensor data and plan our attack."

"Right away, Sir," Tempest's voice came back acidly. "Do you want a cup of coffee too? Maybe I could fluff your pillow for you?"

"Just do it, Toolbox!" I said irritably, closing my eyes. I had a terrible headache, and I didn't think it would be getting better any time soon. Unless I died. Dying might even be better than aspirin (8) at curing a headache.

I must have dozed off, because the next thing I remember was my chair rocking back and forth. "Wake up, Sleeping Beauty," Tempest said. "We've got a problem."

I rubbed my eyes. "How long was I out?"

"How should I know?" Tempest replied. "I've been making detailed scans of the system since we arrived, not paying attention to you." The vid-screen changed, and a summary of the scans filled the screen. "Not the best time for a nap," he commented dryly.

"I didn't mean to fall asleep," I admitted. "Must have been the nova. Something about the jump."

"Sure. Couldn't be your weak human body. Must have been the sophisticated technology."

"What's the problem," I said, hoping to change the subject.

"Apparently, our nova didn't go completely unnoticed. A capital ship and two squadrons of fighters are headed this way, and the capital ship is doing an intense sensor sweep."

"Seems a little excessive," I mumbled.

"Wouldn't you be careful," Tempest asked wryly, "if you were building a bomb capable of destroying a solar system?"

I scanned the data on the vid-screen. "What's that?" I asked, pointing to the only ship in the system that wasn't heading our way.

"I'm not familiar with it's design," Tempest told me, "and it's not in the Fleet database. From the shape, I'd guess it's a freighter."

"From it's shape?"

"It's spherical, moron. Maximum volume, minimum surface area. Any intelligent species makes its fighters small and narrow and its freighters large and spherical."

"All right! All right!" I said, cutting him off. "If it's a freighter, what's it carrying?"

"Well," Tempest answered smugly, "since the only thing in this system is a weapons platform, I'd guess it's carrying weapons."

"Or trix," I added.

"Hmmm?" Tempest asked. Apparently, he ignored me almost as much as I ignored him.

"Trix," I repeated. "Maybe it's carrying the trix to power the bomb."

"If that's the case, we got here just in time. If they're loading the trix, the bomb must be ready." A little claxon sounded, and this time it wasn't Tempest making the sound. "The fleet's scanners just passed over us," he said. "I don't think they detected us, but it's only a matter of time."

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(8) Chemical name: Acetylsalicylic Acid Ancient Earth medication. Its original use is no longer known, but if used appropriately, it can temporarily relieve the effects of headaches.