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Zimbaka and the other two Pilgrims had sought cover behind the curving back
of the panel. They huddled together, eyes closed, heads tucked tightly into
their shoulders.
While the drive officers had remained at their stations, all four had
attempted to lift their legs and squeeze themselves into the padded confines
of their chairs.
Then there was Paladin, who had assumed McDaniel's place at the drive's
control panel and wore his mask of quiet intensity as he gripped his Pilgrim
cross.
A key suddenly turned, the chest of the moment yawned open, and chaos escaped
as though held under pressure.
"We've taken another hit to the port engine," the XO said over the comm
monitor. "But the jump was successful, Brotur Taggart."
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As Santyana cut loose another volley at the Marines above, Blair crawled on
his elbows toward him.
Karista darted to Maniac, slung his arm over her shoulder, then hauled him to
the relative cover of the hopper drive's massive pedestal.
"Hold your fire," Aristee roared. "Hold your fire!"
Rounds beat in triplets off the catwalk's railing as Santyana drove the
Marines back toward the corridor. That accomplished, he straightened and swung
his rifle at Aristee.
In the meantime, Blair glanced at the Marine he had tossed over the railing.
While Santyana had confiscated her rifle, her pistol remained holstered at her
side. Blair kept hunched over and stole his way to the unconscious soldier,
withdrew her sidearm, then, two-handing the weapon, he slinked back behind the
panel and stood beside Santyana.
"Brotur Vyson," Aristee said, directing her voice to the monitor and ignoring
the weapons trained on her. "Report."
"We're five minutes from Earth orbit. Picking up massive electromagnetic
signatures. Hold a minute. Contacts identified as the strike carrier Tiger
Claw and the supercruiser Fosubius with her standard two-by-one escort."
"I was hoping for a smaller reception," Aristee muttered.
"Those pilots on Aloysius must've been picked up and tipped off Tolwyn,"
Paladin said. "But it doesn't matter. We can open the well now and take them
all out. Computer. Initiate pre-jump sequence."
"Initiated."
"Don't do it, sir," Blair said, following Santyana around the control panel.
Santyana broke right to close in on Aristee, while Blair continued on toward
Paladin.
"Look up," Aristee said. "We have you covered again. You shoot. They shoot.
So we're back to our standoff."
She hadn't lied. The Marines had once more fanned out along the catwalk,
though Blair counted only seven now.
"Shoot her, for God's sake," Maniac cried. "And cap him, too, the scumbag
traitor."
Blair closed his eyes and took himself toward Paladin
But Zimbaka suddenly appeared and bent his knees in a battle stance. Blair
didn't know which form of martial arts the man practiced, but he did know he
was about to find out. "I don't think so, Brotur."
A hand fell on Blair's shoulder. "The containment field is operating at one
hundred percent," Karista said. "Brotur Zimbaka and his friends are free to
stop us. And they can. Forget it, Blair."
"But we have to do something."
After word had reached Captain Gerald of theOlympus 's jump into Sol, he had
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decided that Angel's squadron would be designated Alert One and held in
reserve to escort the Tiger Claw . Before the launch, Angel had gone to his
ready room to dispute that decision.
"Don't question my judgment," Gerald had warned.
"You think my prejudice will falter out there?"
"Of course it will."
"We don't even know if Taggart and Blair are still on board that ship. I've
been at this too long to let emotions get in the way. You know that."
"The admiral has ordered us to take the ship intact. If that's not possible,
we will destroy it. To be honest, Commander, I don't think you're up to the
task. You weren't particularly aggressive over Triune, and one of your people
lost a Rapier because of that."
"But as I recall, I wasn't the one with doubts, sir ."
"You have your orders."
"We're point squadron. Keep us in the rear and you're wasting resources."
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