can’t run forever.”
The First Mate said, “Wouldn’t it be easier to just bomb them from here?”
“That’s not how we operate. That’s a coward’s tactic. You should be ashamed of yourself for even considering it.”
He was blowing smoke though. She knew his ships never carried long range weapons. He couldn’t use them because he was too arrogant to stock them. She just wanted to call him out on it, to force him to reconsider his own tactics for future battles.
More and more, she found herself at odds with his way of doing things. She knew she’d be killed if she kept questioning him, but she just couldn’t help herself. She’d rather die f ighting down on the surface of Earth than be stuck in the same room as Shaylo, watching all the action from such a safe vantage point. That wasn’t the life she’d planned for herself. Hers was supposed to be a life of action and accolades, not bureaucracy and obedience.
She said, “Yes sir,” barely even knowing what she was saying yes to.
He considered her for a moment. He liked her despite the fact that he knew he should never treat a First Mate with anything other than contempt. But he’d give her one last chance.
“You’re getting difficult. Normally I’d kill you right now and save myself future aggravation but I think I know why you are repeatedly questioning me the way you are. You don’t necessarily disagree with anything I’ve done or will do in the future. No, you just want to be on the other side. You’d follow my orders, as you always have, if there was the right payoff.”
She stared at him, petrified by what he might say next.
He scratched his chin thoughtfully and continued. “I’ll tell you what; why don’t you suit up and take one of the remaining shuttles down there? Get in a fight. Bathe in some alien blood. Then come back here refreshed and thank me for my generosity. Then I trust you’ll do your damn job.”
She was momentarily stunned. He was absolutely right. He knew her better than she knew herself because the moment he mentioned getting involved in the ground based wet work, her spirits lifted and she forgot all about how miserable her life had so recently become.
Just the promise of battle was enough to put a spring in her step and a wellspring of hope in her heart.
She nodded and said, “I apologize for aggravating you, sir. You’re right. I’d be happy if I could get involved in the dirty work, if only for a while.”
He shook his head and looked away in disgust but it was all just a show so she didn’t know he had a soft spot for her. If she ever found out, she might try and use it to her advantage.
But if she came back after the fight and gave him any lip, he resolved to kill her right away rather than continue catering to her. It was the right thing to do.
The Chase
When three dozen spaceships appeared over the horizon, heading straight for them, Jack knew that the invasion had stages and the first stage was to take him out.
Something about that gave him hope. If he could stall them from annihilating him, he’d be stalling them from exterminating humanity. It wasn’t much to get giddy about but it was enough to keep him strong.
He waited for the others to grab a hold of him and then he vanished.
They appeared in a desert.
He snarled, “I was aiming for Cleveland. What the hell is this? I hate the desert.”
They let go of him for about two seconds before reaching back in and grabbing him again because two spacecraft were approaching them rapidly from either side.
Jack shook his head and concentrated. He hoped he hadn’t ended up in the desert the way he usually did; because he’d lost control of his powers. If that was true this time, then he wouldn’t be able to teleport for at least another hour, and they’d be long dead by then.
Luckily, his powers worked and this time they did end up in Cleveland.
There was looting and mayhem all around them. That was normal for Cleveland lately, but
The First Mate said, “Wouldn’t it be easier to just bomb them from here?”
“That’s not how we operate. That’s a coward’s tactic. You should be ashamed of yourself for even considering it.”
He was blowing smoke though. She knew his ships never carried long range weapons. He couldn’t use them because he was too arrogant to stock them. She just wanted to call him out on it, to force him to reconsider his own tactics for future battles.
More and more, she found herself at odds with his way of doing things. She knew she’d be killed if she kept questioning him, but she just couldn’t help herself. She’d rather die f ighting down on the surface of Earth than be stuck in the same room as Shaylo, watching all the action from such a safe vantage point. That wasn’t the life she’d planned for herself. Hers was supposed to be a life of action and accolades, not bureaucracy and obedience.
She said, “Yes sir,” barely even knowing what she was saying yes to.
He considered her for a moment. He liked her despite the fact that he knew he should never treat a First Mate with anything other than contempt. But he’d give her one last chance.
“You’re getting difficult. Normally I’d kill you right now and save myself future aggravation but I think I know why you are repeatedly questioning me the way you are. You don’t necessarily disagree with anything I’ve done or will do in the future. No, you just want to be on the other side. You’d follow my orders, as you always have, if there was the right payoff.”
She stared at him, petrified by what he might say next.
He scratched his chin thoughtfully and continued. “I’ll tell you what; why don’t you suit up and take one of the remaining shuttles down there? Get in a fight. Bathe in some alien blood. Then come back here refreshed and thank me for my generosity. Then I trust you’ll do your damn job.”
She was momentarily stunned. He was absolutely right. He knew her better than she knew herself because the moment he mentioned getting involved in the ground based wet work, her spirits lifted and she forgot all about how miserable her life had so recently become.
Just the promise of battle was enough to put a spring in her step and a wellspring of hope in her heart.
She nodded and said, “I apologize for aggravating you, sir. You’re right. I’d be happy if I could get involved in the dirty work, if only for a while.”
He shook his head and looked away in disgust but it was all just a show so she didn’t know he had a soft spot for her. If she ever found out, she might try and use it to her advantage.
But if she came back after the fight and gave him any lip, he resolved to kill her right away rather than continue catering to her. It was the right thing to do.
The Chase
When three dozen spaceships appeared over the horizon, heading straight for them, Jack knew that the invasion had stages and the first stage was to take him out.
Something about that gave him hope. If he could stall them from annihilating him, he’d be stalling them from exterminating humanity. It wasn’t much to get giddy about but it was enough to keep him strong.
He waited for the others to grab a hold of him and then he vanished.
They appeared in a desert.
He snarled, “I was aiming for Cleveland. What the hell is this? I hate the desert.”
They let go of him for about two seconds before reaching back in and grabbing him again because two spacecraft were approaching them rapidly from either side.
Jack shook his head and concentrated. He hoped he hadn’t ended up in the desert the way he usually did; because he’d lost control of his powers. If that was true this time, then he wouldn’t be able to teleport for at least another hour, and they’d be long dead by then.
Luckily, his powers worked and this time they did end up in Cleveland.
There was looting and mayhem all around them. That was normal for Cleveland lately, but
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