The Adventures of Lionheart

As the starship left the atmosphere of Mars, the old man looked back at the planet. The memories came flooding back as they always did when he left Mars. He was abruptly distracted from his thoughts by two young children who came bounding over shouting for him to tell them a story. He turned his head away from the porthole. He straightened his tall frame and squared his broad shoulders. A sense of well being could be read in his emerald green eyes as they searched out the playful children. There were several generations between the young children and the generation that had fought in the Great Wars of the 2100s but they were fascinated with the tales of the great heroes. They had a particular affection for the stories surrounding a character called Lionheart.
“Uncle Richard, tell us a story please…PLEASE?” shouted the children as they bounded across the promenade deck of the Starship.
“Children please don’t shout there are others here and you have to consider them as well.” Uncle Richard said in a very firm but pleasant voice. He loved the children as if they were his own and spoilt them rotten much to their parents annoyance but he didn’t want a scene to develop right at the start of the cruise back to earth. Starship Captains can be a notorious lot and had been known to put passengers off, even first class cabin ones if things got too boisterous before reaching the jump gate.
“If we’re quiet will you tell us a story then…please?” said the children in they’re usual pleading voice that Uncle Richard just couldn’t refuse.
“Very well. Perhaps we should start at the beginning it’s a long trip home.”
“Oh yes please Uncle Richard.”
Uncle Richard wasn’t really their uncle. It was just easier for them to think of him that way. He was far older than he looked, the miracles of science, as he would put it. He wasn’t even related to the family. A long time ago, before they were born, he had made a promise to a former starship captain. At the time, it had seemed like a burden but as the years went by he became thankful for what he now considered a gift. He gathered the children up in his powerful arms and settled one child on each of his knees. They squirmed a little to get comfortable. When they were ready, he started at the beginning when Lionheart was just a boy.
Lionheart wasn’t the boy’s real name that has since been lost in the eons of time and space. Before he became Lionheart he was just one of many children who dreamed of things they would do when they were bigger. At one point around 9 or 10, his history class looked at the Knights of the Round Table, an old English fable. He then spent the next few months playing and dreaming of being a knight in shining armor protecting his princess and the land.
At 14, his attention was diverted from schoolwork, as with all young boys, by his first love. He fell in love with a girl several years older than he was who had such a wonderful personality he hated to be away from her. He would sit as close as he dared during meal breaks but never spoke to her. It was enough to be near by listening to her incredible voice as she spoke with her friends. Her laughter was music to his ears. A little corny as things go but at 14 he knew no different or didn’t want to know different. Eros had been and shot an arrow in his heart and that was that.
Sarah was a plain looking girl with long brunette hair. What she lacked in looks she made up for in brains. She was top in science and math in the school never mind her class. The word circulating around the school was she would get to go to the University of Triton, the top college in the known universe at the time for science. At least Lionheart thought it was just a rumor. He dismissed the idea of her leaving him. He just couldn’t imagine it happening.
It was only a matter of months before the semester came to a close and the inevitable happened. Sarah was given the opportunity to leave for Triton within the month. She didn’t even say goodbye to our young hero to be Lionheart. One day she was laughing with her friends at lunch break and then she was gone. Lionheart couldn’t understand how she could just leave him. His heart refused to break. He started to make plans to reunite with his love. He had to discover a way to find his beloved Lady Sarah.
Up to this point Lionheart had never shown any interest in going to the capital city of the Northern Countries never mind being interested in space flight. On the day his Lady Sarah left him, all that changed. He ran home, packed as many clothes as he could carry and left for the capital. The Northern Countries was only a small part of the new earth and only had the one spaceport. He had to get into space if he was to ever find his beloved.
The journey to the spaceport wasn’t going to be exactly pleasant. It was the wrong time of year, winter to be exact, to be out traveling on foot. Few wagons would stop to pick up a lone traveler. There had been too many hijackings recently. He decided he couldn’t wait out the winter storm. A storm could last weeks and every second lost his Lady Sarah got further away from him. There was nothing for it but a cold, miserable journey through snow, ice and howling winds. If the storm continued this way, it would take him the best part of three weeks to cover the distance a hover car could do in a matter of hours. He would certainly be missed long before he reached the capital. He was still a minor after all and would be forced to go home by the police if he was caught. The thought of what his father would say drove him on. He didn’t want to go home to the beating he knew he would get for having disturbed his Fathers drinking while the police explained where they found him. It wasn’t that he’d had a wretched childhood or anything. He figured his father loved him if only when he was sober. So, our young hero struggled on. The wind created a little snowstorm around his feet and froze the snow against his mask and his clothes.

“Come on honey, we’re running late. You know I have to inspect the ship before we leave port tonight.” Said a tall rugged man. He was dressed in a Captains uniform belonging to the Terran Merchant Space Fleet or TMSF for short. He wasn’t tall and when it came down to it he tended to crack and on occasions fall apart when things went very wrong for him. He had reached his position more by luck than skill and a powerful father in the upper ranks of the TMSF. Despite his obvious flaws, he was a kind, considerate and loving husband.
The captain’s young wife shot her husband one of those looks that could melt his heart at a hundred paces never mind when they were in the same room.
“Oh stop fussing dear, you know they can’t leave without you. It is your ship after all.”
Another 15 minutes later and Captain and his wife climbed into their hover car. The Captain was impatient by now and immediately set off at great speed towards the spaceport. The journey should only take him a few hours in normal weather but this storm was going to make the journey that much more hazardous and drawn out.
“Dear, please slow down. You can’t even see where you are going. You know the path through here is full of corners.” Said the captains’ wife.
Without saying anything the captain slowed down a little. He was late and determined to make up the time. It was one thing for a crewmember to return from liberty late but for the captain that was unthinkable.
The captain turned on the hover car lights and set them to high beam. He swept through the first two corners of the forest and blinked. In the distance the lights picked out a small object moving very slowly and completely covered in snow. It was like looking at a moving snowman. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing and slowed the hover car to a halt not far from the snowman.
“What’s wrong dear? I thought you were in a hurry?” said his wife.
The captain didn’t even reply he just lifted his hand and pointed out of the windshield at the slowly moving snowman. His wife turned her head and followed the direction of his finger and gasped.
“Whoever it is must be freezing. Why don’t you offer that person a ride dear?”
The captain looked at his wife and shrugged his shoulders. He powered the hover car slowly forward until they were alongside the moving snowman. Over the external intercom, he shouted at the snowman,
“Do you wanted a ride somewhere?”
He couldn’t believe he was shouting at a snowman. There had to be a logical explanation for this.
The snowman kept putting one snow-covered foot in front of the other appearing not to hear the captain. The captain tried again. This time the snowman stopped. Almost imperceptibly it’s head turned and looked at the hover car. When the snowman was sure it wasn’t the local police, it turned and stepped towards the hover car. Through the windshield the captain pointed towards the back of the hover car. The rear-facing door would protect the occupants from the wind while the snowman climbed aboard.
Once out of the wind, the snowman brushed as much of the snow off his clothes as he could before finally climbing in. He sat silently in the back not looking at the captain or his wife.
“I can make some hot chiba if you would like?” said the wife.
In those days, chiba was the equivalent of an old-world drink called coffee or java. The young man just nodded his head and sat in a puddle of water from the melting snow and ice he hadn’t managed to brush off.
The Captain said they were going to the spaceport and could take him that far if that was what he wanted. The young man’s head lifted and seeing the Captains TMSF uniform a little spark started to form in his eyes. He just nodded and remained silent.
“Here you go young man. I’m Juliette and this is my husband Chris.” Said the Captains’ wife as she handed their new passenger his drink. The passenger slowly extended his arm and took the drink from Juliette, nodding his thanks.
“What about you young man, what’s your name?” He lifted his head and worked his jaw a few times to restore the circulation before speaking.
“Lionheart” and fell silent again.
The Captain looked back towards young Lionheart and said, “You look awfully young to be out in this weather. Where are you going?”
Lionheart looked at the Captain and said “Triton”.
“That’s a long way from here. How are you going to get there, do you have transport lined up already?” the Captain said with a kind smile on his face. Lionheart thought for a long time before answering, “No I don’t.”
The Captain concentrated on steering the hover car round a number of sharp turns and several vehicles in the way before looking back at the kid.
“How old are you anyway?”
“16” replied Lionheart hoping that under all these clothes he could pull off the two year difference.
“Just old enough to enlist then. You must have a powerful reason to be heading out to Triton at your age.”
“Love”
“Oh dear, you remember how we were at that age?” said Juliette.
“Yes honey, I still remember.” Said the Captain with a gentle love filled smile at his wife.
“Isn’t there anything you can do for Lionheart dear?”
The Captain sat in silence for a while negotiating more traffic while thinking about his wife’s question and their early romantic years.
“Tell you what Lionheart, my cabin boy jumped ship at our last layover at Mercury. While we’re not going to Triton on this trip, it would get you into space and put some experience under your belt if you want the job. Doesn’t pay much mind.” Said the Captain looking in the mirror.
Lionheart sat there looking back at the Captain wondering whether to accept this offer or wait and see if a better one was waiting for him at the spaceport. His instinct was telling him to take the offer. The Captain had already saved him from the storm so perhaps this was supposed to happen. Finally Lionheart said, “Thank you, I accept.” And fell silent again. No more was said during the remained of the journey to the spaceport.
As was always the case, the Captain arrived with time to spare and pleased as punch that he’d found a replacement crewmember. He leaned across the hover car and kissed his wife before getting out and telling Lionheart to grab his bags. Lionheart climbed out and started to pick up the bags. He stopped and looked at Juliette and simply said “Thank You, m’Lady”, lifted the bags and followed the Captain.

The first few years aboard the Starship Cargo Charger turned Lionheart from a young boy of 14 into a young man with an intimate knowledge of the workings of a cargo class starship. Although he started as a lowly cabin boy, fetching the Captain his chiba and meals, polishing shoes and pressing uniforms he had unfettered access to the whole ship. He continued to think of his Lady Sarah. How could he forget her, his one true love? It never crossed his mind that she might be the first of many. He thought of her only as his true love.
Lionheart took every opportunity to explore the ship, ask questions of the other crewmembers on how things worked. He had a lot to catch up on after all in school he had avoided the classes on space travel and science wasn’t a natural area for young Lionheart. What he lacked in knowledge he picked up at every turn, occasionally taking turns with others working on the q-drive, boosters, radar and navcom.
When he turned 21, the Captain invited him to come ashore in Callisto to help him negotiate a trade deal with the newly discovered Arceans. This was the first time he’d been asked to go ashore with the Captain. Sure he had gone over all the deals the Captain had made and knew how the Captain thought, understood the profit margins involved in a trip but still this was an unexpected event. Usually the Bursar was the only one to go with the Captain.
The Arcean spaceport at Callisto was obviously new. In places the blast shields were still being constructed and parts of the secondary buildings were still under construction. The layout reminded Lionheart of the early terran spaceports he’d read about while about the Cargo Charger. It didn’t take long before he realized why. It was a copy of the first terra spaceport, long since demolished and rebuilt with newer technology and experience. Hopefully the Arcean’s would not have to re-learn the same lessons that the Terran spaceport authorities had learned.
“Ah Captain, welcome to our wonderful bar.” The translator chip spat out in the Captains ear as he approached the weird looking Arcean Trade Minister Silence. The Minister looked weird to the Captain because this was his first time meeting an Arcean face to face since the race was discovered in the far reaches of space. All his previous trips had been between Terran colonies and earth. The Arcean’s seemed a gentle race on the surface but Fleet Intelligence was getting unsubstantiated reports of a massive military fleet.
The bar wasn’t very well lit. The décor could definitely use a coat of fresh paint. It was hard to tell what color the walls were supposed to be. The counter was the only piece of furniture in the place that wasn’t damaged. The tables clearly wobbled as patrons splashed their drinks while trying to extract themselves from seats that should have been chopped up for firewood years ago.
The Captain and Lionheart were immediately apprehensive. Lionheart was sure the Captain didn’t normally do business in such disreputable establishments but they were here now and might as well find out what the deal was.
“G’day Minister Silence. I trust we find you in good spirits.” Said the Captain with a friendly smile on his face.
“Not as good as they could be.” Replied the Minister turning his empty glass. Before the Captain could reply, another glass appeared at the Ministers elbow. Lionheart held out the drink and smiled. The Captain nodded to Lionheart indicating it was a good move.
“Why thank you Captain. How generous of you.” Said the Minister barely acknowledging Lionheart with a flick of his hand.
“Think nothing of it Minister Silence.”
Still looking at the Captain, the Minister slowly lifted the glass and took a sip of the whiskey. “Hmm a very good choice. Please have a seat, it’s not right for us to do business standing up.”
“After you Minister. Lionheart pull up a seat why don’t you.” It wasn’t a question. Lionheart had heard the Captain speak like this before and knew something was going to happen he just wasn’t sure what it was. The Minister looked on a little puzzled as Lionheart pulled up a chair and sat down.
“Now then Captain, we have a load of Arcean furs, jewelry, whiskey and special foods that we would like transported to Earth. We are prepared to offer 1 million credits if the goods are delivered in 4 weeks.” The Minister said while looking the Captain in the eye.
The Captain almost blinked. The price was certainly acceptable but why was their opening bid so high? He’d never been offered that sort of money at the start of a negotiation. Something wasn’t right. Before he could speak, Lionheart said, “What happens if we don’t make it in 4 weeks?”
The Minister completely ignored Lionheart, keeping his gaze on the Captain. The Captain looked at Lionheart with an expression of anger. He wasn’t here to speak but then he realized that Lionheart had hit the nail on the head. The Captain repeated Lionheart’s question, “What happens Minister if we don’t deliver in 4 weeks?”
“The special food stuffs will no longer be marketable. As the value is in excess of 40 million credits we will hold you accountable for the loss.” Said the Minister.
“I have insurance for that sort of thing.” Said the Captain
“The insurance isn’t to be paid in credits. It will be paid by your life.” The minister said in a matter of fact way.
A nasty frown came over the Captain’s face before he could control his emotions. He’d never been threatened like this before.
“Lionheart let’s go.” Said the Captain who started to get up.
“You don’t seem to understand Captain. Please sit down while I explain.” Said the Minister this time with a hint of steel in his voice.
The Captain looked at Lionheart whose head was moving rapidly from side to side looking for danger. The majority of the crowd in the bar had moved to the opposite side and was looking anywhere but at the table with the Minister. There were however six patrons who had held their seats. They were no longer talking but watching the Minister closely, their hands below the table. Fear, sweat, adrenaline and the smell of alcohol permeated the atmosphere. It was getting tenser by the second.
The Captain sat back down and looked at the Minister and said, “Okay explain and be quick about it.”
“The cargo is already being loaded aboard your ship as we speak. This deal is done.” There was no room for negotiation. The Captain was definitely regretting his decision not to have someone from Fleet Intel advise him. While he was thinking of his next move, Lionheart intervened.
“Minister, we find the payment terms unacceptable. We will require 2 million credits and 5% of the sale value upon delivery in three weeks to Earth.” Demanded Lionheart.
The Minister couldn’t believe what he was hearing; an underling was prepared to bargain when his officer was lost for words. Very slowly he turned his head and looked into the face of Lionheart. The Minister was surprised for the second time in the last minute. Lionheart had moved so he was only an inch away from the Ministers shoulder and a small hand phasor was poking him in the ribs.
The Minister had little choice but to back down as now his life was also on the table and he quite liked it really in twisted way. He nodded meekly and swallowed hard. Lionheart then said
“Shall we get going then Minister? After all its only right you join us on our little voyage so we can make sure the deal is completed properly for both sides”. Lionheart looked at the Captain and nodded for the Captain to leave first. They got up and headed for the door, the Captain first, Lionheart in the middle walking backwards, dragging the Minister.
The six patrons who had been watching intently made no move to intercede. As soon as Lionheart was out of the door, the leader stood up and walked over to the door, cracking it open. When he was sure that the three men had climbed in to a wagon and heading in the direction of the spaceport, he turned nodded to his men, who calmly resumed their drinking.
When they got back to the ship they found the cargo already loaded as the Minister had indicated. They escorted their guest to the VIP quarters and headed for the Captain’s stateroom. As soon as the door was closed the Captain exploded.
“Where do you get off accepting a cargo and taking a hostage? This is my ship mister. I should have you thrown in the brig for what you’ve just done. How dare you pull such a stupid stunt.” The Captain continued for a good 10 minutes before collapsing in his chair. Lionheart had just stood there and taken it all.
“Captain, you were forced into a corner. If I hadn’t struck a deal, we would both have been killed right there and then. At least six men in that bar had weapons pointing at us. They were waiting for the Minister to give the word the deal had failed. By taking the Minister, we are ensuring a successful conclusion to our business with the Arceans.”
The Captain eventually looked up and thought about what Lionheart had just said. “A successful conclusion…we can’t make earth in three weeks.” Shook his head and signaled for Lionheart to get out. Lionheart didn’t even pause. He stepped out of the stateroom and headed for the bridge.

Lionheart strode on to the bridge, squaring his shoulders and making himself as tall and commanding as he could. He started issuing orders in the Captain's name getting the ship ready for immediate departure. If he was going to make earth in three weeks he was going to have to use every trick in the book and then some.
He called the chief engineer and demanded immediate propulsion. "The best I can give you is one engine of the four. We shut everything else down." replied the Chief.
"Well get working on the other three immediately. We have to get some distance between ourselves and this place sharpish." Lionheat responded. "I also want q-drive capability the second we leave Arcean space."
"Bursar is everything stowed away for hyper jump?"
"Yes it is." replied a nervous looking Bursar.
At this point the walked onto the bridge and demanded to know what in heck was going on. This was the tough part for Lionheart. If the didn't believe him the whole thing would fall apart.
"The Captain has ordered us to leave immediately and to make best speed towards earth . Do you have a problem with that?” Said Lionheart with authority.
"I've not seen or heard these orders. Where is the Captain?"
"He is in his stateroom and doesn't want to be disturbed. Now take your station for departure ."
The held his ground looking into Lionheart's eyes with complete disbelief. The silence hung in the air neither blinking until Lt. Harriet spoke up.
"XO the Captain came aboard 10mins ago with Lionheart and the Arcean Trade Minister Silence, Sir. They seemed to be in a hurry, Sir."
The looked across at Lt. Harriet and said "Is that so?" paused and then continued. "Well don't just stand around gawking jump to it. We have to get to Earth as quickly as we can." replied the .
There was a sense of relief on the bridge as everyone turned back to their duties and trying to get the Cargo Charger launched in record time.
For Lionheart the hardest part was still to come, getting the ship to Earth in record time. This wasn't the fastest or by any means the newest vessel in the TMSF. In fact as a deep space vessel goes it was past it's prime and definitely ready for an overhaul. He really hoped he hadn't done something foolish when he challenged Minister Silence.
Trade Minister Silence was at that moment in the VIP quarters laughing out loud. He couldn't believe what had just happened. Not only was he going to get a 2 million credits deposit to his own private bank account he was going to get a fairly reliable cargo ship as well. The crew would be disposed of of course but that was a minor detail compared with capturing the first prize of war from the Terrans even if it was a cargo ship. The possibilities it opened were almost beyond his imagination. Well not really but he felt on top of his world. Not bad for a trade minister. One day I'll run it all he thought.
On the bridge things were not going well. Engineering was only able to get two engines running by the time they undocked and pulled away from the Arcean Space station. The bridge crew looked anxious. No one had been near the asteroids since the Outworlders had taken them over. This was a very strange trip and where was the Captain? Lionheart was in trouble not only had he potentially sentenced the Captain to death the crew would kill him if they found out he had left port without the Captain's permission. He was walking a tightrope and couldn't afford to fall off.
The Cargo Charger reached the outer limits of the spaceport and without pre-amble he ordered a course be set for the asteroid belt. Lt. Harriet reported from nav that the course was set. They would have to wait for the remaining engines to come online before engaging the q-drive. He really must remember to thank Lt. Harriet at some point.
In order to try and reassure the crew, Lionheart smiled and looked every member of the bridge crew in the eye. He rose out of the Captains chair looked at the and said, "XO has the con" and headed for the Captain's stateroom.
When he walked through the door he was visibly shocked. The Captain was drunk. He was holding a picture of his wife and murmuring out loud how much he loved his wife and how sorry he was that he had got into this mess. Lionheart wasn't sure what to do. He couldn't take the Captain out to face the crew in this state. He picked the Captain up and took him to the sonic shower. "Time to get you sober if only long enough to satisfy the crew I speak for you.' he said, sincerely hoping the Captain would recover his senses. After all Lionheart wouldn't want to be in the Captain's shoes and had no idea how he would react if it were he. Lionheart did have one thing going for him after all, ignorance. He was still too young to care.
It took him an hour to get the Captain into a reasonable state. He explained his plan to the Captain who looked even whiter by the end than he had at the beginning. Lionheart badgered and cajoled the Captain into giving him a chance to save the ship, the crew and of course the Captain himself. He explained that the Captain would have to appear on the bridge if only for a few minutes to reassure everyone. At which point he could retire to his cabin or remain on the bridge provided he made it clear Lionheart spoke for him.
The Captain gathered his wits about him and set his jaw in his "not to be messed with" state and exited his stateroom en-route to the bridge.
On entering the bridge there was almost a collective sigh from the crew. The Captain took his seat and said loud enough for the crew to hear him "Lionheart has the con." There was total silence from the crew. Only Lt. Harriet looked from the Captain towards Lionheart who had entered the bridge immediately behind the Captain.
The Captain wasn't a blind man. He could see it was going to take more than this for the crew to just follow Lionheart blindly. He just hoped Lionheart would take up the challenge. He was not to be disappointed.
Lionheart immediately started issuing orders. When the Captain didn't question them or intercede in any way the crew reluctantly started to follow them. Rations were checked; they had enough for the journey. Engineering reported in that the third and fourth engines were now online and that the q-drive would be available shortly. Nav reported course steady, heading towards the asteroid field as previously ordered.
There were no weapons systems on the ship. There had been no need for such weight as the ship normally traveled only in safe, patrolled areas as designated by Fleet. This of course meant the crew would be helpless in the asteroids if confronted by Outworlders or Pirates.
Lionheart was well aware of this of course and was hoping that by the time the Cargo Charger reached the asteroids in a little over a week everything would be ready.
He briefed the bridge crew on what he had in mind and listened to any suggestions while watching the Captain in case he caved and took back control of the ship. He shouldn't have worried. By this time the Captain was regaining his faculties and was listening intently to what was going on. He was actually quite proud of Lionheart and the way he was conducting himself. No crewmember was left to feel foolish or out of the discussion. He even looked to the Captain from time to time for approval, which he gave without hesitation.
It was a daring plan given what they had to work with. The old cargo ship was going to be fitted to run silently in less than a week. While she wasn't built for this Lionheart was sure he could reduce her signature to that of a scout. A scout was of little value to the Pirates compared with a fully loaded cargo ship, or so he hoped.
Engineering finally reported that the q-drive was charged and they could jump whenever the Captain gave the word. Without hesitation, Lionheart issued the order to jump. Lt Harriet responded immediately by sounding the warning klaxons and executing the final checks. Two minutes later the Cargo Charger jumped into the void of q-space.

The crew worked around the clock, dampening the engines thereby reducing their signature to special radar. Any rattle was located with sound sensitive equipment and fixed. No room was left untouched including the Captains quarters and the galley. As the galley used all metal equipment, the cooks did their part by preparing meals for a week that could be kept until needed so that they didn’t have to use the metal cooking utensils while navigating the asteroids.
The soles of the shoes belonging to those crewmembers that would be working during the quiet period were given extra padding to reduce noise against the metal decks. Shifts were organized by the , relief periods would be brief, only when they were hidden behind an asteroid would crew changes take place. All other crew would be restricted to their bunks. Lionheart kept the crew so busy they didn’t have time to thing about their worries and yes fears about what was going to happen.
Lt. Harriet looked up from her panel towards Lionheart, “We’re 1 hour from the asteroid belt, Sir. Suggest we exit q-drive now, Sir.”
“How accurately can you pinpoint a large asteroid while still in q-drive Lt.?”
“We have a rough idea of where they are Sir but it won’t be safe to get much closer, Sir.”
”I realize that Lieutenant, however our q-drive signature is going to be so big it’ll be picked up at earth if we exit now. We need to exit q-drive at the last possible instance immediately in front of the largest asteroid you can find. This will help bounce the notice of our q-drive arrival back into deep space. Find us a large asteroid Lieutenant.” Replied Lionheart.
There was silence on the bridge. This was unheard of by any of the bridge crew. If the exit from q-drive went wrong they would end up a pile of space junk as they hit the asteroid at full speed. The deceleration g-forces were going to be worse than usual that was for sure. Whether the old girl’s superstructure could actually take such forces was completely open to question.
The Captain watching the exchange said, “I believe Lt. Harriet that Lionheart gave you an order.”
“Yes Sir. One moment while I check.” The Lieutenant Replied.
Lt. Harriet began pouring over the instrument panel in front of her before finally replying, “There is a large asteroid right at the edge of the field which should be large enough to mask the bulk of our q-drive exit wave, Sir.”
“Very well Lieutenant, we are all counting on your navigation skills to pull this off. Prepare to exit q-drive in front of the asteroid, leaving us with the absolute minimum distance to come to a complete stop without hitting it.” Lionheart said without hesitation, trusting the Lieutenant implicitly that she could handle the required maneuver.
“Aye, Aye, Sir” replied the Lieutenant while concentrating on the panels.
The next 50 minutes went by in complete silence. No one spoke for fear of disturbing Lt. Harriet and having her make a mistake. The tension in the room was getting worse; several bridge officers were openly sweating. They were cargo ship officers used to plying active trade routes not illicit out of the way, pirate invested territories, not to mention of course down right kamikaze stunts that would probably kill them all.
Almost in a whisper, Lt. Harriet finally spoke, “Two minutes to exit point, Sir.”
Lionheart looked up, glanced at the Captain and double-checked the figures, “Make it two minutes and thirty seconds, Lieutenant”
There were several gasps from around the bridge. They couldn’t believe he was cutting it this close. Lt Harriet, wiped a bead of perspiration of her forehead and nodded, saying “Aye, Aye, Sir”
“This is Lionheart to all crewmembers, we have two minutes to exit of q-drive. All stations report silent running status.”
One by one over the next 45 seconds the different sectors of the ship all reported back. Minimum crew levels, all metal objects secured and dampening fields activated. There was nothing left to do but to wait for Lt. Harriet to do her work.
Before the q-drive field had completely dissolved, Lt. Harriet was applying braking thrusters. It was going to be extremely close. Her numbers said she needed the extra 30 seconds Lionheart refused but she used every trick she could think of. They weren’t going to make it they were still going too fast as the asteroid was very quickly filling the entire view screen.
Lionheart could see he should have trusted the Lieutenant when she said two minutes but he really needed to bounce the q-drive signature back into space. He quickly moved into the second Nav seat and said quietly, “Pull her up Lieutenant. We’re going over the top and pray we don’t find another asteroid just above it. Concentrate on pulling her up, I’ll take the stabilizers.
Lt. Harriet immediately keyed the course change. The ship was starting to groan. She wasn’t used to or built for such high stress maneuvers. Very slowly, almost too slowly the Cargo Charger started to lift her nose. Lionheart had stopped watching the view screen; he was only interested in the stabilizers. There was nothing for the rest of the bridge crew to do but watch. Their fate was in the hands of Lionheart and Lt. Harriet.

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“Well children, I think that is enough for now.” Said Uncle Richard.
“You can’t just stop like that, Uncle. It’s not fair.” Squealed the children on his lap. Richard hadn’t noticed that quite a large crowd and joined them and was sitting all around him listening to the story with awe.
“Please sir, don’t stop just yet.” Said one of the adults in the crowd. The crowd of people all nodded in unison begging him to continue.
Before he had a chance to continue his great great niece arrived. “Children I hope you aren’t wearing out Uncle Richard.”
The children climbed off their Uncles knee and hugged their mother’s legs. “No mom, he was just telling us a story.” As the crowd remained very still hoping that the story would continue.
“Why don’t you sit down and join us? Perhaps the children could sit with you while I tell the tale of the asteroids.” Requested Uncle Richard.
She looked at the children with their angelic pleading faces, and the curious faces of the crowd of listeners, shrugged her shoulders and sat down gathering the children as she did.
“Now then where was I…” murmured Richard.

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