seem to remember that you were out gallivanting every night, quite often with a different woman to wake up to the next morning. Be honest, how much of this is you responding because you feel you have to, rather than outright jealousy. You didn’t love her. She was just a convenience.”
“Don’t try and turn this round on me!”
“Why not? Neither Carla nor I are to blame for the end of your relationship. You did that yourself. You treated her badly, you were unfaithful, and you were bloody rude to her most of the time.”
“No, I loved her! Maybe not in a conventional way. That’s just me. She accepted me for it to begin with, but now for some reason she doesn’t.”
“That’s because you have gone off the rails. You need to pull yourself together and fast. This is all going to be a bit academic soon anyway. In a few weeks, we could be in different parts of the galaxy. You are not going to be interested in a long term, distance relationship. Not when you’ll have the pick of the female jump pilots.”
“You will not be with her either.”
“No, probably not. I do love her and I will stay with her, no matter how far distant our lives take us.”
“How does Carla feel about this?”
“She feels the same way. We are going to stay together.”
“And me?”
Jake could tell that Steve was taking a more conciliatory tone. He gave up the fight...for now at least.
“You will remain good friends with both of us, across galaxies if we have to. If you want to that is?”
“I don’t really want to talk about it anymore. It all feels a little too fresh. I guess in time...”
Suddenly, bright light lit up the cockpit simulator as the door opened and a technician poked his head through the doorway. “I trust you guys are still okay in here!”
“Yes,” said Jake. “I think we probably are now.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Searching for the Kryl Ship
Jonathan Hoskins spent a passionate night with Lieutenant Obeya Temsouri. She left early to start her CAG shift and he stayed in bed until 8:00 a.m. to catch up on some much needed sleep.
The pre-recorded comm. link message from his wife was brief, but had made him leap out of bed with concern, when he heard it. His son had been admitted to the medical facility for tests. The tests were inconclusive and they returned home, but the medics were concerned enough to request they attend again next week to meet with a specialist.
He knew he should have been with his son and be supportive to his wife. But he could not contact her, at least not until he reached communicable range with a sub-station. The thing that bothered him the most was his near total disrespect for his wife, his marriage and his child, with whom he had spent so little time. He spent the night, once again making love to his mistress.
But this is the life I’ve chosen. As much as I want to be, we are ordered to pursue the Kryl ship. This is war and I am not allowed home. Not now.
And that damn Kryl ship has disappeared.
He had to find time to get a message to his wife, to find out about his son.
This is my ship, dammit and it’s about time I put my interests and not the ships first.
Commander Shen Knui joined Hoskins in his ready room, ten minutes later.
“Jonathan. We are two days short of the Tri-star System at current velocity and there is no sign of the Kryl ship. I suggest that we give up our search and increase our speed. We can be with the fleet, within a matter of hours if we increase to SD6.”
“Agreed. Make it so. I shall be putting in a request for emergency personal leave to return to Alpha One. I believe I can leave the ship in your capable hands for a few weeks?”
Shen Knui expressed surprise. “Anything I should know about? It must be serious. Even with a fast shuttle, it will take six or seven weeks there and back. I would think it unlikely that Admiral Shenke will grant personal leave unless it is absolutely necessary.”
“It’s none of your damned business and yes,
“Don’t try and turn this round on me!”
“Why not? Neither Carla nor I are to blame for the end of your relationship. You did that yourself. You treated her badly, you were unfaithful, and you were bloody rude to her most of the time.”
“No, I loved her! Maybe not in a conventional way. That’s just me. She accepted me for it to begin with, but now for some reason she doesn’t.”
“That’s because you have gone off the rails. You need to pull yourself together and fast. This is all going to be a bit academic soon anyway. In a few weeks, we could be in different parts of the galaxy. You are not going to be interested in a long term, distance relationship. Not when you’ll have the pick of the female jump pilots.”
“You will not be with her either.”
“No, probably not. I do love her and I will stay with her, no matter how far distant our lives take us.”
“How does Carla feel about this?”
“She feels the same way. We are going to stay together.”
“And me?”
Jake could tell that Steve was taking a more conciliatory tone. He gave up the fight...for now at least.
“You will remain good friends with both of us, across galaxies if we have to. If you want to that is?”
“I don’t really want to talk about it anymore. It all feels a little too fresh. I guess in time...”
Suddenly, bright light lit up the cockpit simulator as the door opened and a technician poked his head through the doorway. “I trust you guys are still okay in here!”
“Yes,” said Jake. “I think we probably are now.”
Chapter Twenty-One
Searching for the Kryl Ship
Jonathan Hoskins spent a passionate night with Lieutenant Obeya Temsouri. She left early to start her CAG shift and he stayed in bed until 8:00 a.m. to catch up on some much needed sleep.
The pre-recorded comm. link message from his wife was brief, but had made him leap out of bed with concern, when he heard it. His son had been admitted to the medical facility for tests. The tests were inconclusive and they returned home, but the medics were concerned enough to request they attend again next week to meet with a specialist.
He knew he should have been with his son and be supportive to his wife. But he could not contact her, at least not until he reached communicable range with a sub-station. The thing that bothered him the most was his near total disrespect for his wife, his marriage and his child, with whom he had spent so little time. He spent the night, once again making love to his mistress.
But this is the life I’ve chosen. As much as I want to be, we are ordered to pursue the Kryl ship. This is war and I am not allowed home. Not now.
And that damn Kryl ship has disappeared.
He had to find time to get a message to his wife, to find out about his son.
This is my ship, dammit and it’s about time I put my interests and not the ships first.
Commander Shen Knui joined Hoskins in his ready room, ten minutes later.
“Jonathan. We are two days short of the Tri-star System at current velocity and there is no sign of the Kryl ship. I suggest that we give up our search and increase our speed. We can be with the fleet, within a matter of hours if we increase to SD6.”
“Agreed. Make it so. I shall be putting in a request for emergency personal leave to return to Alpha One. I believe I can leave the ship in your capable hands for a few weeks?”
Shen Knui expressed surprise. “Anything I should know about? It must be serious. Even with a fast shuttle, it will take six or seven weeks there and back. I would think it unlikely that Admiral Shenke will grant personal leave unless it is absolutely necessary.”
“It’s none of your damned business and yes,
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