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<font size=7>GRID Traveler: Alien Shores</font size><br>
WGA registered<br>
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'''GRID Traveler: Alien Shores''' is the second in a three-part story of Sean Blakemore, Commander of the GRID Battlecruiser Reginald L Johnson. In this installment, Loggar sends Sean a secret message that alerts Sean to the possibility of a spy within GRID Command. Someone is vying for a position of power and trying to control the Necronian nanotechnology. Robin has been dispatched to retrieve all technology and information on Necronian tech. The evitable showdown deals death on both sides.<br>
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'''Principal Characters''' –<br>
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'''Sean Blakemore:''' In his mid-40s, Sean, now promoted to Captain, has been deemed as the most successful commander in the GRID fleet. He is admired by most of his crew and is very loyal in return. He’s fairly tall, light brown skin with a mixed racial heritage. His DNA is Necronian enough to activate rooms and Necronian machinery. Adruqu has allowed him to use Necronian magick at will.<br>
'''Kathy Loggar:''' Kathy, mid-40s, is an average looking woman with deep Indian ancestry. She holds several Ph.Ds. in various disciplines and is the leader of The Most High Goddess. The Most High is a semi-secret wiccan based organization that has vast control over many aspects of GRID, Earth, and Colonial proper. She and Sean are lovers.<br>
'''Karen Collins:''' Karen is the Johnson’s Chief Medical Officer. Unbeknownst to her, she is looked at as the Johnson’s Goddess. Her red hair compliments her green eyes. She has a racial diversified background  <br>
'''Dawn Dretha:''' Dawn is the Johnson’s Executive Officer and second in command. She and Sean have commanded the Johnson through many missions and have a bit of romantic history. Both agreed being friends was better. She is fair. As one crewman put it, “Follow her orders she is sweet as candy. Do her wrong you’ll be spitting vinegar forever.”<br>
'''Adruqu:''' Adruqu, who looks to be in her 30s, is over 100,000 years old and is the ancestor to Sean. She has been waiting for Sean to discover the hidden chamber and release her from slumber. She will teach Sean and the others “magick” to fight Agegi and his minions in an epic showdown. <br>
'''Milkens:''' Herb’s best friend is a technological introverted genius. He discovers the means of activating the different Necronian technology by faking Sean’s DNA.<br>
'''Herb:''' The “leader” of the Milken/Herb duo. He’s verbose, hates Randals, and is highly intelligent. He wears his jumpsuit one size too small.<br>
'''Reginald L. Johnson:''' The GRID Battlecruiser Reginal L. Johnson is a semi-aware driven craft. It is a 173-year-old vessel. During the SI wars, most of the RJL class ships were compromised. As a result, the AI feature of the Johnson has been toggled off. Only during extreme no-win scenarios or when the crew is tranquilized during long jumps is the Johnson’s AI awareness toggled on.<br>
'''Kirkland:''' Kirkland is the Johnson’s Chief Communication’s Officer. He is also the ships pool overseer. If there is anything to place a bet on Kirkland is the one to see.<br>
'''Cookie:''' The ship’s Enlisted personnel cook. He oversees the NCO and Enlisted Mess facilities. Cookie is also the ship’s informal psychiatrist. Sean frequents “Starboard’s Bow” with the pretense to mingle with Crew. The real excuse is that Sean thinks the Officer’s Head cook sucks. He much prefers Cookie’s food. <br>
'''Nikki Quock:''' Nikki is the Johnson’s Chief Security Officer. Sean made her his CSO when he witnessed how she cucked a bully twice her size. Years later, the bully, Tom, joined GRID Command. Nikki and Tom plan on getting married in a few years.<br>
'''Foster:'''  Foster is the Johnson’s Chief Pilot. <br>
'''Maria:''' <br>
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'''ACT 3:''' Robin kills Loggar. In a moment of intense sorrow and anger, Sean’s nanytes activate. He defends himself and in the end Kills Robin. Adruqu appears and tells Sean he can bring Robin and Loggar back to life using his awakened powers.<br>
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'''ACT 1:'''  Kathy sends Sean a cryptic message. From a VID call, Loggar tells Sean he should have received the message hours ago. Concerned she tells Sean it’s probably nothing to worry about and that GRID Control has okayed the Johnson’s mission plan. Sean would be picking her up from Necron.<br>
'''ACT 2:''' The Johnson was able to arrive ahead of the Webster. Enroute, the Shuttlecraft meets with the Johnson escort fighters. Robin demands that Sean hand over all materials from the planet. Sean says no and overtaxes the Shuttle engines. Two of the fighter ships tracker beam the Shuttle into the Johnson’s cargo bay too fast. <br>
'''ACT 3:''' Sean and the others are cornered. While Enroute to pick up Dr. Loggar, Robin accidentally triggered her nanytes on by thinking intense negative feelings toward Sean. During a surprised attack, Robin chases Sean and Loggar into a dead end. She kills Loggar. In Sean’s sorrow, grief, and anger his nanytes activate. He kills Robin but mourns her death. Adruqu appears and is touched by Sean’s loss and sorrow. She tells him and can bring both back. In the process, Sean faints, but his nanytes have been permanently activated.<br>
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'''Synopsis'''<br>
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Sean sat at his usual table in Starboard’s Bow, the Enlisted Officer’s mess hall. He was enjoying Bow’s head cook’s, Cookie, latest Skilly. Sean contemplates replacing the Officer’s head cook with Cookie but realizes the crew would riot if he did. In GRID Command, only officers may cook for officers. Sean remembers a conversation he had with his First Officer, Dawn. She told him that the crew thought he was wipe and that Dr. Kathy Loggar had control of his little head. Sean laughs at the thought, in which the main computer registers Sean’s laughter and a crew member won a pool. Kirkland has dozens of varied pools running.<br>
As Sean is finishing his Skilly he is called to Top Deck, the Johnson’s main bridge. The broadcast says, “Captain to Top Deck, emergency message from GRID control. Decryption is imminent.” Sean drains the bowl and thanks Cookie for a great meal as he rushes to Top Deck. Cookie, pleased, hums “The Saucy Sailor Boy” to himself.<br>
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Sean enters Top Deck and pauses. He listens to chatter of beeps, hushed talk, keyboard clicking, the background hum and smiles to himself. This is the sound that never gets old to him. Dawn tells him that the message is about 93% decoded. She tells him it is from Dr. Loggar. Sean frowns. He remembers he talked to her a few hours ago. Kirkland says, “Captain, Dr. Loggar on channel six. Standard encryption.” Sean takes the call in his conference room.<br>
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Loggar and Sean talk. She asks about the “gift” she sent. Sean tells her he hadn’t opened it yet, but he just got it. She seems concerned. She says she sent it hours ago. She also tells him his new orders from GRID Control is to pick her up. Sean smiles. They further chat and then end the call with Loggar kissing the screen and Sean touching the side of his screen. He steps back onto Top Deck. Dawn hands him the new orders. She says the trip will take 24 hours and that the Webster will get there 8 hours before the Johnson. Sean realizes this is serious. Something is wrong. There has to be some sort of power play within GRID Control. Sean ask what would it take to get there in 12 hours. Dawn smiles and says running the engines hot at one-one-zero percent, bypassing some GRID points and making several scary long jumps will do it.<br>
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Sean sits in his chair and makes a call to his Chief Engineer. “Pulse” had gotten the word earlier and said the Johnson was ready. He was happy to see some action and that Sean was promoted to Captain. <br>
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Dr. Karen Collins, the Chief Medical Officer, had received word earlier about running hot. War jumps were never good. She called her entire staff to duty.<br>
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Sean tapped out the intercom command on his CRT (Command Response Terminal). “All hands, this is the Captain. Prepare for War Jump, prepare for War jump. All personnel not called to duty station stay in quarters and Trank deeply. This is not a drill. Johnson will be driving for twelve hours. I repeat the Johnson will be running hot. One bell to jump. Captain out.” Sean sent a message to Loggar. He sent a message to GRID Control saying the Johnson will be there in 24 hours.<br>
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Top was abuzz of activity. After a minute, Sean tapped out the awake code for the Johnson. <br>
“Johnson, do you hear me?” A male voice answered. “Yes, Captain Blakemore, I do.”<br>
Sean asks, “You know what we are about to do?” The Johnson’s response, “Yes, Captain, I do. We are going to do a War jump for twelve hours, seven minutes and 36 seconds.”<br>
“You have any questions?” The Johnson replies, “No Captain. I understand what I am supposed to do. War jump will start in twenty seconds.”
Sean takes out a hypo-spray from his shirt pocket. “Very good Johnson, you are a good ship.” He presses the head to his deltoid muscle and feels the rush of meds. He taps on his CRT. “All hands, all hands. Ten seconds to jump. Repeat, ten seconds to jump. Johnson is aware and in control. Trank up now, Captain out.” He looks over to Dawn. “Just like old times, huh?”<br>
Dawn places her spent hypo in her shirt pocket. “Yeah, old-times. Did I ever tell you I hated War jumps?”<br>
Sean replies, “Did I ever disagree with you?”<br>
And the Long jump began. Sean winked out of consciousness and dreamt – nothing.<br>
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Robin, on the Webster, sits in her command chair sipping tea. She plays the events in her head the last time she was on Necron. The more she thinks the angrier she gets. It bugs her that GRID promoted Sean to Captain, retroactively, to be her senior. Suddenly, she hears a pop. The cup disappears. The bridge crew turn to her. She says, “all is well.” She realizes her nanytes are active. She can do magick. She calls to her Pilot, Mr. Hansel. “Prepare for War jump.” He says, “Yes, ma’am.” Robin taps at her CRT. “All hands, all hands, this is the Captain. Prepare for War jump. Ten minutes. Ten minutes mark!” She taps at the screen again. “Engineering?” A voice says, “Yes, Captain?” Robin says, “You heard? Make it so. Ten minutes.” The reply is “Yes, ma’am. Ten minutes.”<br>
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Sean’s vision blurred. He was slowly coming out of Trank. His temples throbbed but he wasn’t in pain – too used to War jumps he supposed. He fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a hypo of STIM – it was a stimulant and pain response blocker. He pressed the hypo against his arm and felt a cold-rushed-jolt hit him. His eyes snapped wide open and his vision was crystal clear. For ten seconds he could read the small text on the Nav-console, twenty feet away. STIM gave him 20/5 vision for a brief burst. He looked around and saw Top Deck coming to from the walking dead. Zombie like movements were replaced by the eye snap open wide reaction from STIM. He tapped on his CRT. “Johnson, do you hear me?”<br>
The deep voice replied, “Yes, Captain Blakemore, how are you feeling?”<br>
Since the Johnson responded with a question all was well. Had the Johnson been in trouble it would have immediately replied with a status report.<br>
“I’m fine, thanks.” Sean had to reply in an exact word code. “The Jump went well?”<br>
“Yes it did,” Johnson said, “while en route I realized I could save us some time. Mr. Landtrap has done a wonderful job in maintaining my engines. I was able to push them at 120% with no danger to crew or mission. We are two hours ahead of schedule.”<br>
Sean smiled. “Has Necron noticed our arrival?”<br>
“Not that I am aware of. Comm. channels are silent and I am running in external stealth mode.”<br>
“You’re a good ship Johnson. Back to normal mode.”<br>
“Yes, Captain. Returning to normal mode.”<br>
Sean tapped out a command from the keyboard and touched his CRT. All lights inside Johnson switched from the normal bright yellow-white fluorescent to an amber glow. The ship was officially on stealth mode.<br>
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Sean and his Command staff are sitting around a conference table. Earlier, Kirkland intercepted an encrypted message from the planet surface aimed at Earth proper. Sean said, “We have a situation. There is a spy on Necron. On our last mission to Necron things . . . happened. Commander Dawn agrees I need to bring everyone up to speed.” Everyone nods. Sean says, “Computer, play Most High Goddess one, please.”<br>
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The AV played:<br>
“The Most High Goddess was an organization that briefly had political influence in the then state of California on the planet Earth during the first quarter of the twenty-first century.  Toward the middle half of the century the Most High, as it was popularly called, gained political power.  Most High controlled most of the Americas, the western hemisphere of the planet Earth.  Even though the South Americas had mainly been stapled on Catholicism it still retained, underground and behind closed doors, a communistic culture steeped in some paganism.  Ironically, Wicca was mainly a European product, but the Latin continent embraced Wicca and Paganism as a natural extension of the homegrown consolidated Catholicism.  During official and highly visible celebration the usual parade of worshiped saints and idols made the rounds.  But in the afterhours of normal life the real zealous forms of worship took place.  Wicca was among the most popular – not in European style, but Wicca nonetheless.” Then the screen flashed to Sean and Loggar and the others awakening Agegi. They watched as Agegi grasped Randals’ head and turned him into his minion. Then it flashed to Sean, Kurp, Milkens, Loggar, Herb and Adruqu fighting Agegi and the Ancient ones. <br>
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After the video ended, Nikki asks, you can do all that. Sean nods and says, “Only on Necron and GRID Control only knows a third of what you just watched. So, I ask you all to think about what you saw, but keep the scuttle to a minimum. Every dismissed but Ms. Quock and Dr. Collins.”<br>
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After everyone walks out Sean says, “Computer, play Loggar message 78.” Loggar appears on the main conference VID. “Sean, my files have been compromised. We should be getting this AV at the same time. Now that we know that my computer system has been broken into, we have to act quickly. Hopefully, you are on your way here. Once I receive this message I’ll request you pick me up. I’ll tell GRID Control that I need to get back to Earth. These are times too fantastic to tell you. I’ll have to show you.” <br>
The AV flashes off. <br>
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Quock asks how powerful The Most High is. Sean says it is seemingly very powerful. He admits he never heard of them until after he met Loggar. He says, “I had some bitterness with them, but I’ve worked through my duhka and moved on. Ms. Quock, you and Pulse are not members . . .” She nods understanding what he means. He continues, “Up until six months ago I was not a member. I am still a follower of Buddha-Dharma. Remember that. As far as I am concerned you need never join. You will be privy to any and all information. Period.” Quock thanks him. She and Collins walk out. and leaves. Sean thinks for a moment. He gets up and walks out of the conference room. He walks to this command chair and sits. Tapping at his CRT the lights return to normal. He turns to Kr Kirkland, “Mr. Kirkland, get me Necron base, please. They are expecting a call.”<br>
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Loggar, Kurp, Milkens, and Herb wait outside next to a Landing pad. Moments later they hear a double sonic boom and the Shuttlecraft dead sticks to about a kilometer. Sean stands the Shuttle of its rear. He turns the engines on a few hundred feet from the landing pad and gentle lowers the nose for a perfect landing. Sean, Collins, and Quock step out. Quock and Collins are laughing. Sean introduces everyone and Loggar give him a big hug. She tells Collins Sean terrified her the first time she flew with him. Sean looks at Herb and compliments him. He lost fifty pounds. Loggar tells Sean that the Webster has been order to pick them up. Sean nods and says, “one hour to load up your stuff then.”<br>
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Sean took out his CSD. The tiny screen flicks on. He types in a code and Dawn’s face appear. Dawn tells Sean the Webster entered normal space and is about four-zero minutes away. She tells him the fighter ships will meet them. Sean nods and says they’ll be there in three-zero minutes. He is going to run the shuttle hot.” Sean walks back to the shuttle and he can’t believe his eyes. The Shuttle is stuffed with equipment, books, and boxes. He says, “Um, Kathy, you really need all this stuff?” She answers, “You only gave us an hour!” Sean sighs, “Okay, pile in.” Once in Sean pushes the Shuttle full power. The craft slowly rises. Sean sets the power output to 110%. The Shuttle leaps forward and pushes through the atmosphere.<br>
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Molino, the Head Fighter Pilot, calls Sean for the “radio.” “Captain we see you and will be there in ten minutes. Quote checks the instruments. She says that Webster launched fights and they’ll be there in six. Molino says the fighters will be running hot. Sean pushes the Shuttle engines to One-four-zero percent.<br>
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The Webster fighter group tells the Shuttle to stand down and be tracker beamed to the Webster. Sean says no and if they turn around he’ll forget that a senior Captain has been threatened. Molino, on full broadcast, tells the Webster fighter leader to back off at which time they reach the Shuttle and form a “wall” between the Shuttle and the Webster Fighter group. Dawn breaks in and tells Sean the landing bay is open and ready to receive the Shuttle at light-two. Collins exclaims, “Good Goddess!” The Webster Fighter leaders broadcast, “Stand down or we will engage.” Milino toggles to fighter-to-fighter and tells two fighter crafts to tracker beam the Shuttle, her engines are about to blow. He then toggles to full broadcast and announces, “Johnson, engagement is imminent. Repeat engage is imminent. Make the Johnson proud!”<br>
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Robin is on the command deck on the Webster. She is listening to the exchange and before she has time to react the Johnson Fighters use retro rockets, falls behind the Webster Fighter group and destroys them. The entire Webster Command deck is stunned and silent. Robin then watches the Shuttle with two fighters towing it enter the Johnson cargo bay too fast. <br>
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He felt a pressure on his head from all sides. His vision tunneled into a narrow point of light and it felt as if his heart stopped. He couldn’t breath and he heard this deep tune in both ears. The shuttle passed through the stasis field, the first field of a hundred that was used to stop runaway crafts. The Johnson used this maneuver dozens of times and everyone walked anyway fit. This was the first time it was used in terrifying speeds passed light one, but lately things seemed to be a first anyway. Everything seemed to have stopped, indeed it had. The stasis field placed all atoms in an almost zero state of motion. The ninety-nine other fields were used to siphon off the inertia and potential kinetic energy from forward velocity. All crafts made a complete stop by the last five fields. The pressure from Sean’s head lifted, his vision returned and he could breathe again.<br>
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Sean steps out on to Top desk.<br>
“Dawn, the fighters aboard, yet? The scout ships?”<br>
“Last one hit landing bay. All is secure.”<br>
He nodded and said loudly, “I have the conn.”<br>
Dawn nodded, “Very good, sir. You have the conn.”<br>
The ship shook violently.<br>
Sean said, “Mr. Foster, for each impact, you owe me a credit.”<br>
Foster said, “Aye, Sir” and was damned determined to pay the Captain as little as possible.<br>
Sean tapped at his keyboard. “Pulse, I’m gonna need one-three-zero percent.”<br>
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Pulse was at his desk when the Captain piped in with the request. He shook his head and thought, ‘What a mad man.’ And chuckled softly. He punched the Comm. Button. “Captain, I’ll give you what I can, that last pass took out some packs. We had to shut down several decks.”
Sean’s voice came through the speakers. “One-three-zero, Pulse. It’s not a suggestion. The Webster is not going to let us walk away from this.”<br>
Pulse frowned, but nodded. “Yes, Captain. Engineering out.” He clicked off. “Hey!” He yelled. “Shithe! Give me one three zero percentage on the engines. No back talk. The Captain is gonna try one of those impossible maneuvers that made him famous! Ten seconds Man, ten seconds!”<br>
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The Johnson shook from an impact.<br>
Sean said, “Two credits, Mr. Foster!” He closed his eyes and listened to Top Deck chatter. It was a splendid thing. The Johnson was running like a fine tuned instrument soloing for all it was worth. He moved his head to tactical. The weapon’s chief, Mr. Kelley, had just instructed Weapon’s control to target the Webster’s Main weapons. He heard him say, ‘The Captain is going to do it. Be ready.’ Sean turned his head slightly right and heard Kirkland on the Comm. Channels. He was instructing Damage Control to prepare for situations on aft and bottom decks. Sean turned his head to the left. He heard a whisper from two crewman, ‘Cap’n’s gonna do it. Bet the bitch gets surprised.’ Then he heard Dawn. ‘Medical, prepare for possible incoming. This is make or break.’ Sean opened his eyes and smiled. He loved his crew. He could wish for none finer. He looked over to Loggar. She was in the Observer’s chair watching him. He winked at her and turned his attention to the main view screen. “Mr. Foster.”<br>
“Yes, Sir?”<br>
The ship shook from a phase torpedo impact.<br>
“Three credits. How far is the Webster?”<br>
Foster tapped out a command on his terminal. “Webster is one-zero-zero kilometers, mean distance.”<br>
Sean tapped on his keyboard. Calculations streamed on his CRT. He punched in a few more commands. Nodded at the results. “Mr. Foster, change shield harmonics. Data is on your CRT.<br>
Mr. Foster tapped at his CRT. “Changing shield harmonics to 1.23 attoseconds.”<br>
“On my mark, let the Webster close to within five-nine kilometers and decrease shields to one-third power to radius 5.8.”<br>
The Johnson shook again.<br>
“Sir, four credits, on your mark let the Webster close to within five-nine kilometers and decrease shields to one-third power then increase shield diameter to radius 5.8, understood.”<br>
“Once shields surround both ships, pivot and come about across the Webster’s forward weather deck and surge to light seven.”<br>
Foster repeated the command.<br>
Sean saw an incoming message on his CRT. It was an urgent ship to ship from the Webster. The message read, “Sean, please stop. We don’t have to fight. You are leaving me no choice.” He typed in a reply and sent it.<br>
Sean called out to Gunnery, “Gunnery! Stern guns, fire!”<br>
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Robin sent her message and waited a few seconds. She knew Sean well enough that he wouldn’t surrender. She had to try; she owed that much to him. Then a reply came back. It read, “Sorry, Robin, you also leave me with no choice. Remember the Way of the Warrior – Bushido.” She looked up to see the Johnson’s stern guns open up with full force. Her helmsperson said, “Shields at eight-seven percent, Captain! Johnson is pivoting and distance dropped to five-eight point seven kilometers.”<br>
Even as Robin shouted out the words she knew it was pointless. “Increase distance and shields!”<br>
<br>
The Johnson accelerated across the Webster’s forward weather deck electrostatically snatching the Webster’s shield emitters. Nearly every emitter from bow top to stern port and starboard gone. Then the Johnson banked hard starboard and fired hull guns on the Webster’s weapons. After it passed the Johnson pivoted rear and took out Webster’s main engines – crippling the ship. The Johnson pivoted forward and streaked off leaving the Webster near dead in space.<br>
Sean sat back and watched the Webster list. He checked his Inbox and saw a message from Robin. He clicked on it and read it. “Damn you! Damn you to hell!” He laughed – the Captain’s burst. “Mr. Foster, get us away from here. Random setting.”<br>
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