The Honour of the Knights (First Edition) (The Battle for the Solar System)

XVI - A Grand Opportunity

Friday, June 13th 2617

I'm sitting in the rear cargo hold of Griffin, waiting for someone to tell me when I can get my head seen to, get a shower and get some food. We (that's me and the usual guys) are returning to Spirit after a failed operation. It was sprung on us early this morning by Commodore Parks, and together with a bunch of others from the United Naval Forces we engaged Imperial forces in the Aster system. The mission was unsuccessful and we suffered heavy losses, but at least we didn't lose our lives, too; the Imperials retreated when we managed to fight back.

I knocked my head against the canopy whilst in combat and that really hurt, even with the helmet on. I think I blacked out for a bit and I still feel a bit groggy and dizzy. Chaz and Enrique seem to think I'm suffering from a mild concussion, though I'm sure that I wouldn't be able to think straight if I were.

Or at least that is what I'd be writing if I had my journal with me, Kelly thought to herself, waking from her daydream and finding herself sat back on the floor of the rear cargo hold.

* * *

"What's going on?" Enrique asked Dodds as he returned from talking to one of the security team.

"He doesn't know," Dodds said, settling back down on the floor next to the others. "He assumes it's just a result of the damage that Griffin sustained during the battle."

"I've never felt a ship shake like that before."

"It's probably nothing to be concerned about," Estelle muttered. Dodds guessed that since being ordered to remain in the cargo hold, Estelle was feeling as though she had once again been shot down in her prime. With that in mind the others, with the exception of Kelly, were largely ignoring her.

"I just want to get out of here and get a shower," Enrique started again.

"And some food," Dodds added. "I can't believe he wouldn't even let me go out for a pi--"

"Stop moaning you two!" Estelle snapped. "We'll get out of here in good time, so stop your griping. At least there's nothing wrong with you. Oh, how are you feeling, Kelly?"

"Better now. The dizziness has just about cleared," Kelly said, still rubbing the side of her head.

"We'll get you some attention as soon as we get back to Spirit," Estelle said.

"What did you think of those Imperial pilots?" Enrique asked Dodds.

"They were good. I don't think we would have stood much chance without the ATAFs, to tell you the truth." Both men turned to the innocent-looking starfighters that sat along the walls of the cargo bay.

The crew that had helped taxi the craft around and assisted the Knights in departing their fighters were also sitting on the floor, looking bored and frustrated. Some had wandered over to talk to the Knights, but the security team had soon put a stop to their attempt at socialising, fuelling Dodds' suspicions that Parks wished to keep them apart from the rest of the ship.

"You're right there," Enrique said. "If that civil war does boil over and they're all as good as that..."

"No, something wasn't right there. They were too good. You saw what they did to those other fighter pilots. Their reactions were too fast and they were too accurate. They were tearing those guys apart before we arrived."

"Maybe they've all got some kind of computer assistance?" Enrique offered. "Something that was helping them to get the edge?"

Dodds noticed that Chaz's head was tilted in their direction, subtly eavesdropping in on their conversation. "Yeah, something like that."