hours, then went to get some sleep. He found many
of the crew that was off duty hanging around in the ship's null gravity
shaft. "It's dangerous," he reminded them, "to stay in here for long
periods then return to excessive gravity."
82 The crewmen nodded and returned to their quarters. North called sick
bay and asked the Doctor to have someone check the shafts every hour or
so. "Hadn't thought of that!" admitted the Doctor, "I'll see to it!"
83 North went to his cabin adjusting his bed so he would be more
comfortable, and found that sleep came rather easily. He slept late,
rose, thought about a shower, but then thought better of it. He got
dressed, took care of the other necessities, and went up to the command
deck. They were just about ready for the first leap.
84 "Bring her down to standard speed," ordered North. Helm
gratefully obliged.
85 Approaching leap point," Helm acknowledged. "On line; crystal is in
the chamber ready for injection."
86 "Commence countdown at five," ordered North.
87 "Five seconds until leap!" acknowledged Helm. A bell began to ring
throughout the ship and the crew prepared themselves. Though Fleet
discouraged it, some took a capsule that knocked them out for five
seconds, others simply tried to relax and let it pass. "Four, three,
two, one! INJECTION!"
88 As the leap crystal was injected into the ship's star drive engine,
it began to burn. Instantaneously a golden shimmer appeared about the
vessel and it winked out of existence. One-hundred-thousandth of a
second later the golden shimmer appeared in a far-away system and the
ship and everyone on it winked back into existence. North fought to
clear his head.
89 "Right on line, sir!" announced Navigation. "Not a tenth of a degree
off! Good leap!"
90 "Line up for the next one," ordered North, "push