he thought to the ship one last time, "Good-bye
old friend."
42 "Good bye my friend," the ship responded.
43 North shut the door and the system automatically engaged. Aboard The
Son's Pride Morn waited by the transport tubes. "Something must've gone
wrong," worried an Officer near him. "He's taking too damned long....
Maybe a sudden gas leak? Request permission to don a breather and go
over."
44 "Negative," Morn responded. "Firing Control," he spoke into his com,
"What's our status?"
45 "I wouldn't want to hang around here much longer," Firing Control
warned. "That engine is getting hotter by the second. We're within the
reaction field. We'd better get out of here pretty soon, sir."
46 Morn looked at the transport tube once more. A shimmering form began
to appear. In an instant it solidified into North's familiar shape.
"Helm!" cried Morn, "We've got him! Hit it!"
47 The Son's Pride's engines put on thrust and they quickly moved a
safe distance away. Then they stopped, pointed their bow at the
stricken vessel, and matched their speed as she continued to move out
of system. Almost as this maneuver was accomplished, Morn and North
entered the command deck.
48 The Firing Control Officer looked up at Morn with a worried expression. "She's not going to go clean," he warned.
"The explosion will shatter the ship, but a good many hot fragments
will survive. They'll be scattered all over the system."
49 Morn looked at North as if asking for help out of a bad situation.
"She knew it herself," North commented. "She told me to make sure she
was clean. Firing Control," North continued, "may I have your position?"
50 The Officer looked at Morn who gave a nod in answer. The Officer
vacated his seat, and North took it.