working.
8 Engineering is doing what they can, but it's a wonder these ships fly
at all! We need to sit these pods down somewhere and take time to
repair our systems. If we have to make parts from base metals it might
take a couple of years, but these ships NEED to be fully operational."
9 "Well, in order to do that," continued The Voice, "we've got to find
a planet with the base metal we need. If only our navigational
computers had not been damaged in our last major battle! I can't
understand how The Lords could permit us to lose all knowledge of our
former colonies. Somewhere some others must have survived! We CAN'T be
THE ONLY ONES LEFT!"
10 "We've been flying blind for six months, reminded North, "after a
running four month battle you're lucky if ANYTHING is still working!
But considering we were out-numbered three to one, we're lucky that we
destroyed the enemy and even these three ships and pods remain!"
11 The Voice put his hand on North's shoulder. He knew his friend was
still grieving over the loss of his mates and children, when two Godden
ships had broken through their defense line and reached the passenger
pods, destroying one after another before The Morning Star vaporized
them. The whole Fleet had been struck with grief.
12 The Republic's Forces never fired on pods, but The Goddens
mercilessly vaporized every pod, and, colony they found. They had not
taken prisoners for thousands of years, nor did they surrender. Again
and again they had blown up their own pods and stations, rather than
allow them to be captured. Their battle tactics had become total
devastation to the point of insanity.
13 Most of the men had taken new mates among the widows, but North
spent most of his free time in his cabin, alone. He was young, The
Voice realized, like