EPISODE CCXLIX - SMURKY THE CHANGE PURSE RIDES A PONY


"Maneuverability is at optimum, sir", Number Two reported, his knuckles white on the controls.

Reed rode his perch calmly as the Communications Officer righted the ship's erratic movement.  "Excellent Lieutenant", he remarked, surveying the instrumentation, "We're going to need it if we hope to survive."

The young officer hesitated before speaking.  "I don't mean any disrespect, sir", he continued, "but why divert power to the thrusters when we could just shield the entire ship?"

"Tactics, Number Two", Reed countered, turning his veteran eye on the younger officer.  "Ours and theirs.  You see, Wyzenhymers are a devious, yet essentially simple, race."  He began to pace as he explained.  "They will seek out what they presume to be the most vulnerable, yet at the same time, most volatile target."  He scanned the faces on the bridge.  "Can anyone guess what that is?"

Only one crew member was bold enough to hazard a guess, thrusting his hand into the air and waving it in circles.

"Yes, VanTedly", Reed groaned.

"Our...uh...", the junior officer's face skewed with thought.  "What was the question?"  The Commander sighed.  "They will try to strike mid-hull, starboard side, with multiple projectiles, people."

Lt. Scott blanched as the coordinates took on meaning.  "The Power Core", he muttered.

"Exactly, Number Two", Reed concurred.  "Due to it's proximity to the main thrusters, shielding is minimal",

Mr. Schultz agreed.  "It is the weakest point."

"But the temperature alone would be too much for the pilot", Lt. Scott's voice was edged with anxiety, "and any energy burst directed there would be nullified by the nucleic gravitational feedback."

"They won't be shooting at us Lieutenant", Proteau observed from the other side of the bridge, "and they don't need a pilot."

"They'll simply send the Drones in to do the job for them", Reed said, completing the Security Officer's explanation.

Nurse Yahbo had Orwig stabilized despite the assistance of Private Nation.  Though the head injuries were severe, she suspected the young security troop would be up and around in a few days.

"Now to see about your friend", she said, startling Nation out of a light nap.

"What friend?", he asked, wiping sleep from his eyes as he reached for a smoke.

"The injured man in the other room."

Nation stared at her for several seconds, confused.  "Oh, you mean Hillier."

"Yes, I suppose."  Nurse Yahbo was already on the move, gathering some bandages and antiseptic.

Nation followed.  "Don't sweat it.  He just has a flair for the dramatic.  He'll be fine."

"I'll be the judge of that, private", she replied, leaving no room for debate.

Nation shrugged, drawing deeply on his smoke.  "Suit yourself."

He was just about to follow her into the adjacent room when he saw a shrouded humanoid form in hallway, draped in a white medical blanket.  Nation moved toward it, his pulse quickening at the thought of what might lie beneath, or possibly as a result of ingesting the small, purple pill he'd been given by Dr. Egan.  Either way, it was trippy.