Alpha One - Chris Burton [32]
This time Jake got it spot on. He was ahead at launch, at the jump and at deceleration and managed to beat Steve to the launch pad by a whole five seconds. As a result, Jake jumped to second behind Steve in the overall trial timings.
Maria and Carla didn’t have a good day, with Maria finishing the day in 22nd place and Carla in 46th place. Carla remained in the competition, but only just. Twelve candidates were eliminated including both those involved in the collision.
The first trials day ended and the students returned to their homes to enjoy what little remained of their weekend. Jake, Maria, Steve and Carla all met up briefly for a drink before agreeing to call it a day. A new week loomed, and it was back to studies in earnest tomorrow.
While Jake and Maria walked back to their respective apartments together, Steve and Carla hung around for Steve to speak to the flight instructor team. He wanted to ensure his suspended status was lifted for his academic flying and not just for the Top Gun Trials. It turned out to be just a formality, with both Sabre and Rapier flying scheduled for the following week, Steve just wanted to be certain everything was okay. The Academy organizers were relieved the trials were a success and this year’s candidates looked quite good. The next Trial would follow in six weeks, when a further twelve candidates would be eliminated.
Steve and Jake were where they wanted to be, heading the trials list and fully intent on keeping it that way. Neither of them would give up their ticket to Titus 3 without a fight.
Chapter Sixteen
A New Ship
Alpha Five was the nearest star base to the Sun and one of the busiest. Venus became a populous planet in recent years, following advancements made in Beta Formatting. Commercially, Venus was the second-largest trading partner of the Earth Colonies.
Jonathan Hoskins arrived on Venus, five days prior to his new ship’s commission date, largely because life at home was slightly less ‘homely’ than he anticipated. His wife found out about Obeya through the same channels Admiral Martin had. She greeted Hoskins at the door and then slammed it in his face. Two hours later, she finally allowed him into the house where she shouted at him for a further hour. Eventually Hoskins gave up and spent the night in a local hotel.
He finally admitted to the affair two days later, but by then his wife had placed a local restraining order on him. Without either grounds or time to challenge this, he elected to take an earlier shuttle to Alpha Five, where he commenced his pre-commission work in peace.
He didn’t blame his wife’s response. He hardly saw her in the last eighteen months. While she sat at home patiently waiting for him, he was ‘racing about the galaxy screwing everything in sight.’ Hoskins did, however, feel guilty. He loved his wife, but he loved Obeya too. This was going to be difficult, and he needed to clear his head before he tried to speak to his wife again.
On the 30th of September, the new Halo 7, was commissioned, with Jonathan Hoskins as its inaugural Commander. The Halo was a striking vessel: larger than the Aurora 5, and clearly brand new. Her striking, unblemished outer hull looked as white as newly-fallen star. Sleek and powerful, she gave the impression of a larger and much more important ship. The Duke Class vessels, of which the Halo 7 was the fifteenth, were engineered and brought into service six