Alpha One - Chris Burton [91]
The Top Gun supreme was in his element. They were at the business end of the tournament and he already looked closely at the remaining competitors, two of which represented the Academy in the Alpha-wide Top Gun tournament. Today’s events would start with a time trial from Earth to Jupiter and back. The distances involved, given the increase in power of the Rapier over the Hunter meant the intermix calculations would have to be precise to ensure the optimum balance between the two drive systems involved. The stellar drive must be engaged at exactly the right point and only the most technically-astute candidates would ensure both the timing and the mix was correct. The candidates would fly in two batches, with those placed in thirteenth to twenty-forth place going first.
Jake and Steve watched as the first batch of Rapiers lifted off from the space port and accelerated briskly to clear Earth’s defense shields. Steve was in his element. This is what he lived to do and he had the lead again. He didn’t intend to let Jake have it back. He knew his friend wanted it too, but his career was mapped out in a different direction. Steve always wanted to be a jump pilot, to emulate and surpass his father’s tragically short jump ship career and to be the best. He had no real ambition beyond this. He didn’t particularly aspire to make squadron leader or group commander. Those things would come as a bonus in time, but were not what motivated him to succeed.
To win the outright Top Gun competition would be the icing on the cake, a recognition of his ability, and nothing would stop him from achieving this. That he and Carla no longer dated supported this assertion. He came to terms with their split and wasn’t surprised when Carla told him a few days earlier that their split was permanent.
She wanted to concentrate on her studies and her career, and that it was better for both of them. She was right and he could concentrate on his career.
Steve tried to put Carla to the back of his mind and the Top Gun tournament was currently the best excuse he had. The reality was different. He was devastated to think he might have lost Carla for good.
The two friends joined the other candidates in the café adjoining the Academy hangar and waited patiently for the jump ships to return, to be made ready for their turn.
Jake’s usual enthusiasm for the Top Gun event was muted. He desperately wanted to see Carla before she went to Australia for Christmas and the Top Gun got in the way. He was assured of a place in the final twelve and the event, despite the more varied agenda on this occasion, didn’t exactly inspire him.
The twelve jump ships were ready, following a fast turnaround, after returning from their original sorties. Jake was allocated a vessel at the back of the hangar, meaning he would have to wait to launch. The first Rapiers cleared the hangar. He watched as Steve Costello maneuvered his jump ship out onto the nearest jump ship bay, launching immediately. Momentarily, Jake taxied forward. Within a matter of minutes he was in flight and en route to the scheduled event start point. Jake’s competitive nature took over again as he pulled onto the starting grid. All the Rapiers were level and awaited the start of the race.
The Rapiers surged forward on what, in relative terms, was a sprint. The ships fastest off the line accelerated to pre-stellar velocity, but the early leaders were not likely winners of the race. Their high velocity at launch meant it was likely they miscalculated their intermix calculations and the acceleration to light speed would be compromised. As the jump ships made ready for their first turn, Steve, who engaged his Stellar drive last, was leading. Jake was third, behind their greatest rival, Enson Hilliard, a hybrid Human-Vanarian, which made for a slightly unusual look, with his angular facial features with small green, almost feline eyes. This didn’t affect either his athletic prowess