Read Lens of Time for Free Online

to see it and Captain Barber is probably right. Mikal should be in a major leadership position.”
    Kenny smiled, “It’s good to have you back, Sir, and if I might add, you look smaller than the last time I saw you. Have you been exercising?”
    RV’s face turned red and he smiled, “Let’s go get a beer and discuss it.”
    • • •
    Mikal was struggling and Loree knew it. He finally said, “I’m going to cancel this mission if you don’t agree to stay here.”
    Loree came around and sat in a chair next to him and took his hands in hers, “If you do that, I’ll go alone. You’ve made me see the importance of doing this and it must be attempted. Millions of lives are at stake in this decision.” Mikal stared into her eyes and finally nodded. Loree said, “Honestly, my life would be less if I lost you. I have to go with you to make sure I can continue to laugh…”
    Mikal looked at her and said, “What are you saying?”
    “Mikal, I don’t know how I feel about you. I just know that when I look at my days without you in them, they just look dull and boring. You’ve been the most fun I’ve had in years. This way I’ll have at least one more day with you in it.” Mikal continued to stare into her eyes and then he smiled. Loree leaned forward and kissed him lightly on the cheek. The kiss lingered for moment and then she leaned away.
    “We should leave the day after tomorrow.”
    “I thought you were planning to leave tomorrow?”
    “I want a day with you off this ship. Then I can go.”
    Loree smiled, “I know just the place.”
    Mikal softly said, “I was hoping you would.”
    • • •
    RV sat in his command chair on the Havana and said, “Cyanna, pass these coordinates to the eighth fleet and have them ready to jump.”
    Cyanna looked at them and then looked at a chart, “These are out in deep space.”
    “I know, just do it. We’ll be going with them.”
    “What’s going on?” RV stared at her and she quickly said, “Yes Sir, I’ll get these out immediately. Is there anything else I should do?”
    “Inform the fleet they will make the jump at general quarters and weapons will be free.”
    Cyanna’s expression turned serious, “What about the attack wings?”
    “They will be launched on arrival.”
    Cyanna turned back to her board and knew something serious was about to happen. She sent the instructions and notified Riebbe and Beth to get their wings ready.”
    • • •
    Mikal went over the readings on his pilot’s board and made sure everything was at optimum. He looked over at Loree, “Are you ready?”
    “The weapons are active and sensors are already operating. I’ve preprogrammed the first jump and will need you to let me know when to activate it.”
    “The jump word is ‘run’.”
    Loree smiled, “I like the simple things in life. I’ve set the drive to make the jump if you repeat that word three times.”
    Mikal nodded and then reached over and squeezed her hand, “Jump in ten seconds.”
    Loree smiled and said, “Get us in and I’ll take it from there.”
    Mikal turned back to his console, reached forward, and pushed the blue button.
    • • •
    The operator in Sensor Control saw the small ship appear in his sector. He pressed a button and two ships were immediately jumped to the coordinates on his board. The ships were jumped automatically and their force fields and weapons were also automatically activated. The operator smiled at the simplicity of the system and waited for the message about the destruction of the ship that had trespassed into his area of responsibility.
    • • •
    The small attack craft entered normal space and its force field immediately activated. Mikal set the force field into a sharp point as two giant orange colored battleships appeared within a mile of his location. He immediately went to ramming speed and accelerated toward the closest. The two ships opened fire just as the small ship hit the battleship’s force field. It broke