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pushed into space at Mach 9.
     
       As soon as we cleared the Earth’s gravitational pull and crossed the Kármán line, I pulled back on a lever that extended the hypersonic drive spawnsons from the fuselage. The Zephyr trembled as the drives began to ramp-up with a drone.
     
       I turned toward Scotty, “We’re spaceborne. Let’s heat it up.” I smiled as I clutched the control yoke, “Going hypersonic in three…two…one, and launch.” And the Zephyr shot into the blackness              of space.
     
       I reached forward and punched my code into a number pad, and the flight computer took over. After working some calculations in my head, at the speed I planned to maintain, we may make it to the Pipe a few hours early. The very thought of traveling so fast toward something so frightening sent a chill through me, but a schedule was a schedule.
     
       Jupiter was less than thirty minutes out and I figured we’d be outside our galaxy within the next three hours. I’d have to rely on luck when we passed the Ursa-Major system because the war had escalated with the Serenians and I hoped to dodge any cruisers from the Serenian Armada.
     
       At our current rate of acceleration, we should max at 2.8 HsD by the time we came within range of Tal-Seti. From there we’d be a day away from the Pipe. Until then, there were always the Fed Scouts and Interceptors to dodge. I’d have my hands full if they spotted us.
     
       No point worrying about it now. I glanced at the instrument panel and exhaled as I removed my helmet and replaced it with a wireless ocular headset. Much lighter and far more comfortable.
    I looked over at Scott and motioned him to remove his helmet as I handed him a spare headset.
     
       Deep space was just a few hours out, and I had time to take a shot or two of Kurlie’s parting gift. I was uptight and needed to unwind, and the thought of a stiff drink really appealed to me right now. I double-checked the auto-pilot then took off the harness and stood up to stretch my legs as Scott sat still and gazed out the canopy at the vast darkness in front of us.
     
       I opened the bulkhead door int o the cargo hold and unlatched the container with the whiskey. Perfect. I could see by the labels that Kurl spared no expense. He was a shrewd businessman, but definitely not cheap when handing out rewards. I popped open a bottle and took a long slug. I felt my stomach warm to the smoothness of the liquor and was tempted to drink some more but had to keep a clear head for the journey.
     
       “Hey Scotty,” I exhaled as I stepped up back into the bridge and held up the bottle, “care for a shot of this?”
     
       “No thanks. I don’t drink.” Scott squinted and turned his head back around.
     
       “Suit yourself.” I set the bottle back in the insulated container, closed up, and backed out of the cargo bay smiling.
     
       “Quite a view.” Scotty said quietly as he peered at the points of light around us.
     
       “Indeed. It never gets old.”
     
       Beyond the bridge’s canopy lay untouchable silence. Beautiful, foreboding Space. Serenity and terror. The swirl of time and light dusted by centuries of whispers. The sheer blackness of the great beyond speckled by points of light full of worlds. For the earthbound, the distant twinkles epitomized mysteries gazed upon for generations by the light of ancient fires as elders passed lore to the young under the blanket of night. That was the same gaze that enthralled me as a child. I could lose myself in that gaze.
     
       I looked over the monitors for any activity then reached over and turned on the Star Net-Cast receiver to catch up on daily events. Seems that the only information the news contained nowadays was all bad: the war at Bakkus coming to an end, anti-war protests on campuses throughout the galaxies, the surge of the homeless population and refugees brought on by the conflict, and the increase of