Condition Evolution 4 by Kevin Sinclair (parable of the sower read online .txt) 📗

hit my lips. It took real strength of will to drink it slowly under Ember's watchful eye. Even so, it was damn refreshing, hitting the spot that no other drink could match.

“So, we’re expecting trouble, Captain?” Roger asked, slurring slightly.

“I really hope not, Roger. Not that I don’t want to bury Havok in a few more Fystr,” I admitted. Havok whooped with delight at the statement. “But anything other than the plan working, really won’t go well for us. We just need to get in and out.”

“That’s fair enough, although I’m itching to kill me some more Fystr too!” he said, raising a glass, which turned into an impromptu toast with everyone declaring their desire to kill more Fystr, apart from Calparr.

“I'm not,” he slurred. I was surprised to see him drunk.

“I thought you loved fighting, Calparr?” I asked, curiously.

“I do only what is... bessescary.” He belched to punctuate his statement. “I’m a peaceful man at heart. I’d have preferred to be a grower of food,” he confessed seriously, his words a little garbled. Then he slapped the table hard, with a roar of laughter. “Death to the Fystr!” he shouted.

After a few more hours, we all took the opportunity for some sleep as we flew ever onwards. Thankfully, the humans among us wouldn’t have to suffer a hangover as long as everybody carried out their Holistic repair. I wasn’t sure how Calparr, Amnarr and Yolek the Veiletian would be feeling. But when they arrived on the bridge, they seemed in good spirits.

“Elyek, have we found any signs of them yet?” I asked.

“No, Captain, we’re approaching the coordinates where we should be able to communicate and we have an open line focused ahead of us which will connect as soon as we reach someone. So be prepared for action.”

“Have we set the folding drive to charging? Is it ready to jump?”

Calegg answered, “Almost, Captain. It will be ready as we reach the coordinates. Once there, we will have approximately 45 minutes to use the charge before it vents. Otherwise it’s another 20 hours for it to reset.”

“Will we be able to get a visual once we're in communications range?” Ember asked eagerly.

“No, we won't be getting that close, Ember,” Elyek replied. “Our comms have a far greater range.”

“Probably for the best, I’d prefer not to see 2000 Fystr Ships, anyway,” she said.

After that, we all sat in an eerie tense silence just waiting for the line to connect. We’d been through a lot, but the tension from this scenario was almost unbearable.

“We have passed the point where I would have expected to make a connection. They must have moved,” Elyek stated in a worried tone. “Are we to continue, Captain?”

“We’ve come this far. Keep going, Elyek, and Calegg. You just keep a fucking eye on that jump timer and if we don’t find anyone by the time it gets to five minutes remaining, then get us the hell out of here. We can’t do any more than we have, we’ll just have to come up with another plan back at base camp.”

“Okay, Captain,” Calegg responded. “I’ve changed the coordinates on the folding drive too to stay within range of how far we can jump. I calculate that we can travel for another two lightyears, with the time we have available.”

I nodded at the move. “Thanks, man.”

We continued to travel forward, tentatively. Another lightyear passed before we finally had a bite, and our comm made a connection. I waited silently for someone to speak. “Unknown ship, identify yourself,” came a stern female voice.

“Heya there, I’m Shaun from Earth! You’re all a bunch of shit-eating, fuck-nuggets who have little dicks,” I shouted. Then I signaled to cut the connection and fucking run. Everyone was laughing their asses off as we fled the scene. I felt like a kid again, knocking on doors and running away. Calegg hit our folding drive, and we appeared a long, long way away. Safe and sound.

“Whoop! That wasn’t anywhere near as close as I thought it would be,” I said, slumping back in my chair. “Come on, Elyek, get us back to the Haven. We still don’t want to take any chances.”

“I’m on it, Captain. We’re only an hour out.”

“Well everyone, thanks for coming. I’m extremely glad you weren’t needed.”

“Och, it was nice te come along,” William replied. “Yer a lot more fun than the prick who captained the Seshat, whose name shall not be mentioned.”

“Thanks, man, and I hope you're a lot more trustworthy than he was!”

“Och aye, Cap’n. I’m as happy as a pig’n shit. Though I de miss the Flying Scotsman.”

“Yeah, sorry about that. You’ll just have to name one of the fighters instead.”

“Canna paint it on?”

“Are you serious?” Ember asked. “Actually, William, don’t answer. I know you are.”

“Captain, Ember,” Calegg said urgently. “I don’t seem to be able to communicate with the Haven. There seems to be some kind of interference.”

“What kind of interference?” I asked, moving over next to him at the ship's main communication terminal. Ember and Elyek both came alongside me, while Calegg demonstrated what he’d been doing.

“Are we in range?” Ember asked.

“Very much so. There seems to be something blocking us. Though I can't tell what it could be.” Calegg answered.

“Keep trying to get through.” I said, more sharply than I intended. I wasn’t in the mood for ominous surprises.

Calegg nodded, “I will, as soon as we can detect the Haven on our scanners, we may be able to get some answers.”

Around ten minutes later, still with no communications, the beginnings of a problem began showing on the scanners: Galactic Empire ships. At first just a few, but the number swelled and by the time the Haven appeared, it was clear they were surrounded by enemy ships. “Shit, no! Elyek, can we go faster?” I shouted.

“A little, Captain, but we are not equipped to fight through this.”

“What choice do we have?” I yelled. “Keep going!” I felt instantly bad for yelling at them. “I’m sorry, Elyek. I’m not yelling