Part 40 (2/2)

”But first and foremost, my toast is to you, you b.l.o.o.d.y bunch who never quit. You line beasts and s.p.a.cers, chiefs, officers, and mids.h.i.+pmen,” as each was named, Ray raised his gla.s.s to them. As he named them, they stood.

”Here's to us who serve, who make the last stand for humanity. Who go where they don't know enough to want us. Who do what they don't know enough to know they need. To the questions we raise and the answers we find.”

”To those who serve,” was the toast as the gla.s.ses were drained.

Ray roamed the Second Chance as she accelerated out at one gee, slipped through one jump to exactly the system the map in his head said they'd find. He visited with every s.p.a.cer, petty officer, and mids.h.i.+pman.

It seemed half of them had pictures of wives, sweethearts, kids, and grandkids they wanted to show him, that they couldn't wait to get back to. Ray had a list of everyone on board and went down it meticulously. Anyone who could get what he was carrying got a full half hour in a closed room with him. If there was any way being around him could give it to them, Ray did his d.a.m.n best to do it.

Every two days the doc did a blood test on the entire crew of the Second Chance. All checks came back negative. The s.h.i.+p's air filters turned up no virus samples after the second day out.

Ray locked himself in his statesroom as they made the final jump into Wardhaven s.p.a.ce. He didn't dare be on the bridge as the stars changed. If the stars came out wrong, he couldn't trust himself to keep the bland face the code required of an officer.

There was a long pause after the final jump. Ray stared at the blank wall of his room, hardly breathing.

”Ray, we're insystem,” Matt finally called. ”The right one.”

”Thank you, Captain,” Ray sighed. ”Please patch me a call to Wardhaven.”

Ray waited as the call went through to Rita Nuu-Longknife, wherever she might be. The screen went from blank to show her face sitting behind his desk at the ministry. She recognized the message immediately as a s.h.i.+p's call. ”Rita Longknife accepting any incoming message. Over.”

”Rita. It's me. I'm home,” was all Ray could get out.

For more long minutes he watched as she did her job while his message covered the distance to her and back again. Then her head snapped up. Her eyes sparkled. A smile more beautiful than sunrise touched her face.

”Of course. You said you would be.”

Coming in February 2014 from Ace Books.

TO DO OR DIE.

A brand-new JUMP UNIVERSE novel.

written by Mike Shepherd.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR.

Mike Moscoe grew up Navy. It taught him early about change and the chain of command. He's worked as a bartender and cabdriver, personnel advisor and labor negotiator. Now retired from building databases about the endangered critters of the Northwest, he's looking forward to some fun reading and writing.

Mike lives in Vancouver, Was.h.i.+ngton, with his wife, Ellen, and close to his daughter and grandchildren. He enjoys reading, writing, dreaming, watching grandchildren for story ideas, and upgrading his computer-all are never-ending pursuits.

You can learn more about Mike and all his books at his website , e-mail him at , or follow Kris Longknife on Facebook.

Ace Books by Mike Moscoe.

The First Casualty.

The Price of Peace.

They Also Serve Writing as Mike Shepherd.

Kris Longknife: Mutineer Kris Longknife: Deserter Kris Longknife: Defiant.

Kris Longknife: Resolute Kris Longknife: Audacious.

Kris Longknife: Intrepid Kris Longknife: Undaunted.

Kris Longknife: Redoubtable Kris Longknife: Daring.

Kris Longknife: Furious Specials.

Kris Longknife: Training Daze.

Kris Longknife: Welcome Home / Go Away.

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