BtH25

==Chapter 25 - By the Horns==
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TCJS (Taurian Concordat JumpShip) Patrick Flannagan
The Gateway, Hyades Cluster
Taurian Concordat
November 1st, 3025
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Aramis Hall sighed as he considered the meager number of ships at his command—a mere dozen. He had been assigned just twelve JumpShips to search for the Lost Exiles of Taurus in the trackless wastes of deep space beyond the Taurian Rim. “You are certain that this is the intended route that they took?”
Helena shrugged on the monitor screen. “It was the planned course, Master Hall—whether or not the Flotilla followed that plan . . .,” she shrugged again, “c’est la vie. Still,” she continued, “unless circumstances forced a radical change, “they should have proceeded along this route—with the intended destination of this small cluster of stars here, one thousand, five hundred and fifty-four light-years beyond our borders. Analysis of those stars indicated there should be at least three—perhaps four—planetary bodies capable of supporting human life. And being so far distant, we doubted that even the Star League would pursue us so far.”
“Fifty-two jumps minimum,” Hall mused, “it will take a full year just to get there—another to return.”
“And you have supplies and fuel for three years,” Helena added. “Look on the bright side, Master Hall—you will go farther than any recorded expedition in the history of the Concordat. The data that you return with should establish jump coordinates for many systems rather closer for your Far Lookers to begin a colonization effort.”
“If we survive this Interdiction,” Aramis sighed again. “Still, you are correct. One way or another, we will make history on this expedition,” he straightened up and saluted the older woman—after all, like the majority of Far Lookers, Aramis maintained a Reserve commission in the Taurian Concordat Navy. “Request permission for the Task Force to depart, Marshal Vickers.”
“Permission granted, Master Hall—good hunting,” she replied as she returned the salute. “And vaya con Dios.”
“Gracias, senora Vickers,” Aramis answered in the Third Language of the Concordat—after English and French. Helena nodded and the image faded from the screen.
“All vessels—prepare to make Jump One. Set and confirm coordinates and make certain everyone has been to the bathroom and has all their luggage,” Aramis ordered with a grin. “We aren’t coming back because someone forgot their teddy bear—or something more important.”
One by one, each of the eleven other ships reported in and the board slowly turned green. “Initiate Jump Number One in . . . thirty seconds . . . MARK!” Aramis commanded, and then he sat back in his leather-clad command chair. And so it begins, he thought.
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