Shoot for Earth: MedSci Missions 3

“Jack,” Walsh said in his normal command voice, “take us to the opposite side of the planet from the expected trajectory of the incoming vessels.”

“Aye, aye, sir,” Jack said promptly.

“Sir,” Jack said fifteen minutes later, “we’re not going to make it in time. They’ll be within firing range of us before we can distance ourselves.”

Walsh winced. “How many?”

“A good dozen, I’d say. We can’t defend against them.”

“Do we have an hour to prep the QDD?”

Jack checked. “We do, barely.”

Walsh knew the decision had to be made now or never. He slapped the com controller. “S6, get Roed down to engineering ASAP to prep for Quantum Displacement.”

“Right away, sir,” Gamma One answered.

Walsh stewed. A QD near a planet was the last thing he wanted to do. Except be blown up by aliens.

“Hugh,” Wash said into his Pocod, “Watch everything Roed does.”

“Aye, sir,” Hugh said promptly, “but I don’t think he’d try anything unwarranted for this.”

“Yes, I agree. I was wanting you to learn how to do a QD in case something happens to Roed.”