The Honour of the Knights (First Edition) (11 page)

“
Can we use the accelerators?” Estelle asked, trying to do
something about her ruffled hair. Even though they had failed on
their very first attempt, it was clear she was already becoming
frustrated, wanting nothing more than to succeed on the first
attempt, with flying colours. Dodds felt his shoulders sag and he
turned wearily to Enrique, who let out a sigh, lowered his eyes to
the floor and shook his head. Kelly also appeared drained, even
more so than Chaz, both of their eyes starting to turn red. The
strain of the non-stop exercises, staring at a screen for well over
an hour at a time, and having to concentrate hard on everything was
taking its toll. It was a long time to sit in a cockpit, simulator
or not, without a break.

“
No, I’m sorry,” the training manager shook
his head. “But whilst they were a part of your initial training and
familiarisation, the accelerators aren
’
t a part of these ungraded
exercises, or the final evaluations, I
’
m afraid. Should you successfully
complete the evaluation, and set yourselves apart from the other
teams, then you may have a chance to use them during real life
training.”

Estelle made sure the
Knights
succeeded on the next attempt.

* * *

After
many hours spent in the modules, the final few days were upon them
and arriving at the simulation suite the group were met by
Commodore Parks.

“
Good morning,
Knights
,” he greeted
them.

“
Good morning, Commodore,” Estelle saluted.

“
As you were. As I’m sure you’re well
aware, today will see the beginning of your last three days at this
facility and also the first day of your graded evaluations.
Regardless of the outcome of these tests, you will be transferred
to Xalan
’
s
Orbital to await further instruction. Your destination from there
will be determined by your performance here; and I have to say,
Lieutenant de Winter, that so far your team has performed far
better in these evaluations than any of the others. I am expecting
good things from you over the next few days. Good luck,
Knights
.”

“
Thank you, sir,” Estelle said, saluting the commodore once
more as he left the suite. Estelle turned to her team, her eyes
bright.

“
Okay, everyone. This is it.
Let
’
s give
it all we
’
ve
got.”

* * *

Four days later the
White
Knights
stood before Parks, Ainsworth and
Mansun in a meeting room aboard Xalan
’
s orbital station. As they waited
before the commodore, Dodds glanced momentarily to Estelle, seeing
the woman almost bursting with pride. She caught his eye and gave
him a wink.

Parks
looked up. “I will keep this brief,” he began. “Your performance
throughout the entire evaluation period has been nothing less than
exceptional; you exceeded expectations in almost every
exercise.”

“
Thank you, sir,” Estelle said.

Parks’ face remained expressionless. “However, compared with
the final test results of the other teams, you did not perform as
favourably. I realise that this is not the news that any of you
wished to hear after all the effort you have put in, and on no
account should you hold each other to blame for this,” his eyes
flickered to Estelle. “I
’
m sorry to say that as far as your
participation in the ATAF project is concerned, you will not be
proceeding any further.”

Estelle
was devastated, that much was obvious to Dodds, even above the
poker face that she had practised for years. Inside she must have
been distraught. Enrique and Kelly disguised their feelings less
well, disappointment written all over their faces. Rather strange,
however, was that despite the fact that Chaz had put one hundred
and ten percent into the ATAF evaluations, the big man didn’t seem
bothered about the end of their participation in the project. In
fact he almost looked – relieved?

Parks continued.
“This is by no
means a reflection on your abilities
;
unless you were of a high calibre, you would not have been selected
in the first place.”

“
Thank you, sir,” Estelle said, somehow managing to keep the
disappointment out of her voice.

Dodds,
Enrique and Kelly echoed her words. Dodds had half expected another
speech from Estelle, mimicking Andrea’s speech in the lecture
theatre and thanking the commodore for the opportunity to have
taken part, but she said nothing more.

“
Guess we’re all heading back to Gabriel then?” Enrique said,
half to Parks and half to his team mates.

“
Actually, Mr Todd, from here all five of you will be
transferred to the Temper system…” Parks began.

“
What
?
” Chaz said.

Dodds jumped at the sound of the man
’
s voice. Not least of all because
he was not that used to hearing it, but also because of the sheer
anger that seemed to flow from the man like red hot magma. He
turned to look at the man, though he subconsciously leaned away.
Chaz’s eyes were narrowed, his face furious. He was almost shooting
daggers at the commodore sat before him. Dodds glanced to his team
mates, noticing that they appeared every bit as surprised at the
man’s sudden outburst. Kelly, in particular, looked like a scared
rabbit. On the other side of the desk, a shocked Ainsworth had
begun tense fidgeting, looking with apprehension over to
Mansun.

“
The
border
?” Enrique said, once the
shock of Chaz
’
s
outburst had subsided enough for the added impact of the new
destination to sink in.

“
Yes, Mr Todd, the
Confederation-Independent border,” Parks continued, ignoring Chaz.
“As you have been told before we are currently suffering from a
lack of personnel, and thus an inadequate supply of experienced
starfighter pilots. You also need to remember that we are still
counting the cost of the theft of
Dragon
. It
’
s not just the loss of the
battleship that’s troublesome, but the disappearance of virtually
all who were serving aboard. Those numbers include several hundred
starfighter pilots, all of the highest calibre that the Confederacy
could offer; a figure that, as I
’
m sure you can well imagine,
doesn
’
t replenish
itself overnight, nor even within six months.

“
Your experience and skills will therefore be invaluable
within the Temper system. Given all that we cannot afford to have
you stationed anywhere else at this time.”

“
This is just in the short-term, sir?” Kelly
ventured.

Parks shook his head. “No. Until further notice, you will be
posted to Spirit, where you will fall under the general command of
Captain Meyers. Preparations for your departure to the system have
already been made, and your transport will be ready to go within
the next quarter of an hour. Please ensure you are ready to leave
at that time.” The man
’
s voice had an edge of finality to it.

Spirit. Dodds racked his brain to remember it. He then
discovered why he had buried it so deep: the planet was supposedly
run down and dilapidated, nothing about it at all very appealing,
not even the “notable” parts. Certain Confederation planets that
were home to military interests were wrapped with a large orbital
ring. Spirit
’
s
had been under construction for many years, but had never been
completed. It had fallen into disrepair as a result. The orbital
station that hung above the planet
was all
there was to service the CSN’s needs and was almost unable to
handle the demands placed upon it. Dodds suppressed a feeling of
horror. What had he agreed to come back to?

Mansun stepped forward.
“On behalf
of the research and development teams at Xalan, I would like to
thank you all for your work in helping us evaluate the ATAF,” he
said, shaking their hands in turn. When he came to Chaz he let out
a yelp, a clear look of discomfort on his face. Chaz’s eyes were
still narrowed and he looked to have a very tight grip on the man’s
hand. Mansun retreated back, nursing his injured
fingers.

“
Yes, I… er… would also like to thank you,” Ainsworth
said. “Erm… than… thank you.” He gave a little wave, but
refused to move away from the safety of the desk. Parks looked to
him, but Ainsworth only gave a very slight shake of his
head.

Parks turned back to the
Knights
.
“Before you go: I shouldn
’
t have to remind you that even
though you are no longer active participants within the ATAF
project the project is still classified,” he stated bluntly. “As
before, none of you are to discuss your involvement or knowledge of
the starfighter; it doesn
’
t exist. Your personal records and
other assignment papers will state that you have just transferred
from Wolf 359 where you were working to ensure continued security
of Naval interests.

“
That is all,
White Knights
, you are dismissed.
You will be informed when your transport arrives. Until then,
please remain in your assigned waiting room; security will see you
out. If there is anything you need before your departure, then
please inform a member of personnel.”

The same tone of finality was still present as Parks finished
and Dodds could not help but feel as if the commodore was blaming
them for something. With some reluctance, the
Knights
saluted and turned to
leave.

“
Man, I can’t believe they’re sending us to Spirit,” Enrique
grumbled.

“
It must be some sort of mistake,” Kelly said. “They surely
won’t keep us there for more than a few weeks…”

“
Is there a problem, Mr Koonan?” Parks’ voice came from some
way behind.

Dodds looked around to discover that, whilst the others had
walked towards the door, where a couple of members of security were
waiting to escort them away, Chaz had remained rooted to the spot.
He was staring down at Parks and, from the concerned look on
Ainsworth
’
s face,
he was not in the best of moods. Mansun, too, had taken a small
step backwards in retreat, away from the big man who seemed to be
radiating fury.

Enrique started back, but Kelly grabbed his arm, holding him
with the others. From what Dodds had gathered, whilst Enrique
maintained a better relationship with Chaz than anyone else, it was
doubtful that he would be able to handle the man in his current
state. The two security guards exchanged a quick look with one
another, and their hands poised over the pistols at their belts,
ready to move in in case of trouble. Parks remained sat at his
desk, twiddling a pen in hand and staring unflinching back up into
Chaz
’
s enraged
expression, his own quite still and impassive.

“
No,
sir
,” Chaz said after a time, in a
cold, bitter tone, the hands at his sides balled into tight
fists.

“
Good. Please don
’
t keep your transport waiting,
Lieutenant,” Parks answered, now meeting Chaz
’
s glare with a stern look of his
own.

With
that, and without saluting, Chaz turned on his heel and marched out
the door, past his four wingmates and the two security guards. He
acknowledged none of them as he went, his brow furrowed, his eyes
blazing, his fists still clenched firmly. They looked around to the
commodore.

“
Please escort the
Knights
to where they
will await transport,” Parks prompted security, before turning his
attention to some paperwork in front of him.

* * *

“
Is Spirit really that bad?” Kelly asked Enrique, eyes on
Chaz, as security led them to their assigned waiting room. Ahead of
her, Dodds put his arm around Estelle, but she shrugged him off
without a word, apparently preferring to wallow in her own misery.
Chaz still strode ahead of the group, alone.

“
I don
’
t think that
’
s what
’
s upset him,” Enrique
replied.

V

—
The One That Got Away —

W
earing a surly expression, Estelle
marched to the rear of the transport shuttle and slumped down into
one of the seats, ignoring her fellow
Knights
and choosing instead to
stare out the window. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Dodds
attempting to get her attention, before giving up and settling down
into a seat further up the shuttle.