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Back Ark Royal
Chapters (42)
  1. Cover Blurb
  2. Contents
  3. Chapter One
  4. Chapter Two
  5. Chapter Three
  6. Chapter Four
  7. Chapter Five
  8. Chapter Six
  9. Chapter Seven
  10. Chapter Eight
  11. Chapter Nine
  12. Chapter Ten
  13. Chapter Eleven
  14. Chapter Twelve
  15. Chapter Thirteen
  16. Chapter Fourteen
  17. Chapter Fifteen
  18. Chapter Sixteen
  19. Chapter Seventeen
  20. Chapter Eighteen
  21. Chapter Nineteen
  22. Chapter Twenty
  23. Chapter Twenty-One
  24. Chapter Twenty-Two
  25. Chapter Twenty-Three
  26. Chapter Twenty-Four
  27. Chapter Twenty-Five
  28. Chapter Twenty-Six
  29. Chapter Twenty-Seven
  30. Chapter Twenty-Eight
  31. Chapter Twenty-Nine
  32. Chapter Thirty
  33. Chapter Thirty-One
  34. Chapter Thirty-Two
  35. Chapter Thirty-Three
  36. Chapter Thirty-Four
  37. Chapter Thirty-Five
  38. Chapter Thirty-Six
  39. Chapter Thirty-Seven
  40. Chapter Thirty-Eight
  41. Chapter Thirty-Nine
  42. Chapter Forty

Kurt nodded.  He would have preferred to be flying against the enemy or even running away, not drifting through space praying that the aliens wouldn't notice them.  But he knew there was no real alternative.  If the aliens realised where they were, they would bring overwhelming force to bear against Ark Royal.  The carrier would fight hard, but she would be eventually overwhelmed.

“You did well,” Rose added, rising to her feet.  “Very well.”

She tugged at her belt.  It fell free, allowing the dressing gown to fall open.  Kurt stared, hypnotised by the sight of her breasts bobbing free.  Her pink nipples seemed to twitch, demanding his attention.  Suddenly, it was very hard to breathe.

A hundred objections ran through his mind.  He was a married man – but it was unlikely he would ever see his wife and children again.  He was old enough to be her father – and yet she'd chosen him.  He was ... her hands tugged at his robe, pulling it right open.  Somehow, almost of their own volition, his hands reached for her breasts, then slipped down to her buttocks.  All objections fled as he pulled her closer to him, feeling his penis already standing to attention ...

Afterwards, he couldn't help feeling regret, even a little guilty.  He had betrayed Molly, broken the wedding vows that he’d made in good faith.  Their relationship might be dented, yet it was not gone.  But he knew what had driven Rose, just as it had driven him to accept her offer.  The desire not to die without feeling a fellow human’s touch, one last time.

He looked up at the display and shivered.  The alien ships were still there.

Waiting.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Chapter Twenty-Five

“We could probably get to the asteroids,” Charles said.  “We’re experienced in such matters.”

The XO shook his head.  Three days of drifting in space hadn't convinced the aliens that Ark Royal was dead.  Their ships remained on the tramline to New Russia, watching and waiting for the humans to show themselves.  And, in the meantime, the stress was starting to take its toll on the crew.

“Too risky,” he said, finally.  “We can’t risk detection.”

“Understood,” Charles said, ruefully.  Mining asteroids wasn't something his men had signed up to do, but it would make a break from assisting with repairs and watching the reporters like hawks.  God knew that the reporters were still trying to make their way into secure compartments, despite being told – time and time again – that they were not allowed to enter without permission and an escort.  “But we will have to mine the asteroids sooner or later.”

He nodded to the XO, then headed back to the barracks.  Inside, he saw a handful of Marines wrestling and two more trying to catch up on their sleep.  Rolling his eyes, he barked for quiet and issued orders.  Another counter-boarding drill would keep his men out of mischief for a few hours.  After that ...