Jess fought to keep the Wanderer in jump space for as long as he could manage. He was tired, though. Even with the Wanderer helping to tweak his body chemistry he was exhausted.
They dropped into normal space only five seconds after encountering the tar pit’s field. That was still five seconds longer in jump space than any other ship could manage, but would it be enough?
Of course it was. The fleet was yet again arranged in the intensely defensive formation, so the Wanderer was well clear. This was the eighth layer they had entered. It was almost becoming routine. Space ahead was clear. Jess just had to get the Wanderer to the other side of the tar pit’s influence then jump out. Yet again.
He needed to rest, but there was no time. When crossing a layer he had to monitor for an
