Pacheco seemed to wrestle with something in his mind, but he conceded to Jas’ common sense and left the bridge.
The tension relaxed a little as he departed. Officers who had been intent on their screens looked up and around at each other. There were some nervous smiles and quiet good luck wishes.
Jas tried to clear her mind, and get ready for the battle, but in truth her thoughts were in turmoil. Depending on how the battle went, she faced a terrible decision. If it made tactical sense to scramble the fighters, she would have to do it. And that would mean putting the life of the man she loved at risk.
Chapter Twenty-FiveAS SOON AS THE Thylacine had made the jump, Pacheco began to make his way back to the bridge. The comm officer had set him up with channels to the ships under his comman
