[geoschmo]

"Captain, we may have a problem." the XO stated hesitantly.

Johnson looked up from his reports and spoke, "What could be wrong this early?" The ship had only been underway for 6 weeks. They hadn't even made it our of the homesystem yet, although they were rapidly approaching the warp point that wouild take them to the Ephandra system. The Captain went through his mind the things that could happen this early in a trip that would be serious enough for his XO to look so worried. "We didn't get shorted on our allotment of Nabra beans did we?" Johnson asked.

Nabra beans were the key ingredient in a favorite drink of the Urka'Tal race. Roasted, ground and then steeped in heated water, they had a mildly narcotic effect that could be, depending on how they were prepared, either a stimulant or have a sedative effect. The narcotic had little or no negative side effects, except in a very few individuals with a rare genetic defect. It was also not typically addictive, although the latter was a little more common than the former. Although in most cases it was not addictive, it was very popular. Almost every adult Urka'Tal drank Nabra. Running short on a journey of this length would cause a lot of short tempers. With 34 million people crammed into close quarters hurtleing through the unknown, tempers would be short enough as it is. It was not unheard of for colony ships that ran short of Nabra beans to experience incidents of rioting. That was somehting Johnson didn't need.

"No sir, we have plenty of Nabra beans. I saw to that personally before we left." Commander Frederick stated. "The problem has to do with the course plot the Colo-Minstry sent us. It passes through the Lundra system."

"Yes, I saw that. Ludra is a black hole system. That's a problem, but it's not a crisis. It will slow us down some, but we have accounted for that. As long as nothing else happens we should have just enough supply to make landfall. What of it?"

"Yes sir. But the problem is the wormhole leading into the Lundra system is unstable. We have had reports of some ships being damaged going through it."

"My god. Those fools!" Johnson shook his head. "Don't they relize this ship has barely enough engine power to make it through a wormhole system as it is. If we lose an engine or two going through the warp point, we'll be sucked into the event horizon for sure. Can we bypass the Lundra system and still make Olontra V?" Johnson asked.

"No sir. We ran the course plot ourselves and double checked. This is the quickest route to Olontra, even accounting for the extra time going skirting the black hole. If we bypass the system entirely, we won't have the supply to reach the Olontra system. And the eastern systems are not very well developed. Only a handfull of colonies, and none with resupply depots. There are a few Nvay fleets patrolling out that way, but you know how they are about sharing their supply."

"Yes, yes. They never do. We'd be lucky to get one of them to laeve their patrol routes to come assist us if we were attacked even, and that at least IS their job. Contact the Colo-Ministry. Let them know what you found and request reassignment. We need a new destination." Johnson was geting very upset at this point.

"I am sorry sir. I already did that before I brought you this information. I just received there reply before I came in." Frederick did not look pleased.

"Well, what did they say?" the Captain asked, but he didn't need to, he could see it on his XO's face.

"It reads only, 'Move to Olontra coordinates (3, 6), Colonize Olontra V', nothing more sir."

"Damn bureaucrats." muttered the Captain, and shook his head.

to be continued...