In their closet that opened on the flight deck, JS and Eve probed the mind of anyone who might be useful. Since Maurr was no longer a threat, JS focused on the Admiral, the Air Boss, the Shooters and the Handlers. To get the most of their "mental fields" JS and Eve joined their minds. As conscious thought is expressed linguistically, the adding of JS's mind enabled Eve, who couldn't speak Rogue, to understand Rogue minds. The waiting, however, was unnerving Eve that at some point snorted: "Are you sure it isn't better to run away. Maurr might change his mind, or someone find that I fled, or discover us here or.." JS gave her a peck on her nose: "Here, put your flight suit, it won't be long. Quoting Clausewitz: 'After we have thought out everything carefully in advance and have sought and found without prejudice the most plausible plan, we must not be ready to abandon it at the slightest provocation.' You waited a million years, I thought you were a master of waiting!" JS joked about. "Quiet! They haven't still got us by the short hairs." "Admiral, some Earthener drones have come out of the hyperspace." The Admiral, who was throwing a sh*t-fit at Maurr, grimaced and caressing his mammoth-pet ordered: "The EA want a close look at the Bloody Dawn. Toe jam they are! But we'll give them our new Scythe fighters. Shot the drones down!" "It's time, Eve!" JS jumped up ready for action. In those hours of waiting he had identified which planes were ready to take off and the launch order. Hidden near the chosen plane, JS and Eve waited until all the necessary operations were performed. The large hangar door of the flight deck opened and closed while the fighters took off two at a time, to allow the required operations. JS was well anchored in the minds of the pilots to understand the commands of the new fighter and the Rogue flight formation. Time was running fast. The final checker entered. JS dispatched him and helped Eve to get on the second pilot's seat. Then a pilot met his fate and his corpse joined the others in the sink tub. JS was controlling that his loaded weapons were armed before he taxied the aircraft onto the catapult. His mind was fully open probing for the orders and the second pilot. The scream, a sharp shriek, struck him suddenly with the force of a lighting. JS wavered, his head seemed to shatter into a thousand splinters. He closed all his mental barriers. He didn't understand why Eve had cried like that. He turned his head. The movement seemed painfully slow. Zillions of thundering hooves echoed inside his skull and millions more seemed to push at his mind's doors. Finally JS managed to turn his neck and looked at Eve. "What the hell?" The bellow exploded in his mind had the same quality of Eve's mind, but it was low-pitched like a contralto. Eve was a soprano, JS thought. "Oh damn, it's OUR SHIP!" Eve looked at him in terror. She was trying to say something telepathically, but JS kept his mind tightly closed. The pain was unbearable. He felt blood trickling from his nose. Eve began to shout something loudly and gestured in the direction of the fighter wing. JS turned in the direction indicated by Eve with irritating clumsiness and saw the Rogue pilot jumping from the wing with his sword unsheathed. JS stooped to dodge the blow while pulling out his knife. Though the headache embarrassed his movements, he could in part to deflect the enemy blade. JS felt the sharp sting of the saber followed by a new blossoming pain in his shoulder. "No!" Eve shouted. Then she unsheathed Gramirr, the sword that the dying Rogue had given to JS, and struck the enemy at the heart. JS succeeded in jumping into the cockpit. It was their turn to take off. Seeing Eve's worried look he said: "Later. I've to focus on the flight lead.", and added trying a wry smile: "But our ship, whose side is she?" --- Thanks