Sergant Brutus flew past the space station in his
starfighter
jet. Below it, a hypergate, a giant circular gate more than 10
miles
around, was under construction. When the gate was finished, it
would be
a dimensional doorway or portal into hyperspace-lightspeed,
allowing
faster travel from Earth to other worlds. It was Brutus' job to
guard
the hypergate that night while a cargo ship landed.
Unfortunately,
there was a terrorist organization interested in destroying
the
hypergate. Sergant Brutus couldn't let that happen. It was a
major
part of the United Nations & NATO's plan for the 21st
Century - a future
where the entire population would live in space.

The hypergate was covered with scaffolding and lights. A
worker
welded a section of the hypergate as Brutus perched his jet on
the edge
of the docking port.

CARGO SHIP PILOT
Hypergate Docking, this is Zeus 1. Request final descent
vector.

AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL
Roger, Zeus 1, this is Hypergate Docking Control. You are
cleared to
land.

CARGO SHIP CAPTAIN
Zeus 1, landing. Full load on board. I brought you the most
amazing...

He was interrupted mid-sentence as his ship exploded into a
million flaming pieces. Brutus stared at the ball of fire. The
Zeus-1
hadn't exploded on its own. It had been attacked. Seconds later
his
guess was confirmed as two attack fighters burst through the
exploding
debris. They raced over the space station, firing lasers &
missiles,
blowing giant holes in the surface of the hypergate.

Brutus wasn't waiting a second longer. He shifted in his
harness as he activated the thruster engines. Then, with a burst
of
flame, he lifted off the launch pad and rocketed straight for
the
assault ships. They'd never see him coming. He was too fast.

SERGANT BRUTUS
Global Sedition Raiders. <He radioed to his wingman helping
him> They
claim the cargo ship violated their air space.

LIEUTENANT SULLIVAN
This cold war's heating up. Not like the human's version of the
Cold
War of the 60s.

Brutus glanced out the bottom of his starfighter's cockpit
and
saw his friend Sullivan flying right beneath him. They were two
of the
top ace pilots in the Thorn Valley military. If there was one
guy he
wanted backing him up, it was Sullivan.

LIEUTENANT SULLIVAN
Where did they come from?

SERGANT BRUTUS
Who knows? But we're going to send them back. Kicking and
screaming
all the way.

He flicked a switch, turning on his targeting computer. Then
he
entered his password code that allowed him access to the weapons
system.

SERGANT BRUTUS
Hey Sullivan - I can see your house from here!

He fired at the attack ship, but it shot straight up into
the
air, avoiding the laser blasts. Brutus followed the enemy
fighter,
dodging burning debris from the cargo ship. Sullivan took off
after the
other Global Sedition attack jet. Suddenly, the attack ship he
was
chasing turned around - and started heading straight at him!
Brutus
didn't flinch or cringe. He'd seen this tactic before. He always
won.
He started firing lasers at the approaching fighter.

A smile curled at the corners of his mouth. He liked being
in
the middle of the action.

COMPUTER TARGET PROGRAM
Target lock, prepare to engage.

Brutus stared at the hull of the attack ship. He was seconds
away from collision. He slamed his palm against the firing
controls.
His phasers converged on the attack ship just before it hit him.
The
craft exploded right in front of him - a direct hit! He shot
through
the flame and debris into the blackness of space beyond. He turn
turned
to check on Sullivan...

Sullivan wasn't doing quite as well. The attack ship was on
his
tail - and he'd already been hit once. His fighter was starting
to
burn. Sergant Brutus knew that it was losing power, too.

LIEUTENANT SULLIVAN
My weapons are off-line. I'll have to ditch the main drive
core.

He pressed a button and the thruster core of his starfighter
blew right off on top of the enemy craft. It exploded on
impact.

LIEUTENANT SULLIVAN
Am I good or what? <He grinned>

But his escape-pod was too damaged. He couldn't control it.
He
was headed right for the burning hypergate. He'd never survive
crashing
into it.

COMPUTER PROGRAM
Warning. Failure in redundant drive systems. Impact in 90
seconds.

LIEUTENANT SULLIVAN
Gate control. This is Ranger 1, engines will not respond.
Repeat,
engines will not respond.

RANGER BASE
Ranger 1, this is Ranger Base. Rescue craft have been
dispatched.

Brutus couldn't believe his ears. They were sending rescue
craft - and they expected the rescue craft to save Sullivan in
the next
minute? It was impossible!

SERGANT BRUTUS
Ranger Base? This is Eagle 1. Those pugs will never reach him in
time.

RANGER STATION
Eagle 1, clear this frequency and return to base
immediately!

SERGANT BRUTUS
This is Eagle 1. I'm going after him.

RANGER STATION
Negative, Eagle 1! Your craft is not equipped...

Too bad, Brutus thought. This will have to work, or Sullivan
is
dead. He pushed his thrusters, diving powerfully toward
Sullivan's
escape pod as it neared the hypergate below.

COMPUTER SYSTEM
Impact in 30 seconds. <Warns Sullivan who braces for the
worst>

RANGER STATION
Sergant Brutus, you are not authorized to make this rescue.
Return to
base now!

Enraged, the rat shut the radio off...

SERGANT BRUTUS
I never liked that station anyway.

He accelerated, getting as close as he could to Sullivan's
dying
escape pod. Then he angled his ship directly under
Sullivan's.

LIEUTENANT SULLIVAN
What the h*** are you doing? You're too close! Abort, abort!

SERGANT BRUTUS
Going up. Hang onto your lunch-box blood-brother.

At full speed, he gently rammed Sullivan's pod from beneath.
It
shot away from him at an 45* angle. He propelled it right
through a
hole in the hypergate. Sullivan was going to make it.