The Jehovah Contract

,' Launch Control said in our helmet speakers.

'Get comfortable,' our pilot informed us. 'We'll be pulling over five Gs at blastoff.'

The kid piped up. 'Don't you have anything to say to Launch Control?'

'It's nearly all automatic until we reach high earth orbit, little lady.' His voice sounded relaxed and self-assured. 'I'm here mostly for the unexpected.'

Something clanked behind and below us. Canfield turned his helmet toward the hatch, his expression hidden behind golden reflections.

'

Gantry arm retracting

,' Launch Control reported. '

All personnel clear the launch pad.

'

The pilot relaxed in his seat.

At T-minus one minute, a confused chatter of voices jammed the airwaves. The voice of Launch Control shouted, '

Quiet!

' loud enough to jangle my hearing, then said, 'Starfinder,

we have choppers reported within our long-range attack boundaries. Do you wish to scrub the launch?

'

'Negative, Launch Control.' I liked the sound of that. 'Continue the countdown.'

'I suggest we scrub,' Canfield interjected.

'Any technical reason?' I asked.

The pilot shook his head. 'No. I simply think we should postpone the launch to a safer time.'

'There won't be a safer time. We go now.'

'They could pick us off with a heat-seeking miss-'

'They could kill us on the ground as well. We stand a better chance of surviving by launching now!'

Canfield sighed. 'It's your choice, Mr. Ammo. I can't make the decision myself.'

The ground rumbled beneath us.

'This is it,' I said. 'Blastoff!'

'Those are

bombs!

' the pilot shouted. 'Abort, man! For God's sake!'

'That's exactly why I can't,' I said.

'

T-minus ten seconds. Ignition sequence start.

'

An explosion somewhere to port rocked like thunder over the spacecraft. It coincided with the rumble of four powerful rocket engines firing up.

'

There's another one!