P. E. Knapp

Thanks for the comment gmc! Yeah. I think it will work... 😉

Thanks for the comment @centexhairysub! Marc, while having the backing of his family, isn't always perfect... Sasha has his own issues he has to recognize and deal with. Both of which will be apparent in the next few chapters.

Thank you for your kind comments, Ticklishboy30!

After I signed off the ship with my gear, I headed over to where Sasha’s ship was. He was waiting at the Lock when I stepped aboard. I logged in and then he led me to his cabin, where I dropped off my gear. It didn’t take long for our lips to meet. He slowly forced his tongue into my mouth and explored, as did I. We separated as he took a deep breath. “How are you, Sasha?” He put his head against my chest. “I’ve missed you, Marc. It’s always so much more fun when you’re around.” I sm

Thanks for the comment VBlew!

Yes. Water quality is very much different as it is with all different oceanic water bodies. Always shocked me when I was in the Indian Ocean, and it looks almost black. *Shrugs* Not sure why that is. The sub ride was memories of one I took back in '02 when I took my first cruise on SS Norway. I wasn't impressed. But then, things were different the last time I was underwater back in the late '80's, early '90's. The difference between then and now is like night and day. Not sure if that ride is still available. I thought I read they went out of business. I did see the scuba diving is expansive down there now days. But my diving days are over. Now if I hit lotto, and could afford one of those new subs being built at Triton Subs. That would be one of the places I would like to try it out.

Lol... Thanks for the comment drsawzall!

I actually thought of it because I always have placed Christmas Cards in the tree for friends that I used to exchange gifts with. I figured the box in the tree would work too. Thanks for the comment Gyrefalcon!

Been doing the same thing here. Up and down. Cold and warm. Snow and rain. Wish I had my camera 3 weeks ago when I was coming down from visiting friends and could see, (The rare crystal-clear day), Mt. Mansfield's top, over in Vermont covered in snow. Very nice, but a reminder that I'll see more snow sooner, rather than later. Stay warm everyone. And for those in the warm climates. Stay cool. 😀

Thanks for the comment centexhairysub! Young love....

Interesting about Sasha. I didn't know that. Anywho. Thanks for the comment ReaderPaul! Up the Pipe: Refers to the series of jumps from Moira Sector, which is the bottom of the Pipe, where Low Point Station is. To 5 different Jump Gates/Sectors that are only entered in the Pipe. Top of the Pipe is Aphlinerta Sector with Wiessman Station "Friends and good manners will carry you where money won't go.".... How very true.

Eric had sent us to dinner last night at a private club. I was just glad that we had packed dress clothes as we arrived downtown. The club doorman opened our door for us as I led Quinn out of the cab. We had a line of expensive vehicles, and everyone was dressed to the nines. We looked good, but now I am thinking maybe we should have worn our tuxedo’s that we rented for the cruise. Quinn was just as shocked as I was as we walked towards the entrance of the Bay Club. One of the oldest private clu

Thanks for the comment ReaderPaul!

Thanks for the comment VBlew!

Thanks for the comments drsawzall!

Thanks for the comments akascrubber!

Thanks for comment centexhairysub!

Thanks for the comment gmc!

A week later, I was on my way to Seventy-Seven with my grandparents, the Armstrongs, aboard Solar Flare. I sat in the right helm seat as I flew the ship up the Pipe to our first stop at Weissman Station. Working on my hours for this class of ship. I was even allowed to handle the docking in the hangar alone for the first time. More of a challenge with a ship this size than my current mining ship, Mini Borer, due to weight and inertia. Once secured, I joined my grandparents for dinner. “Who

And another wonderful chapter. Thanks for the good reading break chris191070!

Lots of good stories. Sad some of them didn't continue... Yes, that's a hint @Myr!😉

Yes... Yes he is... about 16-18 chapters away...😉

Thanks for the comment Butcher56! Marc's certifications are for Industrial Ships. Miners, Freighters, Industrial Command ships and he dabbled in Frigates, Destroyers before OCS. At OCS and the War College he had the chance for Cruisers and Battleships. And... he's still not finished. His sister Caitlin is currently a Captain of a Cruiser... I'll have to add her in to a few chapters. She's been gone too long. 😉

Thanks for the comment centexhairysub! I missed Jessica in the last book. Had to add more of her in. Same with all the past loves. They all have a part to play in the future. And I do love a good Bonding Ceremony! Marc fights... when he needs to... 😈

@ReaderPaul asked: Please explain more about the Jump Gates in the discussion forum. Why are jump gates needed and the difference between jump gates and ships doing jumps? Need for gates? Distances to long. Jumps can do in minutes or hours, what could take days, months even of travel time. Ship Jumps have to be plotted to be successful, otherwise you could end up anywhere. In order to do that you need to either be able to see your destination. Either with the scanners, probes or some sort of scanning equipment. Or if you can't see it. You need to be able to lock onto a Jump Buoy. There have been scenes where the pilots need to lock the buoy or target in order to plot the course. What they are doing is locking a destination that is predetermined by placement of a Jump Buoy. That allows ships to make Jumps into other sectors. Which are generally out of scanner range unless someone is feeding you data. How far you Jump depends on the ships Jump Capacitor's Energy Capacity. Jump Gates negate the need for ships to use their own Jump Engines, even the need for jump Engines. Since they are the power source for the Jump, they can also propel you to a gate at the other end of the Jump line that is much farther away than a normal ship jump. Shuttles can use these too. Usually found on main routes and high traffic areas. Fees(aka Tolls) for use are cheap, but over time have made many a system rich. And for the third option, which I don't recall in the first three books, but is in the fourth. Jump Bridges. Which are nothing more than a low powered Jump Gates between a neighboring sector. Originally created because of the frequent traffic between the two sectors and the cost of individual ship jump drives. Again, a situation that requires no jump drive on the ship itself. Shuttles can use this too. As with all things in space. You can't always count on there being a Gate or Bridge where you are going. Ship Jump drives would be needed as well as the local charts with Jump Buoys noted. Or you could take a chance and Jump to a previous location you have documented in your Jump Logs. Should somebody or something be sitting at your exit point... ooopps doesn't quite cover it and I am not sure how far AAA extends their free towing. Assuming there is enough left to tow. 😀 And through the books, I think 2 and I know 3 has the term Jump Freighter in it. That is what the Malachi's (The twin's family) and Jasenka's (Sasha's family) uses. They are capable of Jumps. Some of the mainline freighters are not. (ie: a trade routes connected by Gates or Bridges)