Alone once more, Jerrix expected a smooth trip through the void of space. He was rather surprised therefore when he noticed the eyes of the north cat statue flashing. To his knowledge, this had never happened before.

He was quietly thinking this over when the ship veered, throwing him onto the squashy blue floor.

“I seem to have landed then,” he muttered scrambling to his feet.

Stepping outside, he found himself looking at a large chamber, which contained various exotic objects.

“I seem to be in the hold,” he muttered scratching his ear.

He noticed a metal stair that led to an upper gantry and was heading that way when a female appeared through a door and ordered him to stop.

“What do we have here?”

Jerrix froze. He saw the woman’s green uniform and laser holder. Strangely for a security guard, she wore no hat. Her long red hair was rather obvious. This was one security guard you did not argue with.

“I was responding to a distress signal. My ship changed course automatically.”

She looked rather surprised.

“We only just sent it. I’m Yoland by the way.”

“Jerrix Tau. What seems to be the trouble?”

“The captain can explain that,” she said inviting him to follow.

He was led into a shining corridor at the end of which stood a lift door. As they entered, the guard tapped the button marked B, and they ascended rapidly.

Stepping out, the cat found himself on a command deck. A tall gent with greying hair was looking at the screen in front of him. His uniform was a rather dull red.

“Hum,” Yoland said to catch his attention.

The captain turned and gazed at the new passenger.

“Is this the chap from the hold?”

“It is sir. He answered our call.”

“Did he now. Do you know anything about generation star ships?”

Jerrix coughed.

“I certainly do,” the cat replied gazing around.

His eyes fell upon a bank of flashing lights, and ignoring everyone he padded over.

“Seems you have a leak captain.”

The captain turned.

“As a matter of fact quite a severe one I’m afraid. Our boys don’t seem able to put it right.”

“How did it happen though?” Jerrix asked.

“We got caught in a micro meteor storm. Silly really.”

Jerrix glanced at the automated bridge.

“Surely the ship could have avoided that?” the cat asked.

“So you would think,” the captain replied.

Jerrix turned again, facing the guard.

“How long have you been travelling?”

“About two-hundred years,” she replied.

The cat nodded.

“I need to know where you are headed.”

The captain answered that one.

“Misro One sir. We should be there in another six centuries. Assuming we don’t all suffocate.”

Jerrix smiled at the rye joke.

He was about to speak when a light flashed. The captain turned to Yoland.

“Get yourself down to docking bay six-four. Bring our new arrival to me will you?”

She saluted and left as Jerrix asked casually, “I suppose you tried sealants?”

The captain felt a little embarrassed.

“None aboard sir. The designers did not think it necessary.”

“That is terribly odd,” Jerrix said. “How about strengthening the shields?”

The captain blushed.

Jerrix raised a black paw.

“Don’t tell me. No shields.”

The captain nodded.

“Apparently a ship this size can’t be protected.”

“That’s rubbish,” Jerrix said swiftly. “How many souls aboard?”

“Something like twenty million.”

Jerrix shook his head in disbelief.

“I suppose you have an engineer?”

“That we do have sir. Deck ninety-nine.”

Jerrix turned to go when Yoland returned with an even stranger guest.

The cat found himself looking at a tall, lean, six-foot mouse dressed in a silver jumpsuit.

“What you staring at?” he asked in a high-pitched squeaky voice.

“Sorry,” the cat replied. “I have things to do. See you later captain.”

As he left, the officer turned his attention to the unusual visitor.
---
“Two in one day,” the captain commented. “Must be a record.”

“I’m eh Larchee,” the largish mouse said. “My scout craft is running low on cheese and I wonder if we can negotiate a trade.”

The captain looked at him strangely.

“I am afraid we cannot help. As a matter of fact, there is no cheese on board. No demand you see.”

“Are you sure?” the stunned mouse replied.

“I am afraid so,” the captain replied.

“Oh well. Seems like a wasted journey. Do you mind if I hang about for a bit?”

The captain thought it over.

“I can allow you a day but that’s all. Regulations you know.”

Larchee thanked him and left the command deck. The captain glanced at Yoland.

“Keep an eye on that one.”

She saluted and left at once.

After his disappointing answer, Larchee had decided to have a look around. He stopped off at deck fifty and found himself in a large corridor. He quickly noted that the lift was returning to the command deck.

“No one follows me,” he whispered.

He dashed rapidly down the corridor and up a flight of steps as the lift descended once more.

He found himself on deck forty-nine, a huge solarium. He noted the many users and dashed into an empty cubicle, pulling the curtains behind him. He peered out as Yoland dashed past, smiling to himself.
Once it was clear, he returned to the lower deck and sniffed the clean air. All but one of the many homes was empty.

“Well captain,” he muttered. “I need to get my protein from your charges then.”

He reached the correct door and slammed his shoulders against it. He was not surprised when it gave way. He found himself in a large, well set out apartment, done up in the latest lavish style. He slammed the door shut as an elderly woman hobbled into view.

“You will have to leave,” she mumbled. “This is a private apartment.”

Larchee simply grinned. Showing off his razor sharp front nibblers.

As he advanced slowly, the woman attempted to scream but he put a silver-gloved hand over her mouth.

“Which way is the bathroom?” he hissed.

The frightened woman nodded towards a rear door and he forced her towards it. They entered soon after and once there he knocked her cold.

Calmly shutting the door gently, he rubbed his hands grinning.

“I think it is tea-time.”

As the mouse ate his unusual meal, Yoland was still trying to track him down. She soon found herself on the huge promenade deck, with its glorious views over the vast generation star ship.

As far as the eyes could see, there was countryside, mountains and lakes. Each and every one hand crafted. The people had lost count of those who had lived and died here. Each generation giving way to the next.

With such a system, new crew were easy to find and train. They had in a way, become a world, searching for another one.

Yoland wondered if her quarry was down there. Then she had a stroke of inspiration.

“I’ll try the docking bay. He’s bound to turn up there sooner or later.”

She found the lift and tapped in six four reaching it moments later.
She saw the lone scout craft and checked that it was empty. She removed her radio and reported the situation.

The captain did not seem too concerned.

“He could be anywhere,” he had said. “Just stay by his craft Yoland.
I only wanted you to keep an eye on him, that’s all.”

She placed the transmitter back in her pocket and waited.

“When I see him,” she muttered. “I will have a strong word to say.”

Deep within the bowels of the ship, Jerrix had reached the engineer who was showing him the core of the vessel at that very moment.

“So this is your plasma drive,” Jerrix said admiring its sheer size.

“It certainly is mate. Those huge cylinders are the injection pumps,
which feed into that vast chamber there. The resulting waste is shot
out the rear of the ship creating forward thrust.”

“Simple but effective,” the cat said.

“Perhaps too simple,” the engineer suggested. “As has been pointed out, we cannot create a shield and now we are paying for it.”

“Sealing those leaks is a priority,” the cat said. “I reckon you will all be dead within a month.”

“So does the captain,” the engineer told him.

The cat pointed to the plasma chamber.

“You need to place a shield coil transducer between that and the thrusters.”

“I suppose that would work,” the engineer said. “Small problem though. It would take three months at least to build one.”

The cat quickly realised the problem. It was a little too late.

Jerrix scratched his furry head thinking things over.

“If you ask me,” the engineer said. “We are truly finished.”

“Hold on a second,” the cat said slowly. “You have gravity inducers
onboard.”

“So what? They only work within the ship.”

“Not if you create a gravity net.”

The engineer looked puzzled.

“How on earth do we do that?”

“We need two polarisers,” Jerrix explained. “One on the bow, and the
other on the stern. That would do it for certain.”

“I suppose so,” the engineer said thoughtfully. We keep those spare.”

“Then do it man,” Jerrix told him. “Within the day, this ship will be rock solid.”

The engineer was about to reply when an alarm klaxon sounded.

“Sounds like trouble,” the engineer said.

“I had better find out what’s up,” the cat replied bounding off.

He left the engineer to gather the team necessary to carry out the delicate space walk. Then they had to fit the polarisers. It would be dangerous of course, but all their lives depended on it. His included.