Quotes
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Avon : I am not expendable, I'm not stupid and I'm not going.
-
Cally : I'm going down.
Vila Restal : You can't do that, Cally.
Cally : They are in trouble. Someone must go down!
Olag Gan : I'll go.
Vila Restal : Gan'll go!
Olag Gan : And Vila will go with me, won't you Vila?
Vila Restal : Will I?
Olag Gan : Well, it'd be stupid to go on my own. And you wouldn't want to send Cally in your place, would you?
Vila Restal : Probably not.
[to Avon:]
Vila Restal : What about you?
Kerr Avon : What about me?
Vila Restal : Why don't you go?
Kerr Avon : *You* are expendable.
Vila Restal : And you're not?
Kerr Avon : No, I am not. I am not expendable, I'm not stupid, and I'm not going.
Olag Gan : I'll get the guns.
-
Avon : What's a freighter doing this far out? He's in Zone Eight already. Where the hell is he going?
Blake : Zen, plot of the freighter's course?
Zen : Freighter's course is one oh four grid.
Blake : [surprised] That'll take him into Zone Nine.
Avon : [ironically] So, we are free of the Federation.
Blake : Persistent, aren't they?
Avon : Let's just get out of his way.
Blake : It was you that asked the question. Where are they going? We're hiding, already on the edge of the spiral rim. He's going further out.
Blake : [after a moment's pause] Zen, give us a course and speed where we can observe out of range of the freighter's detectors.
Avon : I'm sorry I mentioned it.
Vila : Aren't we all?
-
Zen : The freighter's present course will take it into Zone Nine in four hours at present speed.
Blake : Where in Zone Nine?
Zen : The freighter is on course for the only habitable planet in Zone Nine.
Blake : Which is?
Zen : Code-named Horizon.
Blake : "Horizon"?
Avon : Code-named by whom?
Zen : Data was obtained via Federation cipher. Data also suggests that it is visited annually by a Federation supply freighter.
Blake : Carrying what?
Zen : There is no information.
[Blake considers for a moment]
Blake : What are the surface conditions on Horizon?
Zen : Negative information.
Blake : Population?
Zen : Negative information.
Blake : Well, is there *any* information on Horizon?
Zen : Negative.
Blake : Well, is the information on Horizon *classified*?
Zen : Negative information.
Vila : Well, that was a whole lot of nothing.
-
Jenna Stannis : Why exactly are we going down?
Blake : The Resistance needs a base, Jenna.
[Blake accepts teleport bracelet from Jenna]
Blake : Thank you. Somewhere to operate from.
Jenna Stannis : And this could be it?
Blake : Well, it's as good as any other. We know the Federation only visit it once a year; it's on the edge of the spiral rim... Oh, hell, I'm tired of running, Jenna. We must get at least *one* planet behind us.
Jenna Stannis : And why are you taking me with you?
Blake : [unconvincingly:] I trust you to back me.
Jenna Stannis : Thanks. But there's more to it than that: you were very deliberate.
Blake : Covering the angles?
Jenna Stannis : Well, how do you mean?
Blake : Avon might run.
[Avon enters the teleport bay quietly behind Blake and Jenna, overhearing]
Blake : But he probably won't without a first-class pilot. He, um, plays the percentages.
Jenna Stannis : Unlike you.
Avon : I am ready if you are.
-
Avon : If I go alone, can I pilot the Liberator indefinitely?
Orac : With the help of the automatics, of course you can.
Avon : I know that.
Orac : [testily] Then why did you ask the question?
Avon : [Avon smiles] I didn't. How long can I maintain myself?
Orac : Is *that* a question?
Avon : Yes.
Orac : We have concentrated food for one person for a thousand years.
Avon : And our power is self-regenerating.
Orac : Affirmative.
Avon : Can you plot courses to keep out of the range of any known spaceship manned by the Federation?
Orac : The battle and navigation computers can handle that perfectly adequately.
Avon : I asked if *you* could.
Orac : Of course, should it be necessary.
Avon : Failing that, we are powerful enough to resist all but an attack by three Federation pursuit ships at once.
Orac : Is that a question?
Avon : No. If we go now, we can sail the universe for as long as we like in reasonable safety, provided we keep out of everybody's way and we do not do anything rash.
Orac : No data available to answer the question... if it was a question.
Avon : I put it to you as a possibility. I request the odds.
Orac : The odds would be three point five to one on survival.
Avon : [Resolute:] Therefore I do not need Blake, I do not need any of the others...
Orac : Is that a question?
Avon : ...I do not need anybody at all.
Orac : Is that a question? I - I - I must ask you to be more specific!
Avon : [snaps out of his moment:] Shut up, Orac.
-
[Avon walks around the flight deck. Coded beeps come in]
Avon : Zen, what was that?
Zen : A message from the Federation freighter on the planet Horizon.
Avon : What did it say - Decode.
Zen : It is in Federation code nine. Message reads, "Top priority signal to any Federation pursuit unit, from Kommissar, planet Horizon. Request assistance. Ruler of Horizon unreliable, am disposing of him. Rebel spaceship at grid reference ten by thirteen W Zed. Request you destroy this spaceship at once. Also inform Federation Central Control of this action. Await confirmation."
Avon : Has anybody else picked it up?
Zen : Negative.
[Avon turns just before more beeps come in. He turns back]
Avon : [Firmly:] Decode.
Zen : From Federation Pursuit Flotilla Thirteen, to Kommissar, planet Horizon. Message reads, "Coming to your immediate aid. Regret cannot relay your message to Federation Central Control. They are out of range. Planetfall, two hours from now."
Avon : How many pursuit ships in Flotilla Thirteen?
Zen : Three pursuit ships.
[Avon laughs at how fate has foiled his plan before it could start]
