Editing Summary:Skyward

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;Characters
 
;Characters
 
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{{columns|
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (point of view)
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* [[Spensa Nightshade]]
 
* [[Zeen Nightshade]]
 
* [[Zeen Nightshade]]
 
* [[Matthew Cobb]]
 
* [[Matthew Cobb]]
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;Characters
 
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* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (point of view)
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* [[Spensa Nightshade]]
 
* [[Aluko]]
 
* [[Aluko]]
 
* [[Becca Nightshade]]
 
* [[Becca Nightshade]]
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;Plot Summary
 
;Plot Summary
Nine and a half years later, Spensa hunts rats in a cavern, imagining her speargun to be a rifle, nearby rocks to be fortifications, and the rat to be an enemy. She checks the clock on her light-line, and decides it is getting late and she needs to head back to avoid missing too much of the school day. She comes to an intersection with old machinery, where she collects some water from a tube, before heading forward again and reaching Igneous, her home cavern. She stashes some of her supplies in a obscure maintenance locker. Spensa comes to a check-in point where two ground soldiers make her wait for verification and authorization to enter, even though they know each other. She resents having to go through this every day. Alukos, one of the soldiers, calls her a coward after he finishes searching her bag for contraband, and Spensa tells him that someday he will be grateful for having known her, which he dismisses contemptuously. Spensa heads towards her neighborhood, the Glorious Rises of Industry, passing by a statue of the First Citizens, before reaching her family's apartment. While Spensa's mother isn't home, her grandmother, Gran-Gran, is. Gran-Gran is making algae rolls to sell, which is done since Spensa's mother can't get a job due to them being the family of a coward. She greets Spensa as the latter delivers her rats. Spensa notes that Gran-Gran has forgotten about her needing to attend school, something she misses a lot of due to it currently being about job opportunities she doesn't care for since Spensa is set on becoming a pilot. As they prepare the rats, Gran-Gran starts telling a story about Beowulf. Afterwards, she talks about the history of their clan, the Motorskaps, and tells Spensa to do her exercises, which she has been neglecting. Following her grandmother's instructions, Spensa closes her eyes and tries to listen to the stars and imagine herself flying, even though she finds it boring. Gran-Gran talks about their people, who worked on the engine room of the fleet's flagship. They were considered strange by the other crews, but were able to make the ship move, said to be because they could hear the stars. For a moment, Spensa thinks she can hear a "distant, pure sound". She asks Gran-Gran why the engine crews were important, rather than firing the weapons, which Gran-Gran dismisses, saying that ship movement is also important. She tells Spensa that she will tell her about Sun Tzu tomorrow, though Spensa wants to hear about Genghis Khan. Gran-Gran then mentions Queen Boudicca, who she claims is another of Spensa's ancestors. Spensa's mother interrupts, saying that all of those people being her ancestors is implausible and telling Spensa that she needs to go to school.
+
Nine and a half years later, Spensa hunts rats in a cavern, imagining her speargun to be a rifle, nearby rocks to be fortifications, and the rat to be an enemy. She checks the clock on her light-line, and decides it is getting late and she needs to head back to avoid missing too much of the school day. She comes to an intersection with old machinery, where she collects some water from a tube, before heading forward again and reaching Igneous, her home cavern. She stashes some of her supplies in a obscure maintenance locker. Spensa comes to a check-in point where two ground soldiers make her wait for verification and authorization to enter, even though they know each other. She resents having to go through this every day. Alukos, one of the soldiers, calls her a coward after he finishes searching her bag for contraband, and Spensa tells him that someday he will be grateful for having known her, which he dismisses contemptuously. Spensa heads towards her neighborhood, the Glorious Rises of Industry, passing by a statue of the First Citizens, before reaching her family's apartment. While Spensa's mother isn't home, her grandmother, Gran-Gran, is. Gran-Gran is making algae rolls to sell, which is done since Spensa's mother can't get a job due to them being the family of a coward. She greets Spensa as the latter delivers her rats. Spensa notes that Gran-Gran has forgotten about her needing to attend school, something she misses a lot of due to it currently being about job opportunities she doesn't care for since Spensa is set on becoming a pilot. As they prepare the rats, Gran-Gran starts telling a story about Beowulf. Afterwards, she talks about the history of their clan, the Motorskaps, and tells Spensa to do her exercises, which she has been neglecting. Following her grandmother's instructions, Spensa closes her eyes and tries to listen to the stars and imagine herself flying, even though she finds it boring. Gran-Gran talks about their people, who worked on the engine room of the fleet's flagship. They were considered strange by the other crews, but were able to make ship move, said to be because they could hear the stars. For a moment, Spensa thinks she can hear a "distant, pure sound". She asks Gran-Gran why the engine crews were important, rather than firing the weapons, which Gran-Gran dismisses, saying that ship movement is also important. She tells Spensa that she will tell her about Sun Tzu tomorrow, though Spensa wants to hear about Genghis Khan. Gran-Gran then mentions Queen Boudicca, who she claims is another of Spensa's ancestors. Spensa's mother interrupts, saying that all of those people being her ancestors is implausible and telling Spensa that she needs to go to school.
   
 
=== Chapter 2 ===
 
=== Chapter 2 ===
 
;Characters
 
;Characters
 
{{columns|
 
{{columns|
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (point of view)
+
* [[Spensa Nightshade]]
 
* [[Alfir]]
 
* [[Alfir]]
 
* [[Vmeer]]
 
* [[Vmeer]]
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;Characters
 
;Characters
 
{{columns|
 
{{columns|
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (point of view)
+
* [[Spensa Nightshade]]
 
* [[M-Bot]]
 
* [[M-Bot]]
 
}}
 
}}
   
 
;Plot Summary
 
;Plot Summary
Still upset over being denied the chance to become a pilot, Spensa runs off to the caverns, seeking refuge there. She uses her light-line to make her way down a cliff and into another cavern with kurdi mushrooms, which attract rats. She turns off her light-line and settles down to hunt. She notes that while exploring usually helps take her mind off her worries, it's not working this time. The cavern shakes a bit, and Spensa realizes that she is quite close to the surface. She checks her clock, seeing that night has already passed, and it is near noon of the next day, almost the time for the pilot test, which takes place in the evening. She dismisses it, thinking that the test is pointless since she won't be able to get in anyway. Spensa climbs up to the surface, marvels at seeing the sky again, then realizes that she is quite close to Alta Base, though she only watches from a distance, since getting too close would make the guards mistake her for a scavenger. Suddenly, some debris starts falling towards her. Scrambling, Spensa takes cover in another small cavern. After the debris lands, she gets up and checks around. While Spensa is fine, her speargun is broken, and she chastises herself for being impulsive. She hears a scrabbling sound, which causes her to check for more rats, or a water pipe. Instead, Spensa finds a ship in the corner of the cavern, surrounded by rubble.
+
Still upset over being denied the chance to become a pilot, Spensa runs off to the caverns, seeking refuge there. She uses her light-line to make her way down a cliff and into another cavern with kurdi mushrooms, which attract rats. She turns off her light-line and settles down to hunt. She notes that while exploring usually helps take her mind off her worries, it's not working this time. The cavern shakes a bit, and Spensa realizes that she is quite close to the surface. She checks her clock, seeing that night has already passed, and it is near noon of the next day, almost the time for the pilot test, which takes place in the evening. She dismisses it, thinking that the test is pointless since she won't be able to get in anyway. Spensa climbs up to the surface, marvels at seeing the sky again, then realizes that she is quite close to Alta Base, though she only watches from a distance, since getting to close would make the guards mistake her for a scavenger. Suddenly, some debris starts falling towards her. Scrambling, Spensa takes cover in another small cavern. After the debris lands, she gets up checks around. While Spensa is fine, her speargun is broken, and she chastises herself for being impulsive. She hears a scrabbling sound, which causes her to check for more rats, or a water pipe. Instead, Spensa finds a ship in the corner of the cavern, surrounded by rubble.
   
 
=== Chapter 4 ===
 
=== Chapter 4 ===
 
;Characters
 
;Characters
 
{{columns|
 
{{columns|
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (point of view)
+
* [[Spensa Nightshade]]
 
* [[M-Bot]]
 
* [[M-Bot]]
 
}}
 
}}
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;Characters
 
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{{columns|
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (point of view)
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* [[Spensa Nightshade]]
 
* [[Judy Ivans]]
 
* [[Judy Ivans]]
 
* [[Rodge McCaffery]]
 
* [[Rodge McCaffery]]
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;Characters
 
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{{columns|
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (point of view)
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* [[Spensa Nightshade]]
 
* [[Matthew Cobb]]
 
* [[Matthew Cobb]]
 
* [[Judy Ivans]] (mentioned only)
 
* [[Judy Ivans]] (mentioned only)
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;Characters
 
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* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (point of view)
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* [[Spensa Nightshade]]
 
* [[Kimmalyn]]
 
* [[Kimmalyn]]
 
* [[Zeen Nightshade]] (mentioned only)
 
* [[Zeen Nightshade]] (mentioned only)
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;Characters
 
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* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (point of view)
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* [[Spensa Nightshade]]
 
* [[Kimmalyn]]
 
* [[Kimmalyn]]
 
* [[Bim]]
 
* [[Bim]]
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;Plot Summary
 
;Plot Summary
Spensa and Kimmalyn enter the room, first, and see ten Poco-class training cockpits forming a circle. The door opens, and two more cadets enter, Bim, a short Yeongian boy with dark blue hair, and Hudiya, a blonde, athletic-looking girl from Igneous. After those two came Morningtide, a Vician girl with a tattoo across her lower jaw. After Morningtide enters comes Freyja, a tall skinny girl with very short blonde hair. After Freyja comes Jorgen, Arturo, and Ned. Jorgen calls for the cadets to line up against the wall, to which Hudiya and Spensa object to. Spensa calls him "Jerkface", and then takes a shot at him being an entitled son of a First Citizen, because he didn't have to take his entry test to Flight School. After arguing for a little while longer, Spensa realizes that none of the cadets in the Flight School know her personally, therefore, none of them know who her father is, meaning she has a clean slate and can start anew with this group. After this realization, Mongrel enters the room, and identifies himself as Captain Cobb. Mongrel tells the cadets their chances of even making it out of Flight School are slim, and then designates Jorgen as flightleader, with Arturo and Nedd as assistant flightleaders. Spensa is outraged, so Mongrel takes her into the hallway, and tells her to knock it off because he's already stuck his neck out for her far enough, and informs her that between the three of them, Jorgen, Arturo, and Nedd have thousands of flight hours logged, as well as multiple relatives who made it out of the Flight School to become full-fledged DDF members. This shuts Spensa up, and she asks Mongrel if she needs to do any menial labor as punishment; Mongrel tells her the punishment for acting out of line is simple - she won't get to fly.
+
Spensa and Kimmalyn enter the room, first, and see ten Poco-class training cockpits forming a circle. The door opens, and two more cadets enter, Bim, a short Yeongian boy with dark blue hair, and Hudiya, a blonde, athletic-looking girl from Igneous. After those two came Morningtide, a Vician girl with a tattoo across her lower jaw. After Morningtide enters comes Freyja, a tall skinny girl with very short blonde hair. After Freyja comes Jorgen, Arturo, and Ned. Jorgen calls for the cadets to line up against the wall, to which Hudiya and Spensa object to. Spensa calls him "Jerkface", and then takes a shot at him being an entitled son of a First Citizen, because he didn't have to take his entry test to Flight School. After arguing for a little while longer, Spensa realizes that none of the cadets in the Flight School know her personally, therefore, none of them know who her father is, meaning she has a clean slate and can start anew with this group. After this realization, Mongrel enters the room, and identifies himself as Captain Cobb. Mongrel tells the cadets their chances of even making it out of Flight School are slim, and then designates Jorgen as flightleader, with Arturo and Ned as assistant flightleaders. Spensa is outraged, so Mongrel takes her into the hallway, and tells her to knock it off because he's already stuck his neck out for her far enough, and informs her that between the three of them, Jorgen, Arturo, and Ned have thousands of flight hours logged, as well as multiple relatives who made it out of the Flight School to become full-fledged DDF members. This shuts Spensa up, and she asks Mongrel if she needs to do any menial labor as punishment; Mongrel tells her the punishment for acting out of line is simple - she won't get to fly.
   
 
=== Chapter 9 ===
 
=== Chapter 9 ===
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;Characters
 
;Characters
 
{{columns|
 
{{columns|
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (point of view)
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* [[Spensa Nightshade]]
 
* [[Kimmalyn]]
 
* [[Kimmalyn]]
 
* [[Bim]]
 
* [[Bim]]
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;Characters
 
;Characters
 
{{columns|
 
{{columns|
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (point of view)
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* [[Spensa Nightshade]]
 
* [[Kimmalyn]]
 
* [[Kimmalyn]]
 
* [[Bim]]
 
* [[Bim]]
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;Characters
 
;Characters
 
{{columns|
 
{{columns|
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (point of view)
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* [[Spensa Nightshade]]
 
* [[Kimmalyn]]
 
* [[Kimmalyn]]
 
* [[Bim]]
 
* [[Bim]]
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;Characters
 
;Characters
 
{{columns|
 
{{columns|
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (point of view)
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* [[Spensa Nightshade]]
 
* [[Doomslug]]
 
* [[Doomslug]]
 
* [[M-Bot]]
 
* [[M-Bot]]
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;Characters
 
;Characters
 
{{columns|
 
{{columns|
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (point of view)
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* [[Spensa Nightshade]]
 
* [[Kimmalyn]]
 
* [[Kimmalyn]]
 
* [[Bim]]
 
* [[Bim]]
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;Characters
 
;Characters
 
{{columns|
 
{{columns|
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (point of view)
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* [[Spensa Nightshade]]
 
* [[Kimmalyn]]
 
* [[Kimmalyn]]
 
* [[Bim]]
 
* [[Bim]]
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;Characters
 
;Characters
 
{{columns|
 
{{columns|
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (point of view)
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* [[Spensa Nightshade]]
 
* [[Kimmalyn]]
 
* [[Kimmalyn]]
 
* [[Bim]]
 
* [[Bim]]
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;Characters
 
;Characters
 
{{columns|
 
{{columns|
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (point of view)
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* [[Spensa Nightshade]]
 
* [[Doomslug]]
 
* [[Doomslug]]
 
* [[M-Bot]]
 
* [[M-Bot]]
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;Characters
 
;Characters
 
{{columns|
 
{{columns|
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (point of view)
+
* [[Spensa Nightshade]]
 
* [[Doomslug]]
 
* [[Doomslug]]
 
* [[M-Bot]]
 
* [[M-Bot]]
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;Characters
 
;Characters
 
{{columns|
 
{{columns|
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (point of view)
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* [[Spensa Nightshade]]
 
* [[Doomslug]]
 
* [[Doomslug]]
 
* [[M-Bot]]
 
* [[M-Bot]]
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;Characters
 
;Characters
 
{{columns|
 
{{columns|
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (point of view)
+
* [[Spensa Nightshade]]
 
* [[Kimmalyn]]
 
* [[Kimmalyn]]
 
* [[Bim]]
 
* [[Bim]]
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;Characters
 
;Characters
 
{{columns|
 
{{columns|
* [[Judy Ivans]] (point of view)
+
* [[Judy Ivans]]
 
* [[Matthew Cobb]]
 
* [[Matthew Cobb]]
 
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (mentioned only)
 
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (mentioned only)
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;Characters
 
;Characters
 
{{columns|
 
{{columns|
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (point of view)
+
* [[Spensa Nightshade]]
 
* [[Matthew Cobb]]
 
* [[Matthew Cobb]]
 
* [[Jorgen Weight]]
 
* [[Jorgen Weight]]
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;Characters
 
;Characters
 
{{columns|
 
{{columns|
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (point of view)
+
* [[Spensa Nightshade]]
 
* [[Matthew Cobb]]
 
* [[Matthew Cobb]]
 
* [[Jorgen Weight]]
 
* [[Jorgen Weight]]
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;Characters
 
;Characters
 
{{columns|
 
{{columns|
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (point of view)
+
* [[Spensa Nightshade]]
 
* [[M-Bot]]
 
* [[M-Bot]]
 
* [[Rodge McCaffery]]
 
* [[Rodge McCaffery]]
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;Plot Summary
 
;Plot Summary
Rig and Spensa are back in the cave working on M-Bot, arguing about why the DDF would cover up Spensa's father's betrayal. Spensa is also still mourning Bim and Morningtide. Rig believes that once they repair M-Bot, he will be FAST, even faster than the scouts. Rig also explains where he has been getting all of his spare parts and how impressed his superiors are at his detailed copying of M-Bot's rotating side, capable of further limiting the effects of high g-forces on the human body. Rig and Spensa continue arguing about a DDF-wide cover up, when M-Bot answers Spensa's question about why the DDF would lie with his own theory, the Greater Argument for Human-Originated Chaos(GAFHOC). Because humans have free will, they are impossible to completely predict, unlike machines, who are designed to execute commands given through lines of code. Rig informs Spensa that he still needs to look over M-Bot's intakes, thrusters, joints, atmospheric scoops, and GravCaps. He Also informs Spensa that she'll need to find a way to get a central booster from any starship with one anywhere from A-17 to A-32. These engines are only found on DDF starships, which would require Spensa to commit treason. Rig informs Spensa that M-Bot is equipped with a cleansing pod, a luxury only the rich in the lower caverns have. Spensa lowers herself in, and takes a good, long, relaxing soak.
+
Rig and Spensa are back in the cave working on M-Bot, arguing about why the DDF would cover up Spensa's father's betrayal. Spensa is also still mourning Bim and Morningtide. Rig believes that once they repair M-Bot, he will be FAST, even faster than the scouts. Rig also explains where he has been getting all of his spare parts and how impressed his superiors are at his detailed copying of M-Bot's rotating side, capable of further limiting the effects of high g-forces on the human body. Rig and Spensa continue arguing about a DDF-wide cover up, when M-Bot answers Spensa's question about why the DDF would lie with his own theory, the Greater Argument for Human-Originated Chaos(GAFHOC). Because humans have free will, they are impossible to completely predict, unlike machines, who are designed to execute commands given through lines of code. Rig informs Spensa that he still needs to look over M-Bot's intakes, thrusters, joints, atmospheric scoops, and GravCaps. He Also informs Spensa that she'll need to find a way to get a central booster from any starship with one anywhere from A-17 to A-32. These engines are only found on DDF starships, which would require Spensa to commit treason. Rig informs Spensa that M-Bot is equipped with a cleansing pod, a luxury only the rich in the lower cavers have. Spensa lowers herself in, and takes a good, long, relaxing soak.
   
 
=== Chapter 23 ===
 
=== Chapter 23 ===
 
;Characters
 
;Characters
 
{{columns|
 
{{columns|
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (point of view)
+
* [[Spensa Nightshade]]
 
* [[M-Bot]]
 
* [[M-Bot]]
 
* [[Matthew Cobb]]
 
* [[Matthew Cobb]]
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;Plot Summary
 
;Plot Summary
Cobb declares that he is satisfied with Skyward Flight's skill with light-lances, and tells them to move on to training with IMPs. Spensa tries to talk to Hurl over a private channel, but Hurl gives her a cold shoulder because she found out that Spensa is the daughter of Zeen Nightshade. Cobb tells Spensa to give an explanation on shields, then adds that IMPs only work in a tight fifty-meter radius and disables the pilot's own shields as well, but that they are needed to negate the Krell's advantage of better shields. Spensa starts practicing IMPing simulated Krell ships with Nedd, her partner for the day. Nedd complains about the exercises being boring, but Spensa enjoys it and feels closer to her father when flying, even if it is only in a simulation. After completing a particularly difficult run, Spensa talks to Nedd for a bit, pointing out that Nedd isn't as dumb as he presents himself to be. Kimmalyn and Hurl mess up a run, with Kimmalyn losing control and crashing. Nedd teases her over it, and when Spensa tries to stop him, he tells her that she needs to be teased a bit to help her deal with the anxiety over being the worse pilot in the class. They move on to talking about Hurl. M-Bot juts in, and Spensa asks him how he got into their lines. He replies that he is an stealth ship that has advanced communications technology, and got in through her personal radio. Kimmalyn messes up another run, and Spensa thinks about how they're wasting her potential while practicing fundamentals. Cobb tells Spensa that it's her turn, and as she starts flying, she sees that she has a tail even though the exercise is supposed to be one-on-one. Spensa manages to IMP her target, but takes damage in the process. Jorgen chastises her, saying that she'd be dead if it were a real battle, and she retorts that she accomplished her objective. Cobb sides with Jorgen, before telling them to do some monotonous gamma-M formation exercises and leaving. Spensa is frustrated during the entire exercise, refusing to talk to even M-Bot. After finishing, Spensa stews by herself and ignores Jorgen's orders for lineup. He starts arguing with her over her constantly disobeying his orders. Incensed, Spensa attacks Jorgen, getting on top of him and preparing a punch. Nedd is impressed, and the other cadets are shocked. Spensa lets go, and Jorgen complains about her assaulting a superior officer. The two exchange a hard look before Spensa grabs her pack and leaves.
+
Cobb declares that he is satisfied with Skyward Flight's skill with light-lances, and tells them to move on to training with IMPs. Spensa tries to talk to Hurl over a private channel, but Hurl gives her a cold shoulder because she found out that Spensa is the daughter of Zeen Nightshade. Cobb tells Spensa to give an explanation on shields, then adds that IMPs only work in a tight filthy-meter radius and disables the pilot's own shields as well, but that they are needed to negate the Krell's advantage of better shields. Spensa starts practicing IMPing simulated Krell ships with Nedd, her partner for the day. Nedd complains about the exercises being boring, but Spensa enjoys it and feels closer to her father when flying, even if it is only in a simulation. After completing a particularly difficult run, Spensa talks to Nedd for a bit, pointing out that Nedd isn't as dumb as he presents himself to be. Kimmalyn and Hurl mess up a run, with Kimmalyn losing control and crashing. Nedd teases her over it, and when Spensa tries to stop him, he tells her that she needs to be teased a bit to help her deal with the anxiety over being the worse pilot in the class. They move on to talking about Hurl. M-Bot juts in, and Spensa asks him how he got into their lines. He replies that he is an stealth ship that has advanced communications technology, and got in through her personal radio. Kimmalyn messes up another run, and Spensa thinks about how they're wasting her potential while practicing fundamentals. Cobb tells Spensa that it's her turn, and as she starts flying, she sees that she has a tail even though the exercise is supposed to be one-on-one. Spensa manages to IMP her target, but takes damage in the process. Jorgen chastises her, saying that she'd be dead if it were a real battle, and she retorts that she accomplished her objective. Cobb sides with Jorgen, before telling them to do some monotonous gamma-M formation exercises and leaving. Spensa is frustrated during the entire exercise, refusing to talk to even M-Bot. After finishing, Spensa stews by herself and ignores Jorgen's orders for lineup. He starts arguing with her over her constantly disobeying his orders. Incensed, Spensa attacks Jorgen, getting on top of him and preparing a punch. Nedd is impressed, and the other cadets are shocked. Spensa lets go, and Jorgen complains about her assaulting a superior officer. The two exchange a hard look before Spensa grabs her pack and leaves.
   
 
=== Chapter 24 ===
 
=== Chapter 24 ===
 
;Characters
 
;Characters
 
{{columns|
 
{{columns|
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (point of view)
+
* [[Spensa Nightshade]]
 
* [[M-Bot]]
 
* [[M-Bot]]
 
* [[Jorgen Weight]]
 
* [[Jorgen Weight]]
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;Characters
 
;Characters
 
{{columns|
 
{{columns|
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (point of view)
+
* [[Spensa Nightshade]]
 
* [[M-Bot]]
 
* [[M-Bot]]
 
* [[Matthew Cobb]]
 
* [[Matthew Cobb]]
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;Plot Summary
 
;Plot Summary
Spensa settles into the cockpit of her Poco-class starfighter for the first time since Bim and Morningtide died. The rest of Skyward Flight and she are going on another training routine. Cobb directs them to a set of coordinates, where five full-fledged DDF flights are monitoring a large group of falling debris, having lost orbit. They are all present in case the Krell come to prevent the humans from obtaining more acclivity rings. Skyward Flight is there to have some target practice, as their destructors have been outfitted with beacons to tag valuable space junk. The members of the flight go out in pairs to tag the junk for a while, as Spensa and Cobb argue over radio about whether or not they're using Kimmalyn's talent as a gunner and poor skills as a fighter pilot correctly. After a while M-Bot begins to talk to her, when all of a sudden, the sky begins to darken and an absolute behemoth of a piece of space junk slowly comes into view, descending towards Detritus. On the bottom of it are hundreds of decaying acclivity rings, and with the falling piece of junk come 30 Krell fighters. Cobb instructs the flight to flee the fight, only for Spensa to get tailed on the way out. While she's being chased, M-Bot reveals that the behemoth rock is in fact half of a C-137-KJM orbital shipyard with an added delver training facility. Kimmalyn snipes the Krell after it breaks Spensa's shield, and Nedd sees six Krell tailing two members of Nightstorm Flight, who he follows. Spensa goes after him to act as wingmate, but the two members of Nightstorm Flight go through a hole in the shipyard, along with the six Krell and Nedd, forcing Spensa to follow.
+
Spensa settles into the cockpit of her Poco-class starfighter for the first time since Bim and Morningtide died. The rest of Skyward Flight and her are going on another training routine. Cobb directs them to a set of coordinates, where five full-fledged DDF flights are monitoring a large group of falling debris, having lost orbit. They are all present in case the Krell come to prevent the humans from obtaining more acclivity rings. Skyward Flight is there to have some target practice, as their destructors have been outfitted with beacons to tag valuable space junk. The members of the flight go out in pairs to tag the junk for a while, as Spensa and Cobb argue over radio about whether or not they're using Kimmalyn's talent as a gunner and poor skills as a fighter pilot correctly. After a while M-Bot begins to talk to her, when all of a sudden, the sky begins to darken and an absolute behemoth of a piece of space junk slowly comes into view, descending towards Detritus. On the bottom of it are hundreds if decaying acclivity rings, and with the falling piece of junk come 30 Krell fighters. Cobb instructs the flight to flee the fight, only for Spensa to get tailed on the way out. While she's being chased, M-Bot reveals that the behemoth rock is in fact half of a C-137-KJM orbital shipyard with an added delver training facility. Kimmalyn snipes the Krell after it breaks Spensa's shield, and Nedd sees six Krell tailing two members of Nightstorm Flight, who he follows. Spensa goes after him to act as wingmate, but the two members of Nightstorm Flight go through a hole in the shipyard, along with the six Krell and Nedd, forcing Spensa to follow.
   
 
=== Chapter 26 ===
 
=== Chapter 26 ===
 
;Characters
 
;Characters
 
{{columns|
 
{{columns|
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (point of view)
+
* [[Spensa Nightshade]]
 
* [[M-Bot]]
 
* [[M-Bot]]
 
* [[Matthew Cobb]]
 
* [[Matthew Cobb]]
Line 468: Line 468:
 
;Characters
 
;Characters
 
{{columns|
 
{{columns|
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (point of view)
+
* [[Spensa Nightshade]]
 
* [[M-Bot]]
 
* [[M-Bot]]
 
* [[Matthew Cobb]]
 
* [[Matthew Cobb]]
Line 488: Line 488:
 
;Characters
 
;Characters
 
{{columns|
 
{{columns|
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (point of view)
+
* [[Spensa Nightshade]]
 
* [[Freyja Marten]]
 
* [[Freyja Marten]]
 
* [[Kimmalyn]]
 
* [[Kimmalyn]]
Line 503: Line 503:
 
;Characters
 
;Characters
 
{{columns|
 
{{columns|
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (point of view)
+
* [[Spensa Nightshade]]
 
* [[Jorgen Weight]]
 
* [[Jorgen Weight]]
 
* [[M-Bot]]
 
* [[M-Bot]]
Line 517: Line 517:
 
;Characters
 
;Characters
 
{{columns|
 
{{columns|
* [[Judy Ivans]] (point of view)
+
* [[Judy Ivans]]
 
* [[Rikolfr]]
 
* [[Rikolfr]]
 
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (mentioned only)
 
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (mentioned only)
Line 531: Line 531:
 
;Characters
 
;Characters
 
{{columns|
 
{{columns|
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (point of view)
+
* [[Spensa Nightshade]]
 
* [[Rodge McCaffery]]
 
* [[Rodge McCaffery]]
 
* [[M-Bot]]
 
* [[M-Bot]]
Line 548: Line 548:
 
;Characters
 
;Characters
 
{{columns|
 
{{columns|
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (point of view)
+
* [[Spensa Nightshade]]
 
* [[M-Bot]]
 
* [[M-Bot]]
 
* [[Freyja Marten]]
 
* [[Freyja Marten]]
Line 566: Line 566:
 
;Characters
 
;Characters
 
{{columns|
 
{{columns|
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (point of view)
+
* [[Spensa Nightshade]]
 
* [[Freyja Marten]]
 
* [[Freyja Marten]]
 
* [[Jorgen Weight]]
 
* [[Jorgen Weight]]
Line 586: Line 586:
 
;Characters
 
;Characters
 
{{columns|
 
{{columns|
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (point of view)
+
* [[Spensa Nightshade]]
 
* [[Freyja Marten]]
 
* [[Freyja Marten]]
 
* [[Jorgen Weight]]
 
* [[Jorgen Weight]]
Line 602: Line 602:
   
 
=== Chapter 34 ===
 
=== Chapter 34 ===
;Characters
 
{{columns|
 
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (point of view)
 
* [[M-Bot]]
 
* [[Jorgen Weight]]
 
* [[Hudiya]] (mentioned only)
 
* [[Nedd Strong]] (mentioned only)
 
* [[Kimmalyn]] (mentioned only)
 
* [[Algernon Weight]] (mentioned only)
 
}}
 
 
;Plot Summary
 
 
Spensa walks towards the crash site. M-Bot contacts her on her radio to ask if it is a good idea, but Spensa tells him to leave her alone. She has gone around two hours from Alta when a hovercar approaches and Jorgen stops to ask if she is really going to walk all the way there considering how dangerous it is outside. He offers to give her a ride, and she reluctantly accepts it since it will cut the trip down from days into hours. Jorgen tells Spensa that he wants to go with her to Hurl's funeral, and that he brought materials for a pyre. Jorgen tries to talk to her as they drive, but Spensa shuts him down and asks if he really cares. She then asks why he puts up with her, and Jorgen replies that even though she is insubordinate, she saved Nedd and helps save lives when she flies with the team. Spensa points out that Hurl and Kimmalyn are still gone from the flight, and Jorgen replies that it is his duty as flightleader to keep everyone together. Jorgen calls the AA-gun battery to keep them from being shot at as they pass, and they soon locate Hurl's wreck afterwards. They get out of the car and walk to the wreck, before heading to where the cockpit is. Spensa looks in and confirms to herself that Hurl really is dead. Examining the skid marks made by the crash, Spensa realizes that Hurl was nearly horizontal at the end, almost managing to safely land her ship. Jorgen takes a look in the cockpit, before turning away. Spensa sticks herself in and pulls Hurl's pin off her body. She thinks about the defiant expression on Hurl's face and wonders if it mattered whether someone was brave or cowardly in they died in the end, before chastising herself for being disrespectful. Jorgen gets the supplies out of the car and they set up a pyre around the cockpit, before Spensa ignites it. The two stand back and Jorgen recites part of an officer's elegy. The two stay and watch as the fire burns itself out. Jorgen tells Spensa that he isn't really defiant, since he is just going with what his family wants, and will be pulled out of the DDF after spending six months as a full pilot and gaining enough of a reputation in politics. He adds that he will miss flying, and that controlled joyrides won't be enough after he has experienced piloting a starfighter. Spensa comments that even though Jorgen's father isn't called a coward, he still is trapped in his shadow. As the fire dies down, Spensa comments that Hurl was more like her than she herself in some ways. The two start to go back to the car, when Spensa looks over the wreck again and sees how Hurl managed to keep some parts of the ship intact, the booster included. She thinks to herself for a moment before asking Jorgen for help moving the booster.
 
Spensa walks towards the crash site. M-Bot contacts her on her radio to ask if it is a good idea, but Spensa tells him to leave her alone. She has gone around two hours from Alta when a hovercar approaches and Jorgen stops to ask if she is really going to walk all the way there considering how dangerous it is outside. He offers to give her a ride, and she reluctantly accepts it since it will cut the trip down from days into hours. Jorgen tells Spensa that he wants to go with her to Hurl's funeral, and that he brought materials for a pyre. Jorgen tries to talk to her as they drive, but Spensa shuts him down and asks if he really cares. She then asks why he puts up with her, and Jorgen replies that even though she is insubordinate, she saved Nedd and helps save lives when she flies with the team. Spensa points out that Hurl and Kimmalyn are still gone from the flight, and Jorgen replies that it is his duty as flightleader to keep everyone together. Jorgen calls the AA-gun battery to keep them from being shot at as they pass, and they soon locate Hurl's wreck afterwards. They get out of the car and walk to the wreck, before heading to where the cockpit is. Spensa looks in and confirms to herself that Hurl really is dead. Examining the skid marks made by the crash, Spensa realizes that Hurl was nearly horizontal at the end, almost managing to safely land her ship. Jorgen takes a look in the cockpit, before turning away. Spensa sticks herself in and pulls Hurl's pin off her body. She thinks about the defiant expression on Hurl's face and wonders if it mattered whether someone was brave or cowardly in they died in the end, before chastising herself for being disrespectful. Jorgen gets the supplies out of the car and they set up a pyre around the cockpit, before Spensa ignites it. The two stand back and Jorgen recites part of an officer's elegy. The two stay and watch as the fire burns itself out. Jorgen tells Spensa that he isn't really defiant, since he is just going with what his family wants, and will be pulled out of the DDF after spending six months as a full pilot and gaining enough of a reputation in politics. He adds that he will miss flying, and that controlled joyrides won't be enough after he has experienced piloting a starfighter. Spensa comments that even though Jorgen's father isn't called a coward, he still is trapped in his shadow. As the fire dies down, Spensa comments that Hurl was more like her than she herself in some ways. The two start to go back to the car, when Spensa looks over the wreck again and sees how Hurl managed to keep some parts of the ship intact, the booster included. She thinks to herself for a moment before asking Jorgen for help moving the booster.
   
 
=== Chapter 35 ===
 
=== Chapter 35 ===
;Characters
 
{{columns|
 
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (point of view)
 
* [[Jorgen Weight]]
 
* [[M-Bot]]
 
* [[Judy Ivans]] (mentioned only)
 
* [[Zeen Nightshade]] (mentioned only)
 
* [[Hudiya]] (mentioned only)
 
}}
 
 
;Plot Summary
 
 
As they drive back, Jorgen tells Spensa that he is catching on to her intentions of building a starship. He says that if she found a crashed ship, she should turn it in to the DDF. Spensa replies that Ironsides has a grudge against her and won't let her fly, so she has to find her own way around things. Jorgen chastises her on the impracticality of her plan, and asks if Spensa is really just going to run away from the DDF. He provides that if he got the chance, he would hire her to fly his private ships instead, but admits that the slots are fiercely competed over and she would need a good reputation to take one. As they approach Alta, Spensa asks for Jorgen to drop her and the booster off near her cavern. As Jorgen drives back to base by himself, Spensa thinks to herself on how he somehow has even less freedom than herself. She greets M-Bot and tells him that she brought him the gift of freedom.
 
As they drive back, Jorgen tells Spensa that he is catching on to her intentions of building a starship. He says that if she found a crashed ship, she should turn it in to the DDF. Spensa replies that Ironsides has a grudge against her and won't let her fly, so she has to find her own way around things. Jorgen chastises her on the impracticality of her plan, and asks if Spensa is really just going to run away from the DDF. He provides that if he got the chance, he would hire her to fly his private ships instead, but admits that the slots are fiercely competed over and she would need a good reputation to take one. As they approach Alta, Spensa asks for Jorgen to drop her and the booster off near her cavern. As Jorgen drives back to base by himself, Spensa thinks to herself on how he somehow has even less freedom than herself. She greets M-Bot and tells him that she brought him the gift of freedom.
   
 
=== Chapter 36 ===
 
=== Chapter 36 ===
;Characters
 
{{columns|
 
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (point of view)
 
* [[M-Bot]]
 
* [[Rodge McCaffery]]
 
* [[Becca Nightshade]] (mentioned only)
 
* [[Spears]] (mentioned only)
 
}}
 
   
;Plot Summary
 
 
Spensa presents Rig with the booster, and Rig confirms that he will probably be able to fit the booster into M-Bot. Rig asks Spensa to mention him in her speech when she hits ace, as well as name her firstborn son after him, to which she responds that she has already planned to name him Executioner Destructorius. Spensa goes back into the cockpit while Rig tries to figure out how to put the booster into M-Bot, and M-Bot and Spensa strike up a conversation about the human fear of death and free will, among others. Rig tells Spensa that the shield design M-Bot had that he took to his superiors didn't go through because he simply couldn't explain it, they'd need professional engineers to take M-Bot apart and reverse engineer his best features. After Rig tells her he won't need her help for a few days, Spensa exits the cave and sets off at a brisk pace for Alta Base, in search of the true holorecording of the Battle of Alta.
 
Spensa presents Rig with the booster, and Rig confirms that he will probably be able to fit the booster into M-Bot. Rig asks Spensa to mention him in her speech when she hits ace, as well as name her firstborn son after him, to which she responds that she has already planned to name him Executioner Destructorius. Spensa goes back into the cockpit while Rig tries to figure out how to put the booster into M-Bot, and M-Bot and Spensa strike up a conversation about the human fear of death and free will, among others. Rig tells Spensa that the shield design M-Bot had that he took to his superiors didn't go through because he simply couldn't explain it, they'd need professional engineers to take M-Bot apart and reverse engineer his best features. After Rig tells her he won't need her help for a few days, Spensa exits the cave and sets off at a brisk pace for Alta Base, in search of the true holorecording of the Battle of Alta.
   
 
=== Chapter 37 ===
 
=== Chapter 37 ===
;Characters
 
{{columns|
 
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (point of view)
 
* [[Matthew Cobb]]
 
* [[Freyja Marten]]
 
* [[Kimmalyn]] (mentioned only)
 
}}
 
 
;Plot Summary
 
 
Spensa gets back to Alta Base and heads to Cobb's office, where he is working at his desk. Cobb tells her that FM has been looking for her, and the radio frequency for contacting her flightmates. Spensa steels herself before telling Cobb about getting Hurl's pin and handing it over. Cobb is a bit irritated over her and Jorgen not getting permission with the salvage crews. Spensa adds that they gave Hurl a pilot's burial and asks that the pin be given to Hurl's family. Cobb tells her that she can get off lightly this time, but should try to avoid making trouble. Spensa comments that her medical leave is frustrating and she doesn't know what to do with the time, to which Cobb agrees. She then asks if she can go watch recordings of old battles, and Cobb quickly agrees and gives her his authorization code to enter, to her surprise. Cobb tells her that cadets aren't supposed to be allowed in the archives and that she can use the excuse of fetching things for him as an excuse. As she turns to leave, Cobb tells her that sometimes the answers one needs don't match the questions she's asking and that a coward can make fools of wiser men, before dismissing her. As Spensa heads to the archives, she realizes that Cobb spotted the fact that she wanted to watch the Battle of Alta, and is confused as to why he simply let her do it. She looks around for a while, before finding the right case. Spensa sees that there are no viewing devices nearby, and so just takes the case. She walks out, deep in thought about how much she owes Cobb and where she is going to watch the battle recording. Distracted, Spensa is startled by FM spotting her, and lets her flightmate lead her out of the base and towards some buildings she hasn't paid attention to before.
 
Spensa gets back to Alta Base and heads to Cobb's office, where he is working at his desk. Cobb tells her that FM has been looking for her, and the radio frequency for contacting her flightmates. Spensa steels herself before telling Cobb about getting Hurl's pin and handing it over. Cobb is a bit irritated over her and Jorgen not getting permission with the salvage crews. Spensa adds that they gave Hurl a pilot's burial and asks that the pin be given to Hurl's family. Cobb tells her that she can get off lightly this time, but should try to avoid making trouble. Spensa comments that her medical leave is frustrating and she doesn't know what to do with the time, to which Cobb agrees. She then asks if she can go watch recordings of old battles, and Cobb quickly agrees and gives her his authorization code to enter, to her surprise. Cobb tells her that cadets aren't supposed to be allowed in the archives and that she can use the excuse of fetching things for him as an excuse. As she turns to leave, Cobb tells her that sometimes the answers one needs don't match the questions she's asking and that a coward can make fools of wiser men, before dismissing her. As Spensa heads to the archives, she realizes that Cobb spotted the fact that she wanted to watch the Battle of Alta, and is confused as to why he simply let her do it. She looks around for a while, before finding the right case. Spensa sees that there are no viewing devices nearby, and so just takes the case. She walks out, deep in thought about how much she owes Cobb and where she is going to watch the battle recording. Distracted, Spensa is startled by FM spotting her, and lets her flightmate lead her out of the base and towards some buildings she hasn't paid attention to before.
   
 
=== Chapter 38 ===
 
=== Chapter 38 ===
;Characters
 
{{columns|
 
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (point of view)
 
* [[Freyja Marten]]
 
* [[Kimmalyn]]
 
* [[Nedd Strong]]
 
* [[Arturo Mendez]]
 
* [[Bryn]]
 
* [[Matthew Cobb]] (mentioned only)
 
* [[Jorgen Weight]] (mentioned only)
 
}}
 
   
;Plot Summary
 
 
FM pulls Spensa into a dimly-lit restaurant mostly occupied by young pilots and cadets. FM leads Spensa to a table where Kimmalyn, Nedd and Arturo, along with his friend Bryn are sitting. FM gets Spensa a purple, bubbly drink and a basket of fries, both extremely delicious compared to the rats she's been eating for months. The group reminisces about Hurl, and Spensa tells them what she and Jorgen did. When Bryn gets up to use the restroom, only members of the original flight remain, and they begin talking about the hushed up true strategy of the Krell, and why the Defiants know so little about them. Spensa enjoys a third basket of fries, before leaving the restaurant to find out once and for all what really went down at the Battle of Alta.
 
FM pulls Spensa into a dimly-lit restaurant mostly occupied by young pilots and cadets. FM leads Spensa to a table where Kimmalyn, Nedd and Arturo, along with his friend Bryn are sitting. FM gets Spensa a purple, bubbly drink and a basket of fries, both extremely delicious compared to the rats she's been eating for months. The group reminisces about Hurl, and Spensa tells them what she and Jorgen did. When Bryn gets up to use the restroom, only members of the original flight remain, and they begin talking about the hushed up true strategy of the Krell, and why the Defiants know so little about them. Spensa enjoys a third basket of fries, before leaving the restaurant to find out once and for all what really went down at the Battle of Alta.
   
 
=== Chapter 39 ===
 
=== Chapter 39 ===
;Characters
 
{{columns|
 
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (point of view)
 
* [[M-Bot]]
 
* [[Doomslug]]
 
* [[Zeen Nightshade]]
 
* [[Matthew Cobb]]
 
* [[Judy Ivans]]
 
* [[Rally]]
 
* [[Antique]]
 
}}
 
 
;Plot Summary
 
 
Spensa plugs the recording into M-Bot's systems, and the ship's holoprojectors start playing the Battle of Alta. Spensa notes to herself that M-Bot has better projectors than the DDF, and can see the ships in clear detail. She watches the earlier parts of the battle and using her knowledge of flight tactics, sees how desperate the fight was. Spensa picks out a single ship that seems to fly better than the others, correctly guessing that it is Chaser. As she continues to watch, she gains a new respect for the First Citizens, thinking that while their government system is still flawed, they were brave. The recording progresses to the point where the Krell are repelled for the first time, where Chaser was said to break ranks. Spensa sees her father's ship pull away from his flight, but then head upwards to a hole in the debris instead of fleeing, presumably to track down where the Krell come from. She feels vindicated, now certain that the DDF were lying about her father's cowardice. She starts telling M-Bot about her thoughts, and M-Bot fast-forwards the recording a little. Chaser's ship returns from above, reaching the rest of his flight before IMPing them. Shocked, Spensa watches as her father attacks his own flightmates and other First Citizens, supported by the Krell. He shoots down four allied ships, including his flightmates Rally and Antique, before Cobb manages to shoot him down. Spensa spends the rest of the recording staring at the projected wreckage of Chaser's ship and ignoring the rest of the battle. She then asks M-Bot if the data could have been faked, and he tells her that it is authentic. Spensa wonders aloud what her father saw up there that made him turn against his allies, to which M-Bot replies that her father said something unusual when he saw the hole in the sky in the voice recordings. She asks him to play that section, and hears Chaser pleading with Ironsides to let him fly up there, claiming that he can hear the stars. She relents, and Chaser's ship leaves ranks. Spensa then asks if her father said anything after he came back down, and M-Bot gives her a single clip, in which he mournfully declares that he would kill everyone. Spensa asks why the DDF would hide what happened to her father when the truth was worse. M-Bot comments that he doesn't know enough to give a good answer. Numb, Spensa climbs into the cockpit and goes to sleep, ignoring M-Bot's attempts to talk to her.
 
Spensa plugs the recording into M-Bot's systems, and the ship's holoprojectors start playing the Battle of Alta. Spensa notes to herself that M-Bot has better projectors than the DDF, and can see the ships in clear detail. She watches the earlier parts of the battle and using her knowledge of flight tactics, sees how desperate the fight was. Spensa picks out a single ship that seems to fly better than the others, correctly guessing that it is Chaser. As she continues to watch, she gains a new respect for the First Citizens, thinking that while their government system is still flawed, they were brave. The recording progresses to the point where the Krell are repelled for the first time, where Chaser was said to break ranks. Spensa sees her father's ship pull away from his flight, but then head upwards to a hole in the debris instead of fleeing, presumably to track down where the Krell come from. She feels vindicated, now certain that the DDF were lying about her father's cowardice. She starts telling M-Bot about her thoughts, and M-Bot fast-forwards the recording a little. Chaser's ship returns from above, reaching the rest of his flight before IMPing them. Shocked, Spensa watches as her father attacks his own flightmates and other First Citizens, supported by the Krell. He shoots down four allied ships, including his flightmates Rally and Antique, before Cobb manages to shoot him down. Spensa spends the rest of the recording staring at the projected wreckage of Chaser's ship and ignoring the rest of the battle. She then asks M-Bot if the data could have been faked, and he tells her that it is authentic. Spensa wonders aloud what her father saw up there that made him turn against his allies, to which M-Bot replies that her father said something unusual when he saw the hole in the sky in the voice recordings. She asks him to play that section, and hears Chaser pleading with Ironsides to let him fly up there, claiming that he can hear the stars. She relents, and Chaser's ship leaves ranks. Spensa then asks if her father said anything after he came back down, and M-Bot gives her a single clip, in which he mournfully declares that he would kill everyone. Spensa asks why the DDF would hide what happened to her father when the truth was worse. M-Bot comments that he doesn't know enough to give a good answer. Numb, Spensa climbs into the cockpit and goes to sleep, ignoring M-Bot's attempts to talk to her.
   
 
=== Chapter 40 ===
 
=== Chapter 40 ===
;Characters
 
{{columns|
 
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (point of view)
 
* [[M-Bot]]
 
* [[Rodge McCaffery]]
 
* [[Freyja Marten]]
 
* [[Jorgen Weight]]
 
* [[Arturo Mendez]]
 
* [[Matthew Cobb]]
 
* [[Siv]]
 
* [[Thior]] (mentioned only)
 
* [[Zeen Nightshade]] (mentioned only)
 
}}
 
   
;Plot Summary
 
 
Spensa spends a day sleeping in M-Bot's cockpit, trying to process what her father did, while Rig continues to work on M-Bot. After a day of sleeping, her period of leave is over and she reports to the classroom at 0630. All of the mockpits have exposed wires and parts missing, as they have had work done on them while the pilots had their periods of leave, and Cobb informs them that because they only have five weeks of flight school left, they will be practicing exclusively in real starfighters. The cadets report to the launchpad, and take their normal Pocos, except for Arturo, whose ship is still awaiting a shield igniter replacement, so is forced to board Kimmalyn's old ship, Skyward Six. Spensa begins climbing the ladder to Skyward Ten, and turns around to ask something of the ground crew, only to see Cobb standing there. Cobb hands her her helmet and informs her that Flight Command is still monitoring her brain. He also hands her a memo from Dr. Thior, who was tipped off that Spensa was residing in a cave in the wilderness and living off rats. Cobb indirectly tells her that it was he who left the tip, to which she is extremely grateful, even to tears. She then asks Cobb if what happened in the holorecording is true, and Cobb grimly nods, telling her the look he saw in Chaser before he was forced to shoot him down haunts Cobb to this day. Spensa then asks him if the doctors can really determine if she'll do what her father did just by scanning her brain, and Cobb tells her it's utter nonsense, that a person can't inherit cowardice, and that they are responsible for forging their own path. He then, noticeably more quietly, asks Spensa if she's ever seen "the eyes" and if she could ever hear the stars. She is horrified that Cobb knows, but refuses to tell him for fear of him insisting that she exit the cockpit and quit flying.
 
Spensa spends a day sleeping in M-Bot's cockpit, trying to process what her father did, while Rig continues to work on M-Bot. After a day of sleeping, her period of leave is over and she reports to the classroom at 0630. All of the mockpits have exposed wires and parts missing, as they have had work done on them while the pilots had their periods of leave, and Cobb informs them that because they only have five weeks of flight school left, they will be practicing exclusively in real starfighters. The cadets report to the launchpad, and take their normal Pocos, except for Arturo, whose ship is still awaiting a shield igniter replacement, so is forced to board Kimmalyn's old ship, Skyward Six. Spensa begins climbing the ladder to Skyward Ten, and turns around to ask something of the ground crew, only to see Cobb standing there. Cobb hands her her helmet and informs her that Flight Command is still monitoring her brain. He also hands her a memo from Dr. Thior, who was tipped off that Spensa was residing in a cave in the wilderness and living off rats. Cobb indirectly tells her that it was he who left the tip, to which she is extremely grateful, even to tears. She then asks Cobb if what happened in the holorecording is true, and Cobb grimly nods, telling her the look he saw in Chaser before he was forced to shoot him down haunts Cobb to this day. Spensa then asks him if the doctors can really determine if she'll do what her father did just by scanning her brain, and Cobb tells her it's utter nonsense, that a person can't inherit cowardice, and that they are responsible for forging their own path. He then, noticeably more quietly, asks Spensa if she's ever seen "the eyes" and if she could ever hear the stars. She is horrified that Cobb knows, but refuses to tell him for fear of him insisting that she exit the cockpit and quit flying.
   
 
=== Chapter 41 ===
 
=== Chapter 41 ===
;Characters
 
{{columns|
 
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (point of view)
 
* [[Freyja Marten]]
 
* [[Jorgen Weight]]
 
* [[Arturo Mendez]]
 
* [[Matthew Cobb]]
 
* [[Blaze]]
 
* [[Valda Mendez]]
 
* [[Judy Ivans]] (mentioned only)
 
* [[Bim]] (mentioned only)
 
* [[Morningtide]] (mentioned only)
 
* [[Hudiya]] (mentioned only)
 
* [[Jeshua Weight]] (mentioned only)
 
* [[Algernon Weight]] (mentioned only)
 
}}
 
   
;Plot Summary
 
 
Spensa, Arturo, and FM are on scout duty with a woman callsigned Blaze, and she explains to them that if they become scouts, they will be issued a Val-class ship with normal 138 Stewart destructor traded out for a single 131, with much better sensors for detecting Krell ships. Blaze explains that it can be hard sometimes to continue scouting with a battle going on below, with every instinct screaming for you to descend and help your colleagues. Eventually the flight lands, and Spensa tells Siv that the ship has a couple of problems, but she leaves to go help a Camdon-class fighter who participated in the battle, ship smoking, to get out of his ship. Spensa , Arturo, FM, and Jorgen grouped up to go debrief with Cobb, only for them to find him standing next to a woman, Arturo's mother. He has been honorably discharged with a full pilot's pin, in order for him to go to the lower caverns to supervise cargo flights from other caverns. Walking back to the classroom, Spensa vents her anger about the rich, privileged kids having a leg up, getting into the flight school for free, with many of them already having flight experience, and then they get yanked once things get dicey. She and Jorgen hug for a while, and she feels better.
 
Spensa, Arturo, and FM are on scout duty with a woman callsigned Blaze, and she explains to them that if they become scouts, they will be issued a Val-class ship with normal 138 Stewart destructor traded out for a single 131, with much better sensors for detecting Krell ships. Blaze explains that it can be hard sometimes to continue scouting with a battle going on below, with every instinct screaming for you to descend and help your colleagues. Eventually the flight lands, and Spensa tells Siv that the ship has a couple of problems, but she leaves to go help a Camdon-class fighter who participated in the battle, ship smoking, to get out of his ship. Spensa , Arturo, FM, and Jorgen grouped up to go debrief with Cobb, only for them to find him standing next to a woman, Arturo's mother. He has been honorably discharged with a full pilot's pin, in order for him to go to the lower caverns to supervise cargo flights from other caverns. Walking back to the classroom, Spensa vents her anger about the rich, privileged kids having a leg up, getting into the flight school for free, with many of them already having flight experience, and then they get yanked once things get dicey. She and Jorgen hug for a while, and she feels better.
   
 
=== Chapter 42 ===
 
=== Chapter 42 ===
;Characters
 
{{columns|
 
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (point of view)
 
* [[Freyja Marten]]
 
* [[M-Bot]]
 
* [[Doomslug]]
 
* [[Drama]]
 
* [[Jorgen Weight]] (mentioned only)
 
}}
 
 
;Plot Summary
 
 
A few days later, Spensa and FM have dinner with members of Inkwell and Firestorm flights. The cadets discuss whether they'll be put together into a single flight, and what name they'll take. Spensa stays quiet and eats quickly, listening to the others talk. One of the other cadets, Drama, comments on Spensa being quiet, which she is thrown off by. After dinner, Spensa heads back to her cavern to check on M-Bot and Doomslug. Spensa greets M-Bot with the name Massacrebot, which he is irritated by, and Doomslug mimics Rig cursing and the sound of hammer on metal. Spensa finds a note from Rig on the ship's fuselage, informing her that his repair work is done and thanking her for helping him find a successful career with the Engineering Corps, closing off with telling her to enjoy her ship. Spensa excitedly prepares to fly M-Bot.
 
A few days later, Spensa and FM have dinner with members of Inkwell and Firestorm flights. The cadets discuss whether they'll be put together into a single flight, and what name they'll take. Spensa stays quiet and eats quickly, listening to the others talk. One of the other cadets, Drama, comments on Spensa being quiet, which she is thrown off by. After dinner, Spensa heads back to her cavern to check on M-Bot and Doomslug. Spensa greets M-Bot with the name Massacrebot, which he is irritated by, and Doomslug mimics Rig cursing and the sound of hammer on metal. Spensa finds a note from Rig on the ship's fuselage, informing her that his repair work is done and thanking her for helping him find a successful career with the Engineering Corps, closing off with telling her to enjoy her ship. Spensa excitedly prepares to fly M-Bot.
   
 
=== Chapter 43 ===
 
=== Chapter 43 ===
;Characters
 
{{columns|
 
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (point of view)
 
* [[Rodge McCaffery]]
 
* [[M-Bot]]
 
* [[Zeen Nightshade]]
 
* [[Matthew Cobb]]
 
* [[Judy Ivans]]
 
* [[Spears]] (mentioned only)
 
}}
 
   
;Plot Summary
 
 
Spensa and Rig are back in the cave, ready to take M-Bot on another test run. Many more of M-Bot's capabilities are online, such as his life support and booster. He still lacks destructors, self-repair features, and his cytonic hyperdrive. With the booster attached and M-Bot superior GravCaps, Spensa is able to fly at Mag-10 without feeling a thing, even on sharp turns and loops. M-Bot then informs Spensa that he can project a battle for her, the Battle of Alta, which he made a copy of. He arms himself with holographic destructors, and changes the simulation each time Spensa kills a Krell fighter. As Spensa is about to pick another one off, another Defiant beats her to it, her father. Him and Cobb make a phenomenal team, with Chaser possessing the ability to constantly dodge and confuse the Krell to get close enough to IMP their shields, which allows Cobb to easily pick them off. Spensa begins trailing her father, but even with M-Bot's superior turning and speed, Chaser is still faster. She asks M-Bot to evaluate Chaser's reaction speed to the Krell's movements, only for M-Bot to tell her that her father is anticipating the Krell's movements, and moving before they do. Spensa then reaches the point in the holorecording where her father flies off into the hole in the debris shield, and she hears her father say he can hear the stars. She reaches for her father, and then hears a sound like a thousand intertwining musical notes. She imagines herself, as her Gran-Gran says, reaching for the stars. The cockpit goes black, and then all around her, millions of pinpricks of light turn on, eyes, focusing on her. She screams for M-Bot to turn it off, and he does, and she struggles for a moment, grappling with her sanity. She and M-Bot begin the descent to the cave, and M-Bot informs Spensa that he does not believe that he is still capable of convincing Spensa that she cannot take him into battle, so he informs her that he will power down and await his long-dead pilot to return. Spensa screams for him to stop, telling him this is suicide, that his pilot is dead, to which he tells her that he knows, but he is incapable of disobeying the orders he was programmed to live by, to lie low and wait for his pilot to return. M-Bot powers down and Spensa is left in the pitch black of the powered-down cockpit.
 
Spensa and Rig are back in the cave, ready to take M-Bot on another test run. Many more of M-Bot's capabilities are online, such as his life support and booster. He still lacks destructors, self-repair features, and his cytonic hyperdrive. With the booster attached and M-Bot superior GravCaps, Spensa is able to fly at Mag-10 without feeling a thing, even on sharp turns and loops. M-Bot then informs Spensa that he can project a battle for her, the Battle of Alta, which he made a copy of. He arms himself with holographic destructors, and changes the simulation each time Spensa kills a Krell fighter. As Spensa is about to pick another one off, another Defiant beats her to it, her father. Him and Cobb make a phenomenal team, with Chaser possessing the ability to constantly dodge and confuse the Krell to get close enough to IMP their shields, which allows Cobb to easily pick them off. Spensa begins trailing her father, but even with M-Bot's superior turning and speed, Chaser is still faster. She asks M-Bot to evaluate Chaser's reaction speed to the Krell's movements, only for M-Bot to tell her that her father is anticipating the Krell's movements, and moving before they do. Spensa then reaches the point in the holorecording where her father flies off into the hole in the debris shield, and she hears her father say he can hear the stars. She reaches for her father, and then hears a sound like a thousand intertwining musical notes. She imagines herself, as her Gran-Gran says, reaching for the stars. The cockpit goes black, and then all around her, millions of pinpricks of light turn on, eyes, focusing on her. She screams for M-Bot to turn it off, and he does, and she struggles for a moment, grappling with her sanity. She and M-Bot begin the descent to the cave, and M-Bot informs Spensa that he does not believe that he is still capable of convincing Spensa that she cannot take him into battle, so he informs her that he will power down and await his long-dead pilot to return. Spensa screams for him to stop, telling him this is suicide, that his pilot is dead, to which he tells her that he knows, but he is incapable of disobeying the orders he was programmed to live by, to lie low and wait for his pilot to return. M-Bot powers down and Spensa is left in the pitch black of the powered-down cockpit.
   
 
=== Chapter 44 ===
 
=== Chapter 44 ===
;Characters
 
{{columns|
 
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (point of view)
 
* [[Freyja Marten]]
 
* [[Jorgen Weight]]
 
* [[Matthew Cobb]]
 
* [[Zeen Nightshade]] (mentioned only)
 
* [[Jeshua Weight]] (mentioned only)
 
* [[Algernon Weight]] (mentioned only)
 
}}
 
   
;Plot Summary
 
 
With graduation looming, Cobb arranges for Spin, FM, and Jorgen to practice in different types of ships, such as Largo and Slatra-class starships. Spensa continues to find herself distracted, thinking about the eyes and her father's betrayal. When the flight lands, Spensa doesn't talk to anyone and goes straight to the orchard. She doesn't find solace there, and sees Jorgen preparing to leave via hovercar, so goes over and talks to him. She tells him about her learning the truth about her father, a fact Jorgen already knew, and then he tells her she's worried she might to the same thing because she exhibits some of the same symptoms her father had, such as the eyes and claiming to hear the stars. Jorgen asks her if she knows about the mutiny aboard the ''Defiant''. She says no, so Jorgen tells her that in the final days of the ship's voyage, there was a disagreement about what the fleet should do, so half of the ship rebelled against the command staff, including Spensa's ancestors, the engineers, and Jorgen's ancestors, the scientists. Some people thought the engineers had colluded with the Krell to put the last humans of Detritus, which is where the talk of the defect comes from. Jorgen then tells Spensa that she is amazing and that she inspires him, and Spensa's true feelings about Jorgen begin to boil over. He leaves, and she decides that with her half-day off, she needs to visit her family in Igneous Cavern.
 
With graduation looming, Cobb arranges for Spin, FM, and Jorgen to practice in different types of ships, such as Largo and Slatra-class starships. Spensa continues to find herself distracted, thinking about the eyes and her father's betrayal. When the flight lands, Spensa doesn't talk to anyone and goes straight to the orchard. She doesn't find solace there, and sees Jorgen preparing to leave via hovercar, so goes over and talks to him. She tells him about her learning the truth about her father, a fact Jorgen already knew, and then he tells her she's worried she might to the same thing because she exhibits some of the same symptoms her father had, such as the eyes and claiming to hear the stars. Jorgen asks her if she knows about the mutiny aboard the ''Defiant''. She says no, so Jorgen tells her that in the final days of the ship's voyage, there was a disagreement about what the fleet should do, so half of the ship rebelled against the command staff, including Spensa's ancestors, the engineers, and Jorgen's ancestors, the scientists. Some people thought the engineers had colluded with the Krell to put the last humans of Detritus, which is where the talk of the defect comes from. Jorgen then tells Spensa that she is amazing and that she inspires him, and Spensa's true feelings about Jorgen begin to boil over. He leaves, and she decides that with her half-day off, she needs to visit her family in Igneous Cavern.
   
 
=== Chapter 45 ===
 
=== Chapter 45 ===
;Characters
 
{{columns|
 
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (point of view)
 
* [[Spensa's mother]]
 
* [[Becca Nightshade]]
 
* [[Zeen Nightshade]] (mentioned only)
 
}}
 
   
  +
Spensa heads down the elevator to Igneous, and when she exits, the people there part, letting her through, some soldiers even saluting her. Spensa goes to where her mother sells algae wraps to off-shift workers, her mother sees her, and runs over to embrace her. They go back to selling wraps, and Spensa realizes her mother thinks she's been kicked out of Flight School. Spensa shows her the jumpsuit and cadet pin and tells her that she'll graduate in two weeks. Spensa tells her mother that once she graduates, they can move into a bigger apartment and me rich, to which her mother tells her that the DDF made the same promise if she would simply publicly accept that her father was a coward. She opted not to, so remains poor and selling algae wraps as a show of public defiance. Spensa tells her mother of her fear of the defect, and her mother tells her it's made up, but that her Gran-Gran has a different opinion. Spensa goes to her old apartment and sees her Gran-Gran, near blind, sorting beads by color. She starts to help her, and her Gran-Gran asks her if she wants to hear a story about Alexander the Great, or Hervor, or Beowulf. Spensa tells her she is scared and confused and doesn't want to hear any more stories, and she asks her Gran-Gran if any of the people in the stories she tells Spensa are real. Gran-Gran tells Spensa it doesn't matter, as stories bring normal people hope. Spensa then tells Gran-Gran that she saw the holorecording of the Battle of Alta, and that it's true that her father turned coward. Gran-Gran considers this for a moment, then tells Spensa she's going to tell her a story. Spensa protests, but Gran-Gran tells her it is her own story, and Spensa stops, intrigued, as she's never heard a story about Gran-Gran before. Gran-Gran tells her a story about back when she was a little girl aboard the ''Defiant'' and her father, a historian, would tell her stories about great heroes from their days on Earth. It was Gran-Gran's mother who could hear the stars and power the ship to far away places. She then tells Spensa that the ''Defiant'' and its small fleet became involved in an intergalactic war, and the Krell began fighting them. They fought back, and the Captain of the ''Defiant'' ordered Gran-Gran's mother to take the ship somewhere, but she refused, and used all of her strength to send the ''Defiant'' to Detritus. Gran-Gran believes this is why the others hate Spensa and her , because they control where humanity can ultimately travel to, and now that they have no communal starship capable of traveling great distances, the others have no need of Spensa and her family's ability. As Spensa begins to climb down the ladder, Gran-Gran forcefully tells her to stop, and tells her that if the humans are to ever truly win and escape the Krell, they need someone like Spensa who can hear the stars.
;Plot Summary
 
Spensa heads down the elevator to Igneous, and when she exits, the people there part, letting her through, some soldiers even saluting her. Spensa goes to where her mother sells algae wraps to off-shift workers, her mother sees her, and runs over to embrace her. They go back to selling wraps, and Spensa realizes her mother thinks she's been kicked out of Flight School. Spensa shows her the jumpsuit and cadet pin and tells her that she'll graduate in two weeks. Spensa tells her mother that once she graduates, they can move into a bigger apartment and be rich, to which her mother tells her that the DDF made the same promise if she would simply publicly accept that her father was a coward. She opted not to, so remains poor and selling algae wraps as a show of public defiance. Spensa tells her mother of her fear of the defect, and her mother tells her it's made up, but that her Gran-Gran has a different opinion. Spensa goes to her old apartment and sees her Gran-Gran, near blind, sorting beads by color. She starts to help her, and her Gran-Gran asks her if she wants to hear a story about Alexander the Great, or Hervor, or Beowulf. Spensa tells her she is scared and confused and doesn't want to hear any more stories, and she asks her Gran-Gran if any of the people in the stories she tells Spensa are real. Gran-Gran tells Spensa it doesn't matter, as stories bring normal people hope. Spensa then tells Gran-Gran that she saw the holorecording of the Battle of Alta, and that it's true that her father turned coward. Gran-Gran considers this for a moment, then tells Spensa she's going to tell her a story. Spensa protests, but Gran-Gran tells her it is her own story, and Spensa stops, intrigued, as she's never heard a story about Gran-Gran before. Gran-Gran tells her a story about back when she was a little girl aboard the ''Defiant'' and her father, a historian, would tell her stories about great heroes from their days on Earth. It was Gran-Gran's mother who could hear the stars and power the ship to far away places. She then tells Spensa that the ''Defiant'' and its small fleet became involved in an intergalactic war, and the Krell began fighting them. They fought back, and the Captain of the ''Defiant'' ordered Gran-Gran's mother to take the ship somewhere, but she refused, and used all of her strength to send the ''Defiant'' to Detritus. Gran-Gran believes this is why the others hate Spensa and her , because they control where humanity can ultimately travel to, and now that they have no communal starship capable of traveling great distances, the others have no need of Spensa and her family's ability. As Spensa begins to climb down the ladder, Gran-Gran forcefully tells her to stop, and tells her that if the humans are to ever truly win and escape the Krell, they need someone like Spensa who can hear the stars.
 
   
 
=== Chapter 46 ===
 
=== Chapter 46 ===
;Characters
 
{{columns|
 
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (point of view)
 
* [[Freyja Marten]]
 
* [[Jorgen Weight]]
 
* [[Nose]]
 
* [[Tunestone]]
 
* [[Sushi]]
 
* [[Nord]]
 
* [[Matthew Cobb]] (mentioned only)
 
}}
 
   
;Plot Summary
 
 
The remaining members of Skyward Flight are scouting out salvageable debris with Nightmare Flight. Their flightleader, Nose, tells Bog and Tunestone to take Spensa and FM one way, while he tells Sushi and Nord to take Jerkface. Bog and Tunestone start making fun of Jorgen, but Spensa and FM rush to his defense, telling the full DDF pilots that he's a good flightleader and keeps them focused on their ultimate goal. Bog and Tunestone then shift their mockery to Spensa and FM, and Spensa tells them to watch out for the cadets going after the full members' kills and ace. Bog and Tunestone try to show off their lightlancing, Tunestone overshooting slightly, thinking that all the cadet flights have focused on destructor play and dogfighting. Spensa and FM perform a two-fourteen with a double flatline at the end and a V-sweep, expertly playing off the rocks and even each other, leaving the two full pilots and Nose stunned. After a period of awed silence, Nose asks them if they're looking for a flight when they graduate. FM declares she wants to be a scout, and Sushi, Nord, and Jorgen rejoin the radio channel. Spensa, FM, and Jorgen climb to 700,000 feet and Spensa begins to worry the defect will overtake her, this close to the stars. The cadets see something gargantuan falling through the debris field, and Spensa recognizes it as the other half of the C-137-KJM orbital shipyard that took Nightstorm Six and Seven's lives. They see the shipyard's turrets firing at something they can't quite see, and Jorgen reports the shipyard to Cobb and Nose, who relay it to Flight Command, as the shipyard likely contains hundreds of acclivity rings, just as its other half had. Suddenly, a group of Krell fighters break through the debris and turn towards the flight.
 
The remaining members of Skyward Flight are scouting out salvageable debris with Nightmare Flight. Their flightleader, Nose, tells Bog and Tunestone to take Spensa and FM one way, while he tells Sushi and Nord to take Jerkface. Bog and Tunestone start making fun of Jorgen, but Spensa and FM rush to his defense, telling the full DDF pilots that he's a good flightleader and keeps them focused on their ultimate goal. Bog and Tunestone then shift their mockery to Spensa and FM, and Spensa tells them to watch out for the cadets going after the full members' kills and ace. Bog and Tunestone try to show off their lightlancing, Tunestone overshooting slightly, thinking that all the cadet flights have focused on destructor play and dogfighting. Spensa and FM perform a two-fourteen with a double flatline at the end and a V-sweep, expertly playing off the rocks and even each other, leaving the two full pilots and Nose stunned. After a period of awed silence, Nose asks them if they're looking for a flight when they graduate. FM declares she wants to be a scout, and Sushi, Nord, and Jorgen rejoin the radio channel. Spensa, FM, and Jorgen climb to 700,000 feet and Spensa begins to worry the defect will overtake her, this close to the stars. The cadets see something gargantuan falling through the debris field, and Spensa recognizes it as the other half of the C-137-KJM orbital shipyard that took Nightstorm Six and Seven's lives. They see the shipyard's turrets firing at something they can't quite see, and Jorgen reports the shipyard to Cobb and Nose, who relay it to Flight Command, as the shipyard likely contains hundreds of acclivity rings, just as its other half had. Suddenly, a group of Krell fighters break through the debris and turn towards the flight.
   
 
=== Chapter 47 ===
 
=== Chapter 47 ===
;Characters
 
{{columns|
 
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (point of view)
 
* [[Freyja Marten]]
 
* [[Jorgen Weight]]
 
* [[Judy Ivans]]
 
* [[Matthew Cobb]]
 
* [[Nose]]
 
* [[Bog]]
 
}}
 
   
  +
Skyward Flight split off from Nightmare Flight, and normal dogfighting ensues. Spensa, FM, and Jorgen employ a defensive strategy whilst waiting for Riptide Flight and two other flights of reinforcements. Spensa spots a lifebuster and reports it to Jorgen, who relays the message to Flight Command. Ironsides herself answers, and Spensa, who is in range and has a clear shot, asks if she can shoot. Ironsides denies her the opportunity, and Skyward Flight flies away. Aces from Riptide Flight begin engaging the lifebuster and its escort, and eventually the lifebuster and its escort pulls out. Bog reports a mayday over the radio, his is down and he's being trailed by four Krell. Skyward Flight fire destructor blasts into the mix, and three of the Krell head left, the last one heading right, hoping to cut Bog off. Spensa goes after the one, while Jorgen and FM go after the three. Spensa gains a tail shield trailing the one, and is hit multiple times with destructor blasts, bringing down her shield. She is hit with her shield down, and her wing catches fire. She tries to land the ship safely, but her vision is going red from the strain of the g-forces. She capitulates to Jorgen's command to eject, and blacks out. She wakes up in her seat on the ground of Detritus to a medic asking her if she's alright. She says she's fine and asks about the ship. The medic says the acclivity rings are unsalvageable, and tells Spensa the in-seat GravCaps prevented her spine from crushing itself. The medic flies Spensa back to base, where she is met by Admiral Ironsides, and formally dismissed from the flight school. She retains her cadet's badge and is told she will be put on a roll if the DDF needs emergency pilots in the future. Spensa holds a salute as Ironsides walks away, consigned to the fact that Skyward Flight will in fact graduate with two members.
;Plot Summary
 
Skyward Flight split off from Nightmare Flight, and normal dogfighting ensues. Spensa, FM, and Jorgen employ a defensive strategy whilst waiting for Riptide Flight and two other flights of reinforcements. Spensa spots a lifebuster and reports it to Jorgen, who relays the message to Flight Command. Ironsides herself answers, and Spensa, who is in range and has a clear shot, asks if she can shoot. Ironsides denies her the opportunity, and Skyward Flight flies away. Aces from Riptide Flight begin engaging the lifebuster and its escort, and eventually the lifebuster and its escort pulls out. Bog reports a mayday over the radio, his shield is down and he's being trailed by four Krell. Skyward Flight fire destructor blasts into the mix, and three of the Krell head left, the last one heading right, hoping to cut Bog off. Spensa goes after the one, while Jorgen and FM go after the three. Spensa gains a tail shield trailing the one, and is hit multiple times with destructor blasts, bringing down her shield. She is hit with her shield down, and her wing catches fire. She tries to land the ship safely, but her vision is going red from the strain of the g-forces. She capitulates to Jorgen's command to eject, and blacks out. She wakes up in her seat on the ground of Detritus to a medic asking her if she's alright. She says she's fine and asks about the ship. The medic says the acclivity rings are unsalvageable, and tells Spensa the in-seat GravCaps prevented her spine from crushing itself. The medic flies Spensa back to base, where she is met by Admiral Ironsides, and formally dismissed from the flight school. She retains her cadet's badge and is told she will be put on a roll if the DDF needs emergency pilots in the future. Spensa holds a salute as Ironsides walks away, consigned to the fact that Skyward Flight will in fact graduate with two members.
 
   
 
== Part Five ==
 
== Part Five ==
 
=== Interlude I-3 ===
 
=== Interlude I-3 ===
;Characters
 
{{columns|
 
* [[Judy Ivans]] (point of view)
 
* [[Rikolfr]]
 
* [[Algernon Weight]]
 
* [[Ukrit]]
 
* [[Valda Mendez]]
 
}}
 
 
;Plot Summary
 
 
Ironsides walks away from the launchpad and into the command building with Rikolfr, feeling a little guilty but dismissing the feeling. She approaches a small conference room, where three National Assembly Leaders are waiting, and briefly checks with Rikolfr over the shipyard recently spotted by scouts. The two enter the room, and Ironsides tries to put on a positive front, only to be interrupted by the NALs criticizing her handling of the DDF. Ironsides is internally frustrated because she doesn't have too many resources to work with, but holds it in, instead presenting the reports Rikolfr gave her on the shipyard, telling the NALs that if they manage to claim it, the DDF will have hundreds of new acclivity rings for their ships. She proposes that they send everything they have at the shipyard to claim it, emphasizing how important it is. The others comment on how it will be an all-or-nothing fight, like the Battle of Alta. Ironsides tells the NALs that she knows what the implications are and that they're out of options, and manages to convince the NALs to give their support.
 
Ironsides walks away from the launchpad and into the command building with Rikolfr, feeling a little guilty but dismissing the feeling. She approaches a small conference room, where three National Assembly Leaders are waiting, and briefly checks with Rikolfr over the shipyard recently spotted by scouts. The two enter the room, and Ironsides tries to put on a positive front, only to be interrupted by the NALs criticizing her handling of the DDF. Ironsides is internally frustrated because she doesn't have too many resources to work with, but holds it in, instead presenting the reports Rikolfr gave her on the shipyard, telling the NALs that if they manage to claim it, the DDF will have hundreds of new acclivity rings for their ships. She proposes that they send everything they have at the shipyard to claim it, emphasizing how important it is. The others comment on how it will be an all-or-nothing fight, like the Battle of Alta. Ironsides tells the NALs that she knows what the implications are and that they're out of options, and manages to convince the NALs to give their support.
   
 
=== Chapter 48 ===
 
=== Chapter 48 ===
;Characters
 
{{columns|
 
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (point of view)
 
* [[Jorgen Weight]]
 
* [[Freyja Marten]]
 
* [[Judy Ivans]]
 
* [[Matthew Cobb]]
 
* [[Nedd Strong]]
 
* [[Arturo Mendez]]
 
* [[Kimmalyn]]
 
* [[Cloak]]
 
}}
 
 
;Plot Summary
 
 
Spensa attends the graduation ceremony, feeling conflicted as she watches Jorgen and FM receive their pilots' pins. Ironsides gives an unusually short speech and leads the graduates away, announcing that they have an operation to perform. Spensa is puzzled at why so many are needed as she watches a flight of ships take off. She turns to leave, but is stopped by Cobb, who asks her if she is simply going to give up, and also informs her that the DDF are trying to claim the shipyard she spotted earlier. Spensa tells him that she has the defect, and then morosely turns to leave, watching another flight take off. She is interrupted again by Nedd, who is looking to gather Skyward Flight's members for a party. Spensa tells him that Jorgen and FM are flying a mission, then follows Nedd. Spensa, Nedd, Arturo, and Kimmalyn gather around a radio from Arturo's family in a restaurant, listening to reports of the ongoing battle. It is mentioned that all the flights will be engaged, even the reservists. Finding the Assembly monitoring channel too dull, the cadets switch to listening to the actual flightleader radio channel. Cloak, a scout, reports that a hundred Krell ships have been spotted, meaning that the Krell are fully engaged as well. Ironsides orders the flights to protect the shipyard. Spensa imagines the grand battle that must be happening, as a bomber is spotted, and Ironsides orders them to drive it away, even though it will push it towards Alta. The cadets express frustration at their inability to do anything to help. They continue listening, tense, as the shipyard battle rages on, nervous about the bomber heading towards Alta. Cloak says that the bomber is moving faster than most, and Ironsides orders her flight to engage, only using scouts. Spensa inadvertently does Gran-Gran's exercise, and is startled and unnerved by the star-eyes and the unnatural things seeing her. The scouts manage to shoot down the bomber before it reaches the death zone, but FM announces that only three of the twelve scouts survived the blast. The cadets, getting even more frustrated at their helplessness, discuss the three private ships Arturo's family owns, and they make a plan to steal them, since they can't take the ships by consent. Spensa tells Arturo and Nedd to take Kimmalyn instead of her, and encourages the girl when she expresses doubt, saying that she herself can't fly. Alone, Spensa continues listening as a woman from an antiaircraft gun outpost contacts the flightleader channel and announces that her post was destroyed by the lifebuster, and that she has spotted Krell ships heading towards her position. Ironsides hurriedly orders Riptide Flight to head back, but there isn't enough time for them to make a difference. Spensa decides that she has to do something, and realizes that there is still a single ship in Alta Base she could use.
 
Spensa attends the graduation ceremony, feeling conflicted as she watches Jorgen and FM receive their pilots' pins. Ironsides gives an unusually short speech and leads the graduates away, announcing that they have an operation to perform. Spensa is puzzled at why so many are needed as she watches a flight of ships take off. She turns to leave, but is stopped by Cobb, who asks her if she is simply going to give up, and also informs her that the DDF are trying to claim the shipyard she spotted earlier. Spensa tells him that she has the defect, and then morosely turns to leave, watching another flight take off. She is interrupted again by Nedd, who is looking to gather Skyward Flight's members for a party. Spensa tells him that Jorgen and FM are flying a mission, then follows Nedd. Spensa, Nedd, Arturo, and Kimmalyn gather around a radio from Arturo's family in a restaurant, listening to reports of the ongoing battle. It is mentioned that all the flights will be engaged, even the reservists. Finding the Assembly monitoring channel too dull, the cadets switch to listening to the actual flightleader radio channel. Cloak, a scout, reports that a hundred Krell ships have been spotted, meaning that the Krell are fully engaged as well. Ironsides orders the flights to protect the shipyard. Spensa imagines the grand battle that must be happening, as a bomber is spotted, and Ironsides orders them to drive it away, even though it will push it towards Alta. The cadets express frustration at their inability to do anything to help. They continue listening, tense, as the shipyard battle rages on, nervous about the bomber heading towards Alta. Cloak says that the bomber is moving faster than most, and Ironsides orders her flight to engage, only using scouts. Spensa inadvertently does Gran-Gran's exercise, and is startled and unnerved by the star-eyes and the unnatural things seeing her. The scouts manage to shoot down the bomber before it reaches the death zone, but FM announces that only three of the twelve scouts survived the blast. The cadets, getting even more frustrated at their helplessness, discuss the three private ships Arturo's family owns, and they make a plan to steal them, since they can't take the ships by consent. Spensa tells Arturo and Nedd to take Kimmalyn instead of her, and encourages the girl when she expresses doubt, saying that she herself can't fly. Alone, Spensa continues listening as a woman from an antiaircraft gun outpost contacts the flightleader channel and announces that her post was destroyed by the lifebuster, and that she has spotted Krell ships heading towards her position. Ironsides hurriedly orders Riptide Flight to head back, but there isn't enough time for them to make a difference. Spensa decides that she has to do something, and realizes that there is still a single ship in Alta Base she could use.
   
 
=== Chapter 49 ===
 
=== Chapter 49 ===
;Characters
 
{{columns|
 
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (point of view)
 
* [[Judy Ivans]] (point of view)
 
* [[Dorgo]]
 
* [[Tony]]
 
* [[Rikolfr]]
 
* [[Arturo Mendez]]
 
}}
 
 
;Plot Summary
 
 
Spensa hesitates for a moment, but decides to go anyway, chastising herself for being afraid to discover who she is. She thinks about using M-Bot, but can't because the ship has shut down. Instead, she heads towards Alta Base, and asks the ground crew to prepare Arturo's broken-down ship for her to use. Dorgo protests, but Spensa insists that someone needs to stop the second group of Krell, and he relents. As they prepare, Dorgo tells Spensa that while the ship's destructors are functional, the shield system is entirely burned out and the acclivity ring is not working very well. The preparations finish, and Spensa takes off.
 
Spensa hesitates for a moment, but decides to go anyway, chastising herself for being afraid to discover who she is. She thinks about using M-Bot, but can't because the ship has shut down. Instead, she heads towards Alta Base, and asks the ground crew to prepare Arturo's broken-down ship for her to use. Dorgo protests, but Spensa insists that someone needs to stop the second group of Krell, and he relents. As they prepare, Dorgo tells Spensa that while the ship's destructors are functional, the shield system is entirely burned out and the acclivity ring is not working very well. The preparations finish, and Spensa takes off.
   
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=== Chapter 50 ===
 
=== Chapter 50 ===
;Characters
 
{{columns|
 
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (point of view)
 
* [[Judy Ivans]] (point of view)
 
* [[Jorgen Weight]]
 
* [[Rikolfr]]
 
}}
 
 
;Plot Summary
 
 
Ironsides contacts Spensa on her radio, giving her the coordinates for the Krell after Spensa insists on it. Spensa tells the admiral that reinforcements might be coming (in the form of her former flightmates managing to steal ships) and that her Poco's shield isn't working, then heads in to fight the Krell. She notices and radios in about spotting a lifebuster, and Ironsides orders her to try and take out the bomber. The Krell ships try to distract Spensa, which she doesn't fall for, but she is unable to get to the bomber either. As she flies, Spensa realizes that she can somehow hear the commands being sent to the Krell ships.
 
Ironsides contacts Spensa on her radio, giving her the coordinates for the Krell after Spensa insists on it. Spensa tells the admiral that reinforcements might be coming (in the form of her former flightmates managing to steal ships) and that her Poco's shield isn't working, then heads in to fight the Krell. She notices and radios in about spotting a lifebuster, and Ironsides orders her to try and take out the bomber. The Krell ships try to distract Spensa, which she doesn't fall for, but she is unable to get to the bomber either. As she flies, Spensa realizes that she can somehow hear the commands being sent to the Krell ships.
   
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=== Chapter 51 ===
 
=== Chapter 51 ===
;Characters
 
{{columns|
 
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (point of view)
 
* [[Judy Ivans]]
 
* [[Arturo Mendez]]
 
* [[Nedd Strong]]
 
* [[Kimmalyn]]
 
* [[Matthew Cobb]]
 
* [[M-Bot]]
 
* [[Jorgen Weight]]
 
}}
 
 
;Plot Summary
 
 
Spensa considers ejecting, but then realizes that she is the only one stopping the Krell from reaching Igneous. She turns off her ship's atmospheric scoop, opting to fly through lift instead. Spensa tries to gain enough altitude, but fails and crashes. Arturo calls in, announcing that they are coming. Flight Command orders her to leave the wreckage after learning her ship is nonfunctional, but Spensa is stuck in her straps. A Krell bomber escort ship flies over, firing at Spensa's wreckage. She is saved by Cobb flying M-Bot, who defeats the Krell ship by throwing it into the ground with a light-lance. Cobb lands, and M-Bot greets Spensa. Spensa tells Cobb that she does have the defect and can hear the Krell, but Cobb and M-Bot tell her that it doesn't matter at this point. M-Bot reveals that he rewrote part of his programming to accept Spensa as his pilot instead. Spensa climbs in, and as they lift off, tells M-Bot to go at full speed and to turn off the stealth system so that the Krell can see her coming.
 
Spensa considers ejecting, but then realizes that she is the only one stopping the Krell from reaching Igneous. She turns off her ship's atmospheric scoop, opting to fly through lift instead. Spensa tries to gain enough altitude, but fails and crashes. Arturo calls in, announcing that they are coming. Flight Command orders her to leave the wreckage after learning her ship is nonfunctional, but Spensa is stuck in her straps. A Krell bomber escort ship flies over, firing at Spensa's wreckage. She is saved by Cobb flying M-Bot, who defeats the Krell ship by throwing it into the ground with a light-lance. Cobb lands, and M-Bot greets Spensa. Spensa tells Cobb that she does have the defect and can hear the Krell, but Cobb and M-Bot tell her that it doesn't matter at this point. M-Bot reveals that he rewrote part of his programming to accept Spensa as his pilot instead. Spensa climbs in, and as they lift off, tells M-Bot to go at full speed and to turn off the stealth system so that the Krell can see her coming.
   
 
=== Chapter 52 ===
 
=== Chapter 52 ===
;Characters
 
{{columns|
 
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (point of view)
 
* [[Judy Ivans]] (point of view)
 
* [[M-Bot]]
 
* [[Rikolfr]]
 
* [[Arturo Mendez]]
 
* [[Nedd Strong]]
 
* [[Kimmalyn]]
 
* [[Jorgen Weight]]
 
* [[Freyja Marten]]
 
* [[Terrier]]
 
}}
 
 
;Plot Summary
 
 
Ironsides watches as the Krell forces get closer to Alta. She hears powerful families radioing that they will flee to deeper caverns and thinks of them as cowards, though she isn't surprised. Rikolfr informs her that there is a little under five minutes until the bomber reaches Alta, and Ironsides refuses when he asks her if they should evacuate the command center to one of the deeper caverns. She contacts Arturo, and tells him to shoot down the bomber despite it being in the death zone, saying that Alta is irrelevant now. A technician yells at her about an unidentified ship moving at a speed beyond what DDF ships are capable of. Ironsides thinks they might be attacked by another Krell ship, but then Spensa radios in.
 
Ironsides watches as the Krell forces get closer to Alta. She hears powerful families radioing that they will flee to deeper caverns and thinks of them as cowards, though she isn't surprised. Rikolfr informs her that there is a little under five minutes until the bomber reaches Alta, and Ironsides refuses when he asks her if they should evacuate the command center to one of the deeper caverns. She contacts Arturo, and tells him to shoot down the bomber despite it being in the death zone, saying that Alta is irrelevant now. A technician yells at her about an unidentified ship moving at a speed beyond what DDF ships are capable of. Ironsides thinks they might be attacked by another Krell ship, but then Spensa radios in.
   
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=== Chapter 53 ===
 
=== Chapter 53 ===
;Characters
 
{{columns|
 
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (point of view)
 
* [[Judy Ivans]] (point of view)
 
* [[M-Bot]]
 
* [[Rikolfr]]
 
* [[Terrier]]
 
}}
 
 
;Plot Summary
 
 
Ironsides observes in the command center as Terrier, flightleader of Riptide Flight, announces that the lifebuster bomb has been dropped and orders all nearby ships to pull out. She braces herself and hopes that the Defiants can rebuild after Alta Base is destroyed. Suddenly, she notices Spensa diving towards the bomb instead of trying to escape.
 
Ironsides observes in the command center as Terrier, flightleader of Riptide Flight, announces that the lifebuster bomb has been dropped and orders all nearby ships to pull out. She braces herself and hopes that the Defiants can rebuild after Alta Base is destroyed. Suddenly, she notices Spensa diving towards the bomb instead of trying to escape.
   
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=== Chapter 54 ===
 
=== Chapter 54 ===
;Characters
 
{{columns|
 
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (point of view)
 
* [[M-Bot]]
 
* [[Judy Ivans]]
 
* [[Zeen Nightshade]] (mentioned only)
 
}}
 
 
;Plot Summary
 
 
Spensa feels herself entering a place of nothingness, and sees a field of stars or eyes that suddenly focus on her. She feels as though they not only see her, but know her as well. Spensa jolts out of the place and back into M-Bot's cockpit, stressed. The diagnostics report that the cytonic hyperdrive is now offline, and M-Bot tells her that they are 100 kilometers away from the blast site, despite almost no time passing, commenting that they must have used FTL travel. They contact Alta Base, to cheering. Suddenly, Spensa sees a hole in the debris field, leading to the stars. Ironsides contacts her after she puts her helmet on, telling her to come back and saying that she'll pardon Chaser and needs to talk to her about the defect. Spensa tells her that she won't be coming back to the base yet, and flies upwards into the hole.
 
Spensa feels herself entering a place of nothingness, and sees a field of stars or eyes that suddenly focus on her. She feels as though they not only see her, but know her as well. Spensa jolts out of the place and back into M-Bot's cockpit, stressed. The diagnostics report that the cytonic hyperdrive is now offline, and M-Bot tells her that they are 100 kilometers away from the blast site, despite almost no time passing, commenting that they must have used FTL travel. They contact Alta Base, to cheering. Suddenly, Spensa sees a hole in the debris field, leading to the stars. Ironsides contacts her after she puts her helmet on, telling her to come back and saying that she'll pardon Chaser and needs to talk to her about the defect. Spensa tells her that she won't be coming back to the base yet, and flies upwards into the hole.
   
 
=== Chapter 55 ===
 
=== Chapter 55 ===
;Characters
 
{{columns|
 
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (point of view)
 
* [[M-Bot]]
 
* [[Zeen Nightshade]] (mentioned only)
 
}}
 
 
;Plot Summary
 
 
Spensa thinks to herself that choosing to fly through the hole is an unwise decision, but she feels an intense need to see what is up there. As they continue going upwards, she realizes that the debris fields are really a series of organized platforms. They eventually see a space station and some boxy Krell ships, and Spensa realizes that she can hear their communication, sent through the nowhere-place she can sense, and wonders if they know about the dangers of using it. M-Bot tells her that they are also using normal communications that he can decipher. Suddenly, Spensa is hit by something, and realizes that the Krell are trying to overwrite her vision. M-Bot engages his stealth and jamming system, and the sensation goes away. She tells M-Bot about the defect that she has, and that she thinks her father turned traitor on his flight because the Krell made him think that they were dead and that he was shooting at Krell ships. They observe the Krell ships, which have brighter colors, and M-Bot translates the words on their sides as "Penitentiary maintainance and containment of Earthlings". Spensa tells M-Bot to lower the systems he was using to block cytonics, and she listens in on Krell chatter. One of the aliens expresses fear that Spensa is going to eat them, and outright panics and flees after she makes a face at it. M-Bot hacks their systems and downloads some data before getting caught. Some Krell interceptors come out from the space station, and they decide to leave. Strangely, the interceptors do not fire at them, and stop following after they pass through a few layers of debris. Spensa asks M-Bot what he got from the Krell computer, and he tells her that while he didn't retrieve too much data, what he did get is rather helpful.
 
Spensa thinks to herself that choosing to fly through the hole is an unwise decision, but she feels an intense need to see what is up there. As they continue going upwards, she realizes that the debris fields are really a series of organized platforms. They eventually see a space station and some boxy Krell ships, and Spensa realizes that she can hear their communication, sent through the nowhere-place she can sense, and wonders if they know about the dangers of using it. M-Bot tells her that they are also using normal communications that he can decipher. Suddenly, Spensa is hit by something, and realizes that the Krell are trying to overwrite her vision. M-Bot engages his stealth and jamming system, and the sensation goes away. She tells M-Bot about the defect that she has, and that she thinks her father turned traitor on his flight because the Krell made him think that they were dead and that he was shooting at Krell ships. They observe the Krell ships, which have brighter colors, and M-Bot translates the words on their sides as "Penitentiary maintainance and containment of Earthlings". Spensa tells M-Bot to lower the systems he was using to block cytonics, and she listens in on Krell chatter. One of the aliens expresses fear that Spensa is going to eat them, and outright panics and flees after she makes a face at it. M-Bot hacks their systems and downloads some data before getting caught. Some Krell interceptors come out from the space station, and they decide to leave. Strangely, the interceptors do not fire at them, and stop following after they pass through a few layers of debris. Spensa asks M-Bot what he got from the Krell computer, and he tells her that while he didn't retrieve too much data, what he did get is rather helpful.
   
 
== Epilogue ==
 
== Epilogue ==
;Characters
 
{{columns|
 
* [[Spensa Nightshade]] (point of view)
 
* [[M-Bot]]
 
* [[Judy Ivans]]
 
* [[Matthew Cobb]]
 
* [[Rodge McCaffery]]
 
}}
 
 
;Plot Summary
 
 
[[Spensa]] shares the information [[M-Bot]] discovered about the [[varvax|Krell]]. It is revealed that, after humanity failed to conquer the galaxy, the other intelligent races deemed it too dangerous for mankind to possess FTL travel technology. The crew of the ''[[Defiant (starship)|Defiant]]'' had remained neutral during the war and, after a mutiny, they crash-landed on [[Detritus]]. Since then, the race humanity knows as the Krell have worked as guards to maintain Detritus as a sort of prison/preservation for humanity. Only recently, there has been some internal disputes among the Krell over how much development they are to tolerate from mankind. The Epilogue ends with Spensa pondering the fact that the Krell know to target anyone who can use [[Cytonics]] and courageously choosing to 'Be Defiant'.
 
[[Spensa]] shares the information [[M-Bot]] discovered about the [[varvax|Krell]]. It is revealed that, after humanity failed to conquer the galaxy, the other intelligent races deemed it too dangerous for mankind to possess FTL travel technology. The crew of the ''[[Defiant (starship)|Defiant]]'' had remained neutral during the war and, after a mutiny, they crash-landed on [[Detritus]]. Since then, the race humanity knows as the Krell have worked as guards to maintain Detritus as a sort of prison/preservation for humanity. Only recently, there has been some internal disputes among the Krell over how much development they are to tolerate from mankind. The Epilogue ends with Spensa pondering the fact that the Krell know to target anyone who can use [[Cytonics]] and courageously choosing to 'Be Defiant'.
   

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