The two occupants of the gloomy cockpit stared out through the view screen into open space. The galaxy hung before them, a plethora of stars covering an expanse of space too colossal to fully comprehend. They had both seen such stars up close, along with the planets and moons and belts of asteroids which orbited them. Both had witnessed the sheer energy involved. And yet, so very, very far in the distance, the universe appeared frozen in place.

Max looked at his watch. It was a replica antiqu...