Defending Earth-Discovery Means Death Read Online Free PDF Page B

communicating with the entity in their central system?”
    “That particular Keeper is on the right edge of the Keeper Fleets conducting the search.”
    “That is the fleet we’re going to have to go after.”
    “Why?”
    “Jill, we have to make them think they were slightly offline in their searches. We’ll move in on that fleet from outside their locations and it may cause them to start searching again.”
    “You’re right. That does make sense.”
    “Fleet tells me that if we’re coming back they have a software update that will improve our targeting systems.”
    “Then we need to go back anyway. However, I will not wait until that fleet packs up and leaves. If we’re not ready in five days, we’re coming back. Everyone understand?” His question was greeted with silence and he said, “Get us home Amber.” An instant later, they landed outside the construction facility and engineers and technicians surrounded the ship.
    “I’ll see you shortly.”
    Rocky saw Jill stand up in her cockpit and walk out of view. He stood up and pressed a number on his wrist unit, “I’m back for a few days. Are you free?”
    “Rocky, I didn’t expect you back for a long time.”
    “Something happened and I’m back for five days. I figured we would make the best of it.” Rocky saw Olivia’s expression change. “What’s wrong?”
    “I’m sorry, Rocky. I can’t sit at home and wait on you to just show up when you can. I’m seeing someone else.”
    “Olivia, you knew I was in the Navy and what that meant.”
    “Yes and it hasn’t been a problem in the past. However, Intelligence is of the opinion that your mission is a one-way trip. Tell me honestly, Rocky; are they wrong?”
    Rocky stared at her on his wrist unit and, after a long moment of silence, he said, “Good luck with your new relationship.”
    “Rocky!”
    Rocky ended the call. Olivia was a captain in Fleet Intelligence and she was privy to everything happening in Fleet Operations. She was beautiful, highly intelligent, and a fast riser in the Fleet hierarchy. He really cared about her. She had won his heart from the first moment she called him Stone Hinge. He had looked at her and she smiled, “Or should I say, Stone Head?”
    She knew about his evaluations and used it to poke fun at him. He pulled up his files and saw that his promotion wasn’t recorded yet. He hated to believe it but couldn’t prevent the thought that if she did know, she wouldn’t have left so quickly. “Captain, are you leaving the ship?”
    “No, I’ll stay on board and you can update me on what you’re doing. By the way, where’s Commodore Jekins?”
    “He was reassigned to command the Planetary Force Field Projector located at the South Pole.”
    Rocky smiled. That change didn’t take long to become known. He wondered how long it would take for his promotion to become known. That evening, his communicator on the console in his personal quarters beeped. He put on a shirt and pressed the button, “I just wanted to call and apologize for not offering you the courtesy you deserve with your rank, Admiral.”
    “You didn’t know about it, Commodore. Don’t give it a second thought.”
    “Yes Sir. I’ve brought in three shifts to assist in getting your vessel ready on time, Sir.”
    “Thank you.” The display went dark and Rocky smiled. No Commodore wanted a Fleet Admiral anywhere near their command. The faster he could be sent out the better. No one liked a superior officer looking over their shoulder.
    Two hours later, Olivia’s code appeared on his wrist unit and he ignored it. After ten more attempts at contacting him, he erased her code from his unit and blocked it. He hated being right about her. Sleep came hard but it finally overcame his melancholy and he closed his eyes. She was just one of many that proved to be less than he thought. The last thought he had before he slept was that after so many failures, it might be him that was the problem.
    Rocky