Enigma: A Far From Home Novel Read Online Free PDF Page A

And if this thing is Namar tech…”
    “I get you,” Greene said. “It’s of great interest to Command.”
    “Anyway, I’m up for it. To be honest, it still falls within the parameters of our actual mission,” Jessica said. “Explore unknown territory. Make contact where possible, so long as it doesn’t violate directives in place to protect developing civilisations.”
    “And all that jazz.”
    “Yes. And I feel this side mission of ours could encompass all that. There’s no way this thing is naturally occurring phenomena. It’s completely, perfectly cylindrical. Built to precision,” King said. “And the orbit is perfect. No degradation of any kind. It’s out there, going round and round, an orbiting mystery.”
    “I take it you’ll hold a meeting?”
    Jessica nodded. “Yes, once we’re under way. I’m going to stick with the profile and assign three teams. Sounds about right.”
    “Any thoughts on who should be on them?” Greene asked.
    “Not yet. I’m still deciding. Anyway, I hear from Grimshaw we’re to expect a guest. Doctor Wilf Gentry. I said we’d put him up in one of the ambassadorial suites,” she said.
    “Good idea. Who is he, anyway?” Greene asked.
    “Some kind of expert on all this. To be honest, I’m not sure just how much the man is going to help. But hey, Grimshaw must have some reason for wanting him brought along.”
    “There is that . . .”
    “It’ll be fine,” King assured him. “We’ll be heading into the unknown. What could possibly go wrong?”
    * * *
    Commander Greene wandered down to the engineering section and, sure enough, found the Chief there barking orders.
    “Uh, Meryl,” he said from the open doorway.
    She waved a hand at him. “Not now, Commander. This has turned into a farce! ”
    There were men and women everywhere, and he realised that hardly any of them were from the Defiant herself. They were engineers from station-side, and it became instantly apparent that Gunn took umbrage at having her engineering room commandeered by strangers.
    “Calm down,” he said.
    She whirled on him. “I’ll be calm when I’m confident this lot know what they’re doing!”
    “Chief . . .”
    She ignored him.
    “Chief!”
    “Huh?”
    He beckoned her over. “Come here, Chief. That’s an order.”
    Commander Greene waited until the Chief was near the door, then he backed into the hall outside.
    “Yeah?” she asked.
    “Follow me,” he ordered her, and led her away from engineering.
    She walked behind him, still muttering under her breath about how her whole engine room had been thrown into disarray. How she was going to challenge several of the upgrades, first thing the following morning. How she would not rest until the Defiant was one hundred percent.
    It only took a few minutes of this for the Commander’s attention to fade. He just let her ramble on as they walked. Thankfully, they reached their destination soon enough.
    “Here we are.”
    Greene led them into the mess hall – empty save for them – and showed her to a table at the far end, where he’d laid out a little spread for them both and a bottle of wine.
    Chief Gunn’s face instantly softened as she took in the scene. “Del . . . what is this?”
    He took her hands in his. Meryl’s big glassy eyes made his heart melt.
    “I thought we could do with an hour together. Just you and me. Something to eat. A glass of wine,” he said. “And besides, we did discuss this yesterday.”
    “We did?”
    He nodded.
    Gunn looked away, slightly embarrassed. “Sorry. I got so wrapped up in the ship and everything. And I’m still really –”
    Commander Greene planted a kiss on her lips to quiet her. He was thankful he’d ordered the mess hall out of bounds for the next hour and a half.
    There was plenty of food left when their time was up…
     

 
    10.
     
    Jessica chose her moment to visit the munitions section, knowing most of the crew were off ship getting some much needed R&R.