Mission Origin View (Final Days Trilogy) Read Online Free PDF Page A

Class Joseph Sipes took up more space than the average crewman aboard a ship. As he walked down one of the ship’s corridors toward the captain’s cabin, two crewmen who walked abreast had to walk single file to pass him.
    Joseph hesitated for a few seconds while standing outside the captain’s quarters, then knocked on the door.
    “ Enter!” Captain Nelson yelled, a response that made Joseph feel even more uneasy.
    Joseph entered and saw Captain Nelson sitting at a desk , which was tucked into a corner of his cabin. Nelson was probably the oldest captain still in command of a ship. He was thin, his silver hair buzzed short, and in his presence everyone knew the older man was experienced and in charge. Joseph approached the captain’s desk, stood at attention, saluted, and then reported. “Sir, Petty Officer Third Class Joseph Sipes reporting as ordered.” The captain returned the salute, and Joseph stood at parade rest.
    “ Sipes, you have orders,” the captain said. “I didn’t receive your orders in the usual way; these were sent to me ultra top secret and can only be viewed when we’re both alone in my cabin.”
    Captain Nelson manipulated his desk console and entered his navy identification code. Nelson then brought up a holographic display console and asked Joseph to enter his navy identification code. After the codes were entered, the ship’s computer turned on a DNA scan beam and authenticated their identities. The system then displayed a holographic view of the orders.
     
    To: Captain Nelson,
      Captain, Marine Assault Carrier USS Fallujah
     
    From: United States Navy
       Naval Intelligence Command
     
    Subject: Classified: Crewman Transfer Orders
     
    Petty Officer Third Class Joseph Sipes, current assignment Hull Maintenance Technician USS Fallujah, is ordered to report to Admiral Frank, USECC Mount Mitchell, North Carolina.
     
    Priority transit card is being created and will be used to secure transportation needed to arrive at new station as soon as possible.
     
    As Nelson and Joseph read the orders, the captain’s console created a priority transit card and ejected the two-inch-by-three-inch plastic card from the console’s card media slot. Captain Nelson took the card and handed it to Joseph.
    “ I’ve only been given two transit cards in my career,” Captain Nelson said with a hint of envy. “Sipes, this assignment must be a big deal. Get your gear and be on the next shuttle off the Fallujah. Good luck, Son!”
     
    USECC, Mount Mitchell
    0935 —February 10, 2372
    Lieutenant Klaxton was the first to be escorted to the same conference room in the USECC that had been used two weeks before to approve Mission Origin View. Gideon still had no idea why he was in an empty conference room below a mountain. He took a seat at the desk and waited.
    A half-hour later the conference room door opened, and a naval petty officer third class entered. When the sailor saw Gideon, he stood at attention and snapped off a salute. Gideon returned the salute.
    “ At ease, sailor,” Gideon said, then asked, “Are you here to tell me what’s going on?”
    “ No, sir,” Joseph answered. “I hoped that you knew why I was here, sir.”
    “ I guess we’ll find out together,” Gideon said as he motioned for Joseph to take a seat. “Might as well make yourself comfortable, sailor.”
    Joseph was a big black man, probably the largest sailor Gideon had seen. After a brief discussion, Gideon found that Joseph was a starship hull repairman who’d served on several ships and had been in many space battles.
    A few minutes later, Navy Captain Mary Bowser and Marine Captain Rezin Neubauer arrived. Both Gideon and Joseph stood and saluted the newcomers. After introductions and discussions among themselves, Gideon realized these captains were also going to be part of whatever was happening.
    Captain Bowser was a petite woman with short jet-black hair. She looked to be in her early thirties, but said she had just