talk," replied Forrice. "As far as I can tell, every time one gets a command, he's demoted or tossed in the brig."
"I ignored a command and you refused one," said Cole. "We're each here for a reason."
"We're here because the Navy doesn't like to be proven wrong. You ignored orders and accomplished missions that proved to be of enormous value to the Republic. I refused to kill three spies who I knew to be deep-cover covert agents for the Republic. The Navy's happy we did what we did, but they certainly don't want to encourage anyone else to disobey orders."
"Stop talking about the Navy," said Cole between mouthfuls of artificial eggs and soya products. "You're ruining my digestion."
"I'd tell you dirty jokes, but you wouldn't understand them."
"You could just stare at me in worshipful silence, or maybe go find something to do."
"I'm doing it—helping you get acclimated."
"My gratitude is boundless."
"It should be. Everyone else wants to shake your hand or get your autograph. I just want to talk."
"I'd rather talk to them and give you an autograph."
"I know when I'm not wanted," said Forrice.
"Does that mean you're going to leave and let me finish my meal in peace and silence?" said Cole.
"Of course not," said the Molarian. "It would make you too happy."
"Okay—but no dirty Molarian jokes until I'm done with my coffee." Just then his communicator came to life and told him that the bridge was trying to contact him. If it's Podok, demanding that I spend my entire shift up there ..." He activated the mechanism and Christine Mboya's image instantly materialized in front of him. "What is it?" he asked irritably.
"I thought I should inform you that a Bortellite ship just touched down on Rapunzel."
"Rapunzel—the fourth planet of the Bastoigne system? That's about thirty light-years from here, isn't it?"
"Yes, sir."
"You don't have to tell me about every ship that comes and goes on the Rim, Lieutenant."
"I'm just following your orders, sir. You told me to update the list of member worlds of the Teroni Federation. Bortel II formally joined them eleven days ago."
"All right," said Cole. "Let's get over to Rapunzel and take a look."
"That's out of the question, sir. We're under orders to maintain our patrol orbit between the McDevitt and the Silverblue systems."
"I'll be right there, Lieutenant," said Cole, breaking the connection. He took a final swallow of his coffee, wiped his mouth on his sleeve, and got to his feet.
"Want me to come along?" asked Forrice.
Cole shook his head. "No, this is nothing special. And if leaving our patrol route turns out to be something special after all, why should we both get in trouble?"
He got up, carried his tray and dishes to an atomizer, tossed them in, and walked to an airlift. A moment later he was on the bridge.
"Pilot!" he said in a loud voice.
"Yes, sir?" replied Wxakgini from within his plastic enclosure.
"Break out of your patrol orbit and take us to Rapunzel."
"Right now, sir?"
"Right now."
The Bdxeni's face came as close as it could to a disapproving frown. "That contradicts my standing orders, Mr. Cole."
"Take a look around and tell me who is the highest-ranking officer on the bridge?"
"You are, sir."
"Then I suggest that you obey me."
"Perhaps we should awaken the captain, sir."
"Are you going to suggest we wake him up every time I give you an order you don't like, Pilot?"
"No, sir."
"Then don't start now."
There was a brief pause. "Yes, sir."
Cole turned to Rachel Marcos. "The odds are hundreds to one that there is a reasonable explanation for the Bortellite ship's presence on a Republic world." He paused. "Until they're millions to one, make sure your weapons are activated and ready to fire on my command. When we get within range, lock any five of them onto the ship and await the command of the ranking officer, either me or whoever's in charge if blue shift is over."
"Five, sir?"
"I know it's overkill," said Cole, "but even these weapons have
"I ignored a command and you refused one," said Cole. "We're each here for a reason."
"We're here because the Navy doesn't like to be proven wrong. You ignored orders and accomplished missions that proved to be of enormous value to the Republic. I refused to kill three spies who I knew to be deep-cover covert agents for the Republic. The Navy's happy we did what we did, but they certainly don't want to encourage anyone else to disobey orders."
"Stop talking about the Navy," said Cole between mouthfuls of artificial eggs and soya products. "You're ruining my digestion."
"I'd tell you dirty jokes, but you wouldn't understand them."
"You could just stare at me in worshipful silence, or maybe go find something to do."
"I'm doing it—helping you get acclimated."
"My gratitude is boundless."
"It should be. Everyone else wants to shake your hand or get your autograph. I just want to talk."
"I'd rather talk to them and give you an autograph."
"I know when I'm not wanted," said Forrice.
"Does that mean you're going to leave and let me finish my meal in peace and silence?" said Cole.
"Of course not," said the Molarian. "It would make you too happy."
"Okay—but no dirty Molarian jokes until I'm done with my coffee." Just then his communicator came to life and told him that the bridge was trying to contact him. If it's Podok, demanding that I spend my entire shift up there ..." He activated the mechanism and Christine Mboya's image instantly materialized in front of him. "What is it?" he asked irritably.
"I thought I should inform you that a Bortellite ship just touched down on Rapunzel."
"Rapunzel—the fourth planet of the Bastoigne system? That's about thirty light-years from here, isn't it?"
"Yes, sir."
"You don't have to tell me about every ship that comes and goes on the Rim, Lieutenant."
"I'm just following your orders, sir. You told me to update the list of member worlds of the Teroni Federation. Bortel II formally joined them eleven days ago."
"All right," said Cole. "Let's get over to Rapunzel and take a look."
"That's out of the question, sir. We're under orders to maintain our patrol orbit between the McDevitt and the Silverblue systems."
"I'll be right there, Lieutenant," said Cole, breaking the connection. He took a final swallow of his coffee, wiped his mouth on his sleeve, and got to his feet.
"Want me to come along?" asked Forrice.
Cole shook his head. "No, this is nothing special. And if leaving our patrol route turns out to be something special after all, why should we both get in trouble?"
He got up, carried his tray and dishes to an atomizer, tossed them in, and walked to an airlift. A moment later he was on the bridge.
"Pilot!" he said in a loud voice.
"Yes, sir?" replied Wxakgini from within his plastic enclosure.
"Break out of your patrol orbit and take us to Rapunzel."
"Right now, sir?"
"Right now."
The Bdxeni's face came as close as it could to a disapproving frown. "That contradicts my standing orders, Mr. Cole."
"Take a look around and tell me who is the highest-ranking officer on the bridge?"
"You are, sir."
"Then I suggest that you obey me."
"Perhaps we should awaken the captain, sir."
"Are you going to suggest we wake him up every time I give you an order you don't like, Pilot?"
"No, sir."
"Then don't start now."
There was a brief pause. "Yes, sir."
Cole turned to Rachel Marcos. "The odds are hundreds to one that there is a reasonable explanation for the Bortellite ship's presence on a Republic world." He paused. "Until they're millions to one, make sure your weapons are activated and ready to fire on my command. When we get within range, lock any five of them onto the ship and await the command of the ranking officer, either me or whoever's in charge if blue shift is over."
"Five, sir?"
"I know it's overkill," said Cole, "but even these weapons have
Similar Books
Unknown
Unknown
The Eden Series: The Complete Collection
Janelle Stalder
Kilting Me Softly: 1
Persephone Jones
Darkness Under the Sun
Dean Koontz
Sybil
Flora Rheta Schreiber
The Pyramid
William Golding
Nothing is Forever
Grace Thompson
Series of Unfortunate Events: The Grim Grotto
Lemony Snicket
The Tiger's Wife
Tea Obreht