Scout Force Read Online Free PDF Page B

find them.”
           “We have a cargo hold along the top dorsal fin.   We hardly ever carry cargo.   Its main purpose is to hold a launcher for 20 missiles.   It loads in as a complete unit and takes up the entire compartment.   The guidance system is tied directly into sensors.   We won’t see the launcher until wartime, though.”
           “Sir, how does she handle?   How about acceleration, turning radius, and G-forces?”
           “Relax.   Most of the time, we only travel in straight lines.   If we have to skedaddle, because we got caught or stumbled into something we shouldn’t have, the computer flies us out.   We have artificial gravity and a stabilization system.   You don’t feel acceleration and G-factors.   It won’t be the same as it was in the cockpit of a fighter.   When we do work ups, I’ll give you the controls so you can get a feel for the ship.   It is possible to fly the ship, but we don’t do it often.   The Vigilant has a crew of 48.   We aren’t strapped into acceleration couches as we do our jobs.   We can’t jink around in space like a fighter.   You’ll also find the mass and momentum is different from a fighter.   You’re a smart guy.   So I’m sure you will find some tricks the designers never imagined.”
           Kelly scratched his chin, “I hadn’t thought about the fact the crew isn’t harnessed in.   That does make a good bit of difference.   I’ll remember and adjust my thinking.”
           “You’ll figure it out.   When we get back, the yeoman will get you all in-processed.   Get the quartermaster to outfit you with a proper set of uniforms.   That one looks a little big.   We tend to wear coveralls on patrol.   They are quicker to get into and take up less space on board.   I find them more comfortable.   There are some additional duties I get to assign to you as the exec.   I’ll have Chief Watson see to it you have the ship’s new schematics to use for bedtime reading for a while.”
           “Now for the crew.   The crew consists of two officers, six chiefs, and 40 lower ranks.   The ship is divided into five sections–the bridge, gunnery, sensor, engineering, and mess.   There is a chief in charge of each section.   They manage their sections and assign their people to watches and other duties.   The Chief of the Ship, Chief Watson, is a twenty year Fleet veteran.   What he doesn’t know about Scout class ships isn’t worth knowing.   He could probably disassemble, diagnose, repair, and reassemble any component of the ship.   Not only that, but he can teach others how to do it, too.   You outrank him, but if you are smart, you won’t argue with him or question him on anything he says.   I don’t.   He’ll treat you with the respect your rank deserves, but if he makes a suggestion you should give it a good long think before you do it some other way.”
           “Its okay sir, I’m not your stereotypical ensign.   I had a good crew chief on the Bolivar.   I learned the value of listening to people who knew more than me.   After all, there are so many of them.”
           This produced another guffaw.   “Ensign, I think I’m going to like you.   We should do well together.   One last bit of guidance, if I ask you something, tell me what you know, not what you think or guess.   If I want your opinion or a guess, I’ll ask you for that specifically.   Otherwise, stick with the facts.   There will be times out there where I won’t have time to work through a hypothesis.   If you don’t know, say so.   Come on, finish up.   I’ll introduce you to the crew.”
           Kelly looked down and realized LCDR Timmons had cleaned his plate while talking to him, but Kelly’s breakfast was only half eaten.   He wasn’t sure how the captain had done that because he had talked almost the entire meal, but never talked with his mouth full.   Kelly wolfed down