The Enclave (The Verge) Read Online Free PDF Page B

the XO’s hand in what could barely be called a handshake.  Katherine glanced at Coulthard.  Outwardly he showed no emotion but Katherine could see the signs of his discomfort.  The tightness of the mouth, the straightening of the shoulders.
    Hayes has something against Nungas then, Katherine thought in disgust.  This is going to make life on board for this trip difficult, as Ms. Hayes will have to place all the ambassador’s requests through Richard Coulthard.  The woman’s attitude was nothing her XO could not handle, but it did show Hayes’ inexperience in the diplomatic corps in the fact that she let her dislike outwardly show.
    John seemed not to notice the exchange.
    “Ambassador Kirk, Mr. Coulthard will show you to your sleeping quarters, and since space is at a premium on a frigate, the rest of your staff will have to bunk down in the crew quarters.”
                  “That is unacceptable Commander Kirk,” Hayes snapped.
    Coulthard stiffened.  “The correct address for a ships commanding officer while on board is Captain .”  The welcoming party shuffled uncomfortably making their displeasure unofficially known.
    “ Captain Kirk, please excuse Ms. Hayes.  She is new to this position.”
    Katherine ignored her brother.  “What is unacceptable Ms. Hayes?”  Her question was quiet.
    “That I must share quarters with the crew, I’m a woman.”
    “So is a third of my crew, what has that to do with giving you separate quarters?”
    “Leave it Julie.  Just bunk down where you’re told,” John cut across his assistant’s reply.
    The woman gave the ambassador an angry look before stepping back out of the limelight.
    “Now Mr. Coulthard, I would like to see my quarters.”
    “Yes Ambassador.”
    Coulthard escorted the ambassador’s party away from the airlock and Katherine was not sorry to see them go.
    “Welcoming Party dismissed.”
    Katherine returned to the operations deck and gave orders for the Adelaide to leave Port Curtin and head for the Curtin Stargate.
     
    “That was interesting,” Richard Coulthard said as he seated himself at the briefing table beside Katherine.
    “Anything else happen that I should know about?”  Katherine would love any excuse to have that woman locked in the brig but her XO shook his head.
    “Nothing that I can’t handle Skipper.”
    “What happened at the boarding?” Tom asked with sudden interest.
    “Nothing that concerns you Lieutenant,” Katherine said.  What had happened this morning is now a matter for her XO to sort out.  If he chose to tell the Lieutenant himself that was his prerogative, not hers.  Katherine’s friendship with Tom did not include discussing her senior officers with him, especially in front of the rest of her officers.
    “Okay people.  Let’s try to make this quick.  Ambassador Kirk and his people should be here in about ten minutes, even with the midshipman taking my ‘suggestion’ of bringing them the long way around.  Now I’m hoping he will give us the real reason for this trip.  He will only want to inform myself but I will pass on to my senior officers any information that I think pertinent to the successful operation of our orders.  I realize that there is more going on here than meets the eye, but in the meantime we will treat the ambassador and his staff with the respect due his office and, hopefully we can get this trip over with as soon as possible.”
    There was a murmur of agreement around the table that was stilled as the courtesy chime buzzed from the door.  All eyes in the room watched as a young midshipman came through the door and gave Katherine a smart salute.
    “Ambassador Kirk is here to see you ma’am.”
    “Very good Mr. Long, show him in.”
    The midshipman disappeared but quickly returned to show John Kirk into the briefing room.  Ms. Julie Hayes was not in attendance; Katherine let herself breathe a mental sigh of relief.
    Katherine stood up from the table and forced