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Brit Brinson [Dia of the Dead Dia of the Dead (epub)
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.We’ll either have to book a ride back to Anthe and show up without a ship or we’ll be forced to steal an innocent ship.The elevator doors opened to the smell of oil and sweat.Vernay gauged where the most noise was coming from and turned to walk in its direction.“We just need general departures, L-T,” Brown reminded her.“That’ll have ship names an’ their departure clearance windows.”“Right, Chief,” Vernay uttered.Her heart skipped a beat when she saw wall screens ahead.Dread began to wash over her.My God, what if there isn’t a ship? What am I going to do then? Reaching the panels, she scanned the screens intently, her eyes skipping over ship after ship, vainly searching for any of the names she had memorized over the last four days.“Tovas Proud” jumped out at her.There, she thought excitedly.It’s not a great choice but at least we have an option.She continued to search but the remaining list held unfamiliar names that sank her spirits.Tovas is a small Handy-sized reefer, she thought dejectedly.She’s also a liner so she’ll be out of place as soon as we sail her off her established route.She requires a lot more crew than we have available which will make it difficult for us to sail back to Anthe, but maybe we can convert the refrigerated holds into something that the Hollarans can live in.Vernay had begrudgingly accepted the fact that Tovas Proud would be their bounty when the name “Hussy” drew her attention.It was second to last on the list.She recognized the name but was having difficulty recalling the ship’s details.“That one,” Brown said as he pointed to Hussy.“Old, but better than the other.”Hussy, Hussy… Vernay strained to recollect as she stabbed at her datapad.That’s right, she’s a tramp, general cargo container freighter.Cargo capacity is up to twenty-four standard containers… Oh, that means she’ll be geared.It says she has a crew complement of thirty-five.We’re still short on crew but we ought to have enough to sail her.Vernay continued to scan the vitals of the ship.CSV Hussy was a Loggerhead-class sailing vessel.An old design originating nearly one hundred twenty years ago, Hussy appeared to be near the end of her lifespan at eighty-two years of service.She was small for a freighter, just one hundred thousand tonnes displacement.The ship consisted of a deck and a half, with her total livable space comprising a little less than one hundred meters by thirty meters.Her three internal holds were located down her centerline, at the bow, middle and aft of the ship.Each hold had the capacity to fit eight standard storage containers.The containers were, essentially, hollow boxes with optional equipment that could accommodate different types of cargo.Some containers had refrigeration units; others had bona fide stasis capability.The majority were simply empty receptacles.Because the Loggerhead design was envisioned to serve as a tramp freighter and would travel to remote space stations that may not have their own loading and unloading equipment, each ship was “geared.” Two loading cranes sat atop the ship’s superstructure to give her a profile that harkened back to the days of ocean-going freighters.Her propulsion was split between twin, antique Allison CT-B20 drives and a Hutchins Phot0-Sail.Her sensors were minimalist, as would be expected on a ship never intended to stray from controlled, navigable space.Her crew requirement, thirty-five, was a bit larger than the more modern ships of her size.“She departs in less than six hours,” Selvaggio noted.“That doesn’t give us much time.”“There aren’t exactly a lot of sights to see on this station anyway,” Vernay said.“Chief, I’m pinging your datapad and telling Jack not to book us rooms.Diane, can you rush down to receiving and tell Gables to skip storage and find a grav-pallet for our bags?”“Why bother?” Selvaggio asked.Brown smiled.“Cuz we’ll need the clothes, L-T, especially when we’re runnin’ fer the Commonwealth.Gonna be terrible with so many people aboard.” He shook his head.“Life support an’ hygiene’s gonna be a real concern if we’re not careful.I just hope that somewhere down the line, the owners of Hussy retrofitted her with some sonic showers.”“Oh, I hadn’t thought of that,” Selvaggio replied humbly.“Guess I’m not used to thinking about that kind of thing.”Brown nodded in support and offered, “It was never your job, ma’am.We just need to make sure you know how to use her Phot0-Sail.” A concerned look swept over Brown.“You have actually sailed before, right, ma’am?”Selvaggio bit her lip before answering.“Just virtual sails.” She pointed down at Vernay’s datapad.“That type doesn’t ring a bell.”“It’s a light sail, Diane,” Vernay informed.“Can you operate it?”“Um, sure,” Selvaggio said as she shrugged.“How hard can it be? Plus, we’ll be using the Allison drives in the beginning.”Worried expressions passed between Vernay and Brown before Selvaggio added, “Don’t worry, guys.I can do it.” She nodded to herself before saying with a smile, “Besides, this thing will come with an owner’s manual, right?”“Diane,” Vernay said, “go meet up with Denise and Jack.The chief and I will press forward and meet you all outside the station’s observation lounge.”Selvaggio gave Vernay a quick “thumbs up” and bounded down the hall toward the lift.“It’ll be fine,” Brown told himself.“She’s a natural navigator,” Vernay added.After several moments, she finally said, “Let’s go make some friends.”* * *The door to Orbital Administration slid open and a confident Lieutenant Vernay strode through the room like she owned it.She deftly pointed toward the gaping petty officer third class sitting behind a desk and ordered, “I need your section commander and a connection with the planet-side commander now, mister.” Chief Brown, armed with the multi-rifle from Kite, marched stoically behind his lieutenant.Vernay’s stern expression launched the petty officer into action.He called his office manager and then began to create a communications connection with the main naval base on Baradis.Moments later, a confused ensign stumbled into the office from a side door.“M-may I help you?” the ensign stuttered as he looked between the diminutive officer and the large, armed enlisted man.Vernay ignored the ensign and commanded, “Send that connection through to the ensign’s office, Petty Officer—,” she glanced at the man’s nametag, “—Monroe.” Vernay’s eyes darted to the dumbfounded ensign.“You.Meeting in your office.Now.” Without waiting, Vernay marched toward the door the ensign had used.Inside the office, Vernay, Brown and Ensign Franks faced the wall screen holding the image of a full lieutenant.“You are the planet-side commander, I assume,” Vernay began without preamble while seating herself comfortably in a chair behind the ensign’s desk.“Yes,” answered the image on the wall screen, “I’m Lieutenant Owens.What is the meaning of this? Who are you?”“Lieutenant Owens,” Vernay said arrogantly, “you may address me as Lieutenant Vernay.What I am about to say will not be repeated [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]