Christmas in Montora (The Chronicles of Montora Book 4) by Ward Wagher

Author:Ward Wagher [Wagher, Ward]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Paris Mountain Press
Published: 2013-12-04T05:00:00+00:00

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Lieutenant Lari Chaplin stomped into the Captain's Ready Room. Based on the term found in a book she had read years previously, she considered herself to be in high dudgeon. Working with Spaceman Third, Corcoran, she had carefully reviewed the ship's stores and ordered what she thought was necessary to top off the foodstuffs, and the spare parts to get equipment off the binnacle list. Somehow it had gone sadly wrong.

After a five-minute wait, Franklin appeared on her screen. "What's going on, Exec?"

"Skipper..." she paused a moment to take a deep breath. She was wound up and she knew it. One needed presence of mind when dealing with superior officers. "Skipper, I really need some logistics help for a couple of hours."

Franklin grinned at her. "Finally found something you couldn't master, Lari?"

"I thought I had it figured out, but when everything arrived..." She stopped to take another breath. "Skipper, I have it so screwed up."

"Oh, nonsense, Exec. Logistics is the most complex operation on any warship. I can think of a lot of different things I would rather do. Let me see if I can send the Stores Officer up to give you a hand."

"But isn't she with her father at the hospital?"

"Yes, but I need to get her away from there for a while before she goes batty."

"Well, if it's no inconvenience..."

"Lieutenant! Signe works for you on the ship. She's supposed to be inconvenienced. It's part of the job, and she signed up for it."

"Aye, aye, Sir."

Don't let it bother you, Lari. You're making a good call."

"Oh, I'm sorry, Sir. I just seem to always be putting my foot into it."

"Not at all. As your all-knowing and wise commanding officer, I am ever happy to dispense with the advice that breeds superior officers."

Chaplin cocked her head and raised an eyebrow. "You say so, Sir."

Franklin chuckled. "I do say so. Now let me give Signe a call and have her hop up and work for you for a couple of hours."

"Thank you, Sir."

Franklin was still chuckling when he placed the comm call to Signe.

"I have a request from our orbiting Gerry Blakely."

"Oh, no!" she said. "Lari has messed up the ship's inventory again?"

"She requested the presence of Lieutenant Margravina aboard the Canopus for a couple of hours to give aid and succor to the ship's stores."

"No problem, Franklin. I need to get out of here for a bit. Poor Lari's probably a case after you got through with her."

"Moi?"

"Yes, you!" she laughed. "You loon! You can't resist picking on people who are just trying to do their jobs."

"Honestly, Signe, I had to insist on sending you up to help. You know how she gets when she can't figure something out."

"It's kind of surprising, really. She's the best officer we've got, and she is very competent."

"But inexperienced. I mean I don't know what I'm doing half the time, but she's been out of the Academy less than a year."

"But everybody knows you don't know what you're doing," she said. "Let me call Justin and see if there's a shuttle available.

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