Escape From Andromeda by Julia C. Oliver

Author:Julia C. Oliver [Oliver, Julia C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub

CHAPTER 16

Eighteen minutes later, she waited anxiously for the shuttle's door to open. When it did, Captain Slutter was the first through the door. "You made good time, Captain."

"Fair winds to our back, Admiral," he replied.

She snorted. "No winds in space, Captain."

He shrugged. "I might have pushed the throttle more than I should have."

She was pleased. He had become quite good at flying space shuttles. She hoped he would be just as quick in learning how to fly the space fighter craft onboard the Espérer.

"Captain Griffnox and Commander Roxen?"

He nodded over his shoulder. "They'll be right out, Admiral. They have someone they want you to meet."

Jac furrowed her brow and started to go onboard the shuttle. Yet the timbre in his voice caused her pause and she decided to wait for them. Less than a minute later Griffnox's hulking figure filled the doorway, and he gave her an American-style salute. She returned it even as she wondered what he was up to.

"Admiral." He walked down the walkway toward her.

When he reached her, Roxen appeared in the doorway and also gave her an American military salute. "Admiral."

She answered his salute. "What is going on?"

The two men stopped in front of her and just enough to the side so that she had a clear view of the shuttle's door.

"I—we have found you a new recruit for the Federation, Admiral. In fact, we have enlisted ninety-nine new recruits."

She was startled. "Seriously? In a single day? You've barely been gone twelve hours."

Griffnox's yellow eyes twinkled. "We have known these…recruits for several years."

"Ninety-nine of them?" she asked dubiously.

His brow rose. "We know more than that, Admiral. However, these are the ones that have agreed to our terms."

"Terms?"

He nearly came to attention. "To go with us to your galaxy. To fight the Egrean and Kyakan military if needed. To defend our ship," he lowered his chin slightly, "and your Federation against any who would attack it. And to take the oath of allegiance to the Federation as the others on the ship have already done."

She was blown away. "In less than a day, you found ninety-nine such people."

Something about his guarded expression made her stomach flutter. "One hundred, if you include the new ship's captain we recruited, as well."

"Excuse me?" she cried just as an elderly man of about six feet stepped into the open shuttle doorway.

He had piercing blue eyes, snow-white hair that hung to his shoulders, and a full white beard that covered his neck. He was the embodiment of a Hollywood pirate. And most shocking of all, his skin was pinkish pale, just like hers.

She asked Griffnox. "He's an Earthling?"

His mouth tightened. "No, Captain Quintan is a Gorthronian. Their race resembles yours. Including the many different hair colors and skin tones your race displays.”

She mused, "Gorthronian…Gorthronian…Gor –” Her gaze shot up to his. "Gorthronian? As in the world your people are currently at war with? That Gorthron?"

"Yesss, like I told you, Captain Quintan retired from the Gorthron military about ten years ago."

Her mouth fell open.

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