Off Midway Station: A gripping and action-packed military science fiction adventure by Marc Alan Edelheit

Author:Marc Alan Edelheit [Edelheit, Marc Alan]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Second Sky
Published: 2024-09-13T00:00:00+00:00

TWELVE

GARRETT

“Shaw,” Garrett said, “I need you to start compiling a comprehensive list of necessities—consumables we will need in the days ahead. We have to think beyond just the essentials. Yes, food, water, medical supplies, and additional atmospherics are all critical, but let’s dive deeper. Consider ammunition, aviation fuel for our ship’s boats, and other such resources.”

“I can do that, sir,” Shaw said, still standing by Garrett’s station. “I’d also recommend taking on crates of unassembled ship’s boats, assault craft for the marines, maybe even some fighters. Even if we don’t have pilots for them currently, we have the storage space and it’d be a waste to leave them behind. Eventually, Fleet will assign us squadrons of fighters, interceptors for close-in protection and the like. Having the physical craft already aboard may make that process easier. I will grab the ammunition and fuel for them too and do my best to make sure all storage tanks are full.”

“Good idea. There’s no telling when we might see a fully stocked supply depot. It may be months. Anything else we might conceivably need, let’s take and bring aboard. We must be thoroughly prepared for all eventualities. Once you’ve drafted the initial list, the department heads can further refine and expand it as they see fit. You will have to be point on that, to make sure we get all we can take.”

“Understood,” Shaw responded with a firm nod, a glimmer of readiness in his eyes. “I’ll get right on that. May I ask, sir, what you will be working on?”

Garrett’s gaze drifted slightly, his mind already racing ahead. “First, I’ll be talking to Tam. I will break the news to him and make sure I’ve not overpromised.”

“You haven’t,” Shaw reassured him confidently before turning back to his station. Just as he settled into his chair, he cast a sideways glance at Garrett, a hint of a grin playing on his lips. “But I’ll tell you this, sir, your call is going to brighten our chief engineer’s day. Trials are going to be a crash course, one that hopefully will take us out of this star system.”

“No doubt.” Fingers moving deftly on the display before him, Garrett opened a communication channel to engineering. He was seeking his chief engineer, Commander Sing La Tam.

In Garrett’s experience, Tam was always there, a constant presence in the engineering bay. No matter the time of day or night, he was seemingly on duty, usually immersed neck-deep in his work. It was a level of dedication that Garrett had not seen in anyone else, himself included.

“Tam here,” came the chief engineer’s lilting voice, crisp and clear, yet his face on the screen was slightly averted, his attention caught by something or someone just out of the camera’s view. This was typical for Tam, perpetually in the midst of something critical, his focus split between multiple tasks. His work ethic was legendary, putting even the most dedicated workaholics to shame.

Although not tall in stature, Tam possessed a commanding presence. His posture alone spoke volumes of his confidence and authority.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.