Quarantined: Cassiopeia: Rise of the Empyrean Empire: Novel 02 by D. L. Harrison

Author:D. L. Harrison [Harrison, D. L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: UNKNOWN
Published: 2017-12-04T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

Ten hours later I’d just gotten done with my workout and meal when the alarm went off. I dropped onto my bunk as the deceleration burn cut off, and we transitioned into subspace. Another ten seconds later, and we were moving again.

I’d considered going up to the bridge for it, but I was sure the captain was there and I was confident Katy could handle it, so I’d stayed away.

What I hadn’t expected was to feel it. It felt… weird. As if my mind was aware of the exotic space and dimensions just past the Chavez-Teller subspace bubble around the ship. It was like an itch I couldn’t scratch. It wasn’t overwhelming, no more than any of my other new perceptions were, but subtle or not they were still startling. It also didn’t impart any understanding, just awareness.

“Drake, how long until Sigma Pavonis?”

Drake replied, “Six hours, fourteen minutes, and thirty-two seconds.”

I frowned, that was my normal sleep time, and the beginning of first shift. I debated for a while, and decided I’d sleep a bit earlier so I could be on the bridge with the captain. I wanted to see and make my own assessment of the situation, as well as meet Rear Admiral lower-half Karen Meyers who controlled all our forces in that star system.

“Thanks Drake.”

“You’re welcome Michael.”

I smiled and shook my head, still not used to the more lifelike and extended interactions with the A.I.s. I worked on paperwork for a bit, with the exception of George who was beyond my help, and Stacy, the rest of the crew seemed to be meshing well. My own bridge crew of Jr. Lieutenants was gelling into a stronger team every day, and Katy was almost effortlessly growing into the role of second officer.

As a result, most of my internal struggles were about what to do with my knowledge, and the war with the aliens. It helped though, that I had the captain to share that burden. Best case, our preparations would take them out quickly, worst case, we would all die and the chance that Ginny gave the UE through me will have been lost and wasted. The third option was we beat them back, but at a cost too high to maintain.

Two of three chances we were right to wait, and make sure, one option meant death for all but those in ETA Cassiopeiae A. It was… too much responsibility.

“Michael?” said a tentative voice, I was surprised I was hearing from Karl at all. I wasn’t sure how an A.I. could be shy, but he was. They all had disparate personalities, and if not fully human emotions, they had something very much like it.

“Yes Karl?”

He said, “Lieutenant Sara Danes is dangerously close to having a malfunctioning implant. I thought… you should know.”

“Why?”

He replied, “She’s always been on the edge and questions everything at least in her mind. She’s been like that since she was a child. I believe your last mission, though you hid the truth from her, has peaked those doubts.

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