Queen in Exile by Oliver Strong

Author:Oliver Strong
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: romance, scifi
Publisher: Oliver Strong

The day had finally arrived to launch the first warship; the Athena had been built at a construction yard attached to the Edwards. She’d taken nearly twice the estimated time to construct but was ready now. All that was required was her crew to be there with some dignitaries to launch her. The travel time from Earth to Mars was minutes now thanks to the transport craft discovered in the salvaged vessel. They were a little cramped however, and McCann wasn’t happy about sitting next to Jerry Habeeb even for the short journey.

McCann still held a grudge against Jerry and did his best to politely ignore the journalists pestering in the small transport craft. Jerry was extremely excited at what to him was secret technology, he did his best to investigate it and it’s origins during the flight to the Edwards.

Once they had docked at the Edwards the travellers exited the craft into a full 1G environment, both the Edwards and Tsiolkovsky had been fitted with gravity plating. Each room had the plates fixed to the floor drawing everything in the room to them, another technology taken from the Tlillans via the Gukumatz. McCann was curious to know how they worked but his fear of Hassif melting his brains whilst explaining the science to him prevented any inquiry.

McCann, Ryu, Louis, Hassif and Jerry stepped out onto the docking bay to be greeted by the Edwards crew. The Edwards crew were mainly American since most of the funding had been generated by the Eastern states. A man about the size of McCann approached him and shook his hand, ‘We’re stoked to see you Commodore!’

McCann stepped back then after a moment stepped forward again and shook his hand. He found Americans to be amongst the most crass people he’d ever met. Well that wasn’t true, but the hatchet job they’d done on his mother tongue was a constant irritation.

McCann managed a poor smile ‘Thank you very much Captain,’ he said shaking his hand.

The American began to laugh ‘Heh, heh, heh call me John!’ he bellowed in what McCann assumed was a southern accent then slapped the arm he was shaking.

McCann’s eyes widened alarmingly, if he’d ever acted this way to a superior officer he’d have regretted it but this American just had no sense of decency. Hassif and Louis were trying not to look at each other as it would have only lead to fits of laughter.

Ryu was just as taken aback by this Captain’s brazen disregard for rank, in Korea she’d have been disciplined perhaps even thrown out of the air force for such behaviour.

McCann didn’t want to say anything, not because of the occasion but since the anti-matter missile detonated over the North American continent. Millions died from the initial blast and since the after effects, the death toll was in the hundreds of millions. Captain Bradley was probably more elated that these warships were about to be launched than anyone else present.

McCann shook his hand ‘Thank you John,’ and moved on leaving the American bemused.

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