Scent of Treachery by Smith T.L

Author:Smith, T.L.
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Unknown
Published: 2015-03-14T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWELVE

Jayda followed the captain to the docking bay, checking on the position of the Dolan 4. It hung secured from the robotic arm. Smaller bots scurried over her hull, disappearing to the other side. Jayda had the computer run a scan for life forms. Static filled the screen, overload from venting fuel cells.

“Looks good to me. There was enough leakage to dissuade anyone from taking a closer look.” Jayda switched off the screen. “What’s their ETA?”

“This is Nick.” Dolan’s voice responded. “ETA in ten minutes.” The message repeated ship wide. A light flashed towards the station, from one of the bots. “Message received on the Dolan 4.”

“Then we’re as ready as can be for whatever comes.” Breeze fingered the pistol on her hip, the only person typically expected to carry a weapon.

“You know they’re going to take that the first chance they get.”

“Counting on it. I have two backups.” Breeze let go of her weapon. “Do you need anything before they get here?”

“Hope that I’m wrong and this is over.” Jayda could feel Breeze staring at her. She returned a glare. “What?”

“It won’t be over, either way. Say these people are the bad guys and we get the upper hand. There’s still whoever started this. If these guys are the real GR crew that means there’s still someone else waiting to hit the station. Nick tried to tell you that. Someone’s out to get you. You can’t stay here!”

“If all they want is the perfume, they can have it.” Jayda snapped, but deep in her stomach a knot formed. “I can’t leave the station.”

Breeze rolled her eyes. “I get this is your home, but your life is worth more than all this steel and plastic. If your own people don’t order you out of here, Nick will yank you off this station himself.”

“He needs to mind his own business.”

“Lady, you’re crazy! I’ve got final checks to do.” Breeze moved away talking into her comm in low hissing tones.

Jayda wrinkled up her nose at the pilot’s back, then realized she faced a surveillance node. She gave it the same sneer, before turning to face the docking portal. From the computer terminal she watched the approach of the GR vessel, her uneasiness only growing.

She opened a comm-link. “GR8541, you’re inside my surveillance net, but coming in too hot. I already got one damaged ship to deal with. Slow it down!”

“This is GR8541. Slowing approach speed. Sorry, Dr. Maldonado, our pilot forgets protocol after a long stint out here. He’s really quite good, just hard on the stick.”

The computer was already recalculating trajectory and speed, slowing for a proper docking. “That’s better. Have him calibrate to my approach signal. Once you’re past the last marker my system will bring you in.”

Jayda muted the comm-link, turning to Breeze, squinting.

Breeze didn’t need to be lectured. “No Alliance pilot forgets protocol, especially a GR pilot. They know better than anyone to come in slow until they map local hazards.”

“Even then.”

“I agree, but we’re still speculating.”

“I’ve had hot-shots to break in.

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