Star Rage (Stars End Book 3) by M.R. Forbes

Author:M.R. Forbes [Forbes, M.R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Quirky Algorithms
Published: 2019-12-08T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 24

“Commander on the bridge,” Tejal says as I lead Rowdy across the threshold. She’s on her feet in front of the navigator’s station, her seat turned like she was just waiting for me to arrive. It’s a little awkward she’s following protocol. She’s the only one there. Sia is elsewhere, working on bolstering the conduits linking the shield generators, and Yi couldn’t spare anyone else to crew the bridge. Not for a ship with a mesh system on board.

“Ensign Tejal, you remember Chief Petty Officer James, don’t you?” I ask.

“Only from the crowded hold of the Weasel, sir,” she replies, getting to her feet and approaching us. “Ensign Nora Tejal.”

“A pleasure, ma’am,” Rowdy says.

“Any word from Admiral Yi?” I ask.

“Not yet,” she replies. “Last I checked, he was still in planning meetings with the rest of the fleet admirals.”

“You checked?”

“I sent a comm down to his assistant. We’ve spent some rec time together before. I expect we’ll hear from him soon.”

“Me too. What’s our status?”

“We’re as good as we’re going to get right now. We’ve got plenty of food in the larder and enough basics to make do for a month with the number of people we have on board.”

“How many is that?” Rowdy asks.

“Counting you?” Tejal replies. “Twelve. Thirteen if you add Amara.”

“Lucky thirteen. Who’s Amara?”

“I am.”

She appears using the projector at the head of the bridge, her sudden presence causing Rowdy to flinch. “What the...?”

“Rowdy, meet Lieutenant Amara Rocklin,” I say.

“Sir, I’m a lot confused,” Rowdy says.

“Amara is a digitized mind. Her server is in the ship’s core, right behind the Mandelbrot. She’s the reason we can take this trip.”

“But she’s not really there,” Rowdy says, pointing at the hologram.

“I’m everywhere,” Amara replies. “I have access to all of the ship’s basic systems, including comms and video feeds. If you need something, don’t be shy about asking.”

“Uh. Okay. Sure.”

He seems uneasy with her. Because she can keep track of him almost anywhere he goes on board? Or because she’s digital? Some people can’t handle the idea of people without bodies. To them, it also means they have no soul. And maybe that’s true. Only the gods know if a soul can be converted to binary.

I don’t care one way or the other.

“Ensign, why don’t you take Rowdy to see Sergeant Gul and the Stormcats?” I say. “They’ll set aside equipment for you to use once we get underway. After that, show him to his quarters.”

“Yes, sir,” Tejal says.

“Commander, what exactly do you anticipate my duties will be?” Rowdy asks. “I know we’re called Spacers, but most of our training is for small team, close-quarters combat. Space stations, bunker-busting, ship searches, that sort of thing. We just come from space to get there.”

“You’re my bodyguard,” I reply. “While it’s unlikely, there’s a chance the enemy might transport golems to the ships in the fleet. You’ll keep me safe while I’m in the mesh.”

“That’s it?”

“If you want more to do, I’m sure I can come up with something.”

“No, sir. We’re good.

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