The Helmsman Saga Book 02 - Galactic Convoy by Bill Baldwin

Author:Bill Baldwin [Baldwin, Bill]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781632630407
Publisher: Booklocker.com, Inc.
Published: 2007-11-05T07:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 6

THE D-SHIP

On the third day out from Zebulon Mu, Brim eased S.S. Providential into a parking orbit some two hundred c’lenyts above the surface of Haelic, then watched Ursis and Barbousse shut off most of her systems. He had orders to leave the once-derelict cargo liner in orbit so she could be inspected for structural damage before anyone attempted a landfall. Her critical cargo of antimatter power supplies was much too valuable and potentially destructive to risk in a hull that might not make it all the way down in one piece...

Later, as he lined up the attack launch on a landing vector over Atalanta, he listened to his two comrades trading details over the intercom about an N-ray generator they’d dreamed up—one that could focus its output in the manner of a searchlight instead of a radiation extinguisher. They planned to build a prototype from spare parts available nearly anywhere in the field. He was tempted to interject his own thoughts concerning Randall amplifiers and automatic focusing logic when a woman’s voice interrupted from the console.

“Fleet Launch 325: wind out of three five zero at one one: vector two zero five to G-pool nine eight; you are cleared to land."

“Fleet Launch 325, wind three five zero at fifteen; vector three zero five—thank you, Ma’am,” he called out, easing off power for his final let-down to the base. The Gradgroat-Norchelite monastery and its high golden spire glided past under the port nacelle, and from somewhere in the recesses of his mind he dredged up the mysterious Gradygroat motto: “In destruction is resurrection; the path of power leads through truth.” He shook his head. Whatever meaning the words once might have possessed was certainly lost on him now.

He smiled to himself when Defiant’s graceful lines defined themselves ahead in the distance—almost lost against the massive silhouettes of two battlecruisers moored nearby. Collingswood’s latest warship was rapidly gaining a reputation as one of the most handsome vessels in the Fleet.

Through the side Hyperscreen, he spied a colorful maze of little streets and alleys below, enclosed by a rambling wall. Claudia lived in a section like that. He glanced at the panel clock—she’d be going home about this time, too. Absently, he wondered how she planned to spend her evening, but quickly put that sort of dangerous speculation from his mind. Fascinating as she might be—and he had to admit that she was definitely fascinating—her evenings were none of his business. Shaking his head, he trimmed the ship to neutral, then energized the Collective. “All right, everybody,” he announced, “strap in. I’m about to set her down."

“Aye, Sir,” Barbousse replied from the right-hand console.

“You are maybe planning for rough landfall, Wilf Ansor?” Ursis teased over the intraship.

“Only in the passenger compartment,” Brim countered. “Barbousse and I don’t have a thing to worry about up here in the bridge."

“Smart-aleck Helmsmen..."

Brim grinned as he switched both spin-gravs into vertical mode. From here on in, momentum from his descent would provide all the forward speed required.

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