The Kryl Queen by Chris Burton

Author:Chris Burton [Burton, Chris]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: science fiction, series, Earth, Halo 7, Young Adult, Space Opera, Scifi, Chris Burton, 9781629290874, Blue Worm Hole, Rapier, Alpha, queen, Alpha One, Kryl, Eternal Press, Jump Ship, Sabre, Adventure, Action, Kronan
ISBN: 9781629290874
Publisher: Damnation Books LLC
Published: 2013-11-15T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter Forty

Antirillium Radiation

The Halo 7 arrived at the Rymanian Abyss, three days ahead of schedule and the ships Executive officer ordered the scanning to commence immediately. The support fleet, which included eight cruisers, two frigates and twenty-two assorted ancillary vessels were not due to arrive for at least three weeks and his CO intended to make the most of the intervening period.

The new XO, Bernhard Huber was a huge burly man, who had a crisp Germanic accent and walked with a limp. He was an experienced space mariner and had a penchant for all things English. A fascination originating from his childhood when his father, himself a former battle ship commander, transferred to London to manage the Stellar Drive development center. Although, his father had retired from this position, he was nonetheless well known to Jake Carter’s family. Jake’s father having served under him and then subsequently replaced him when he retired.

Jake Carter just arrived on shift and had taken the vacant comms position.

“Ah, Mister Carter. We have arrived and I have ordered scans to commence. Can you take the con? I wish to update the CO. Let me know if and when we pick up the first traces of Antirillium.”

“Will do, sir.”

Jake had only met the XO once, before he had assumed the first officer position; at a party held by his parents when Huber’s father had retired. Huber was highly decorated, but spent much of his time as a staff officer at Alpha’s operational headquarters.

Now after nearly a month serving as XO, in truth, he showed little guile in operational matters and lacked confidence in all but the simplest command tasks. It was clear the CO was concerned that the Halo 7 was exposed because of Commander Huber’s inadequacies, but there was little that Commander Jacques could do about it.

Not that Jake felt confident enough to step up. He was the Bridge Commander and, in terms of experience—particularly with the Kryl, he did fill the gap. Fortunately this mission was not likely to involve any significant battle conditions and Jacques experience meant the XO’s perceived failings would not jeopardize either the ship or the mission.

Jake moved himself to the command chair and made himself comfortable. As Bridge Commander, he spent much of his time in effective operational command. When the executive officers were anywhere but the bridge, normal day to day decisions were made by him. Despite his yearning to take to the stars in a Sabre; this was really what he joined up for. How long would it be before he took his own command?

Both the CO and XO entered the bridge five minutes later and Jake moved back to the comms position. He had been monitoring the scans directly from the command console and just transferred the data back to his comms station, when he noticed the anomaly. He double-checked the data before speaking.

“Sir. There is a spacial distortion aft at twenty-seven point five degrees, about two thousand meters below us. The size suggests potentially a cloaked Kryl cruiser.

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