The Measure of Humanity by Gaffen Adam

Author:Gaffen, Adam
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-12-20T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

TFS Endeavour

“All stations report ready for departure,” Sanzari announced.

“Very good, Number One. Hecate.”

“Captain?” answered the AI.

“Endeavour is ready for departure on your clearance.”

“Go ahead, Captain. She’s all yours.”

Kiri and Candice exchanged a look. Hecate was a masterful operations manager for all of the construction and ships which teemed through her bays, but she absolutely refused to adhere to what either of them thought of as propriety.

“Thank you, Hecate. Endeavour out.” Kiri checked her telltales, then said to Candice, “Take her out.”

“Aye, Captain. Ensign Furber, take us out.”

“Yes, ma’am,” said the helmswoman. The massive ship came to life as her hands danced over the controls, and the view through the bridge window started to change.

“Cleared docking clamps. Thirty seconds to bay doors,” reported Furber. Though she had only recently gone through the accelerated Academy, her voice was confident and steady.

“Very good, Ensign.” Sanzari’s voice matched Furber’s confidence. “Captain, course?”

“Our orders are to patrol, Number One. What course does that suggest to you?”

Sanzari answered immediately. “Our sensors can cover the entire system, so we could theoretically be anywhere within the heliopause and still detect an incursion by Artemis forces. I’d suggest, though, a racetrack course between the orbits of Mars and Venus, above and below the ecliptic, and ahead of Luna’s orbit.”

“Why?” Kiri knew exactly why, and was pleased that her XO had come to the same conclusion, but she was a strong believer in professional development whenever possible.

“We can maintain full sublight for the entire course, allowing us to respond in minutes. If we have to go to warp, we can do that as well and be back to defend in seconds. Staying ahead of the orbit is simply sensible.”

Kiri nodded. “You’re exactly right. Make it so, Number One.”

Sanzari grinned. She’d spent time viewing the old ‘television shows’ that so inspired the Admiral as well, and that particular catchphrase had become something of a private joke between her and her commander. “Yes, ma’am. Ensign, when we’re clear of the bay, set course for Venus orbit, twenty light-seconds South of the ecliptic, full sublight.”

“Venus orbit, twenty light-seconds South, full sublight. Aye, ma’am.”

“Lieutenant Leard, bring the shields online. Fifty percent power. Lasers to standby.”

“Shields online, half power. Lasers to standby, aye.”

“Let’s do this,” Kiri said. “And God help any Artemis bastard that gets in our way.”

*

“Commander.”

“Technician.”

“We have a new departure from the habitat.”

Midori Gillaspy-Chang wasn’t really a commander; she was merely the most senior of the techs assigned to the shifts in the long-range tracking room. However, as they reported to both the Solarian Union and the Artemis navies, the honorific was added to ease communication up the chain. Gillaspy-Chang had been doing this for thirteen years, four more than the next technician, and so felt that she had earned some sort of recognition.

“Do we have recognition?”

“Yes, Commander. It’s their new starship.”

Gillaspy-Chang’s eyes widened at that. The original starship had become a commonplace sight in the skies around Luna over the past several months, and they had fairly well measured its characteristics and capabilities.

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