The Doomsday Machine: Space Scrap 17 Book 1 by Erick Drake

Author:Erick Drake [Drake, Erick]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781838314507
Publisher: Sands Creative (FTG) Publishing
Published: 2021-02-18T22:00:00+00:00

8 Off we pop

One hour and twenty minutes later, the bridge crew were once more assembled.

"Repairs complete, simulations check out," the Chief Engineer's voice came over the intercom, "In fact I've been able to complete some outstanding maintenance on the Ion drive."

"No need to brag, Chief," said Daisy.

"By outstanding I mean 'long overdue'. But now that you mention it the results are pretty awesome. We should be able to hit Mark 7 with a cruising speed of Mark 5."

"Blimey," said Steve, "We don't usually make more than Mark 3 and that's if we get out and push."

"Well done Chief, prepare to engage wormhole, bridge out."

"I have no need to tell the Captain that it is usually at this point," said Jones from the XO station, "that the Captain would request a final status before setting off. You know, a brief summary of things and stuff."

An hour ago, Daisy would have bristled at Jones's intervention, regarded it as yet another attempt to undermine her authority. But during Tongue's tongue-lashing it had occurred to Daisy that Jones could have revealed she had cheated at the Captain's exams at any time. That she had done so was something of a scandal. That she had done so using a temporary and illegal mind patch was even more so. That she had done so using an illegal mind patch of one of the most notorious captains in human space history, the ravenous xenophobe Captain Weaver, elevated her 'something of a scandal' to the 'epitome of scandal', the very definition of 'a right shocker and no mistake'. But Jones had kept his mouth shut. She was grateful and she told him so on their way back to the bridge. She had also suggested that they should put aside their history and work together - at least for the duration of this mission. Jones had stopped walking.

"Yeah, look, it was just a bit of a shock, you know, seeing you and what happened and stuff. It all got complicated and annoying."

"Yes. I suppose it put us both on our guard."

Jones laughed then, "Letters? I mean what kind of a coward ends a relationship with a letter? Jeebuzz, we're terrible people aren't we."

Daisy agreed. "So, pax then?"

He smiled. "Yes, go on. Let's see where it goes. We might work well together."

"Yes," she enthusiastically agreed, caught up in the sudden mood of bonhomie, "We might end up fuck buddies!"

They both stared at each other in shocked silence. "Well, uh," said Jones, "I think the bridge is this way."

"No, that's the toilet," pointed out Daisy, "It's this way."

"Right, yes, lead on Captain."

Since then, the atmosphere on the bridge had been far less prickly.

"Thank you, XO," replied Daisy, "As you say, you have no need to tell me that it is usually at this point that the Captain would . . . erm . . ."

"Request a status . . ."

"Request a final status before setting off, yes, that. Final status XO?"

"Wormhole generators showing green -"

"Oh, bloody hell, engineering just said the repairs are complete.

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