The Margrave of Montora (The Chronicles of Montora Book 2) by Ward Wagher

Author:Ward Wagher [Wagher, Ward]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Paris Mountain Press
Published: 2014-02-17T05:00:00+00:00

chapter twenty-three

Franklin Nyman sat in his ready room and idly spun a stylus on his desk as he watched the tactical repeater. He reached forward and pushed a button.

"Combat Information Center, Lieutenant Simmons."

"About ten minutes by my clock," Franklin said.

"Right, Skipper. It is dead quiet at the moment down there."

"I don't think we can count on it remaining that way for long. You probably should get up here to the bridge, now."

"Aye, aye, Skipper. On my way."

Franklin pushed another button on his desktop.

"Bridge, this is the Exec."

"This is the Captain, Lieutenant. Let's go to quarters."

"Aye, aye, Sir," Daphne said.

Almost immediately the GQ horn started honking. Daphne's voice came over the ship's speakers. "General quarters. This is not a drill! I repeat; this is not a drill."

Franklin sighed, stood up, then walked over to the chair where his spacesuit was sprawled in an untidy heap. He shook his head, then started to strip out of his uniform.

Five minutes later he walked out onto the bridge. "Secure the alarm," he said. In the sudden quiet he spoke to Daphne. "You can suit up in the ready room once you have finished the check list, Exec."

"Thanks, Skipper. I'm just finishing up here."

"Did we get the crew fed? It may be a long night."

"Yes, Skipper. I got everybody up a half hour ago. We are as ready as we'll ever be."

The elevator door slid open and Lieutenant Simmons walked onto the bridge. He walked over to the bridge tactical display where Ensign Kane was working.

"I relieve you, Ensign," he said.

"Sir, I stand relieved."

"Then you'd better run along, Ensign. They need you in CIC, and you need to get suited up."

"Aye, aye, Sir." The young ensign pivoted on his heel and walked quickly to the elevator.

Simmons slid into the chair in front of the tactical systems and quickly scanned his boards. "Skipper, they should be opening the ball any time now."

"Gotcha, Gabe. Keep me posted."

"Aye, Skipper."

Franklin punched a button on the arm of his chair.

"Engineering, Chief Engineer Louie."

"How are we looking, Louie?"

"All systems are powered up and nominal, Skipper."

"Can we undock from the station at any time?"

"Affirmative. We bypassed station systems and disconnected mooring collar. Station thinks we're still attached. Umbilical is still attached, but will pull loose when we back out of dock."

"Louie, you are wonderful."

"I know."

CPO Sabbath was at the helm. He was carefully running diagnostics on the board.

"Are we ready to fly, Chief?" Franklin said.

"Yes, Sir. Everything looks good."

Franklin looked over at Ensign Fred Bartlett, who was sitting in front of the navigation console. "Ready to roll, Fred?"

"Absolutely, Sir."

"Okay, if we have to start maneuvering quickly let me remind you that your job is to keep us out of trouble. I don't want to hit anything on the way out of system."

"Aye, aye, Sir. I'll keep you from scratching the paint."

Franklin snorted. "That's the least of my worries today, Ensign."

"Okay, we're getting some activity now, Skipper," Simmons said.

Franklin looked at his tactical repeater. "Radio chatter. You think it's associated with the jailbreak?"

"It's about two minutes after they were supposed to go in.

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