Battlecruiser Alamo: Not In My Name by Tongue Richard

Author:Tongue, Richard [Tongue, Richard]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Published: 2015-09-13T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 16

 “Secure from standby alert,” Marshall said, rising from the command chair. “Reports to the Acting Operations Officer. Spinelli, I want full reports on everything in this system. If there’s a molecule out of place, I need to know about it yesterday. Weitzman, keep listening out from any activity on the planet.” Turning to Grant, he said, “I want two shuttles on permanent standby for pickup at a moment’s notice. Around the clock. Preflights completed, pilots ready for scramble. Understood?”

 “Aye, sir,” Grant said.

 “Very well. You have the conn. Deadeye, shall we go and take a look at the face of the enemy?”

 “Sounds like fun,” she replied, following Marshall into the elevator. As the doors closed, she turned to him, and said, “You can relax a bit. Everything’s going as planned.”

 “For the moment,” he said, “and we don’t know what happened down on the surface.”

 “Good,” she said. “If we’d been able to track them, so could that Q-Carrier. Cooper’s an expert, a veteran. He knows his business better than you do.” Frowning, she replied, “This is a hell of a time to start to second-guess this operation.”

 “I know,” he replied. “I just can’t get past the feeling that this is all a little convenient. We’ve followed a trail of breadcrumbs leading all the way here.”

 “Not much of a trap if we’re already suspicious.”

 “The trap works if you get caught. It doesn’t matter how nervous you are.” He paused, then said, “I want battle drills scheduled at least once a day for the next week. Don’t tell me when, either. I want to be surprised as well.”

 “Sure. I always thought that sleep was overrated.”

 The doors slid open, and they stepped through onto the cargo deck, cavernous compartments that held the near-infinite number of objects that Alamo simply couldn’t do without. The fabricator could make almost anything given time and the right materials, but there was always a long backlog on the maintenance list. It was still a lot easier just to get a new component out of a box. A fire team stood in front of Storage Seven, standing to attention as the two of them approached, snapping sharp salutes.

 “As you were,” Marshall said. “How are the prisoners, Sergeant?”

 Lance-Sergeant Francis, smiled, gesturing with her thumb at the door, and said, “Most of them are quiet as mice, sir. We had a little trouble at the hangar deck, but once we got them into the ship, they settled down nicely. Frankly, it’s a little too quiet for my liking. They might be up to something.”

 “Medical taken a look at them?” Caine asked.

 “Doctor Duquesne is in there now, checking them over. We haven’t interrogated them yet.”

 “Any ready for me to look at?”

 “I’m sure I can find one, sir.”

 “Bring one into the Supply Chief’s office. We’ll question him there.”

 There was a frown, and Francis asked, “How are we treating the prisoners, sir? Prisoners-of-war or just plain prisoners?”

 “Prisoners-of-war, Sergeant. I know that it limits our options for interrogation.”

 “Understood, sir. I’ll pass the word to the men.”

 “Danny,” Caine quietly said as they walked across the corridor, “That’s a bit of a reach.

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