Beyond the Clouds_Retaliation by Daniel Chappell

Author:Daniel Chappell [Chappell, Daniel]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2018-03-21T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

Lt. Col. Orion Tachibana

January 14, 2113, 12:25

The hangar onboard the James Lee is abuzz with activity as mechanics and crews rush around taking care of some last-minute errands. I sign the equipment transfer documents and hand them to the lead mechanic before walking out and preparing to disembark. Up on the flight deck, the familiar sight of Misawa grows closer as we coast into the dock.

“Home, sweet home,” Saika says as she walks up next to me with the rest of the team.

“Yeah,” I reply. “It’s good to be back. I’m not sure I much liked this particular cruise. Nice drinks, though.”

She laughs as they reach me, her and Hitomi standing to either side of me. “What are you looking forward to most?”

“You mean besides the joy of bossing around more than three times as many of you? My own bed. Ship beds are hard, even in the officers’ quarters.”

As the carrier finishes sliding into its slot at the dock, my jacket pocket vibrates. I pull out the force-issued phone located there and, seeing Colonel Feng’s ID, answer the call.

“Tachibana. I know you just got back, but I’ve got an emergency sortie and some complications on the runway are blocking me sending anything airborne. I already cleared it with the admiral, so I need you to get a squad in the air. They’ll be briefed en route.”

“On it,” I reply, ending the call.

“Trouble?” Kat asks.

“Always. Colonel needs us to sortie a squad immediately.”

“Let me go get my flight suit,” Hitomi says, starting to walk away.

“You’re not going anywhere, young lady.”

“We’ll take care of it,” Smith offers. “Our planes are already on the way up.”

“Thanks. I’ll leave it to you.”

He and Saika run off toward the lifts with the other two members of their squad. Luckily, they’re still wearing their flight suits, so all they have to do is get in. Actually, all of us but Hitomi are wearing them, for good reasons. As the others reach their planes—and with Kat and Akane distracted—Hitomi turns and whispers urgently to me.

“Yo, what’s the deal? You’ve sent them on the last three sorties by themselves.”

“In case you forgot, you’re still recovering, Hitomi. I’m not about to send one of my pilots up like that, so you’re grounded as long as that takes.”

“But I’m fine now. Did you forget how much endurance I have? I can do anything with as good as I feel.”

I smack my hand on her back firmly, but not hard. The impact causes her to jump nearly a foot in the air and cry out. Just as I thought. This is what I was trying to avoid. I let out a long sigh.

“The hell was that for?” she complains.

“Go home, Hitomi.”

“Well, I can’t very well get to my room until we finish docking, can I?”

“That’s not what I meant. I’m sending you home. Go spend some time with your parents and recover.”

“Oh, hell no. You are not about to send me home to wallow in self-pity while everyone else runs around risking their lives.

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