Cody's War: Flight Of The Phoenix by Todd McCaffrey

Author:Todd McCaffrey [McCaffrey, Todd]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Foxxe Frey Books
Published: 2024-02-07T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

“Nettles, this is Tristan,” Toby Ramirez called as they broke into orbit just above the small moon of Nettles. “Inbound in a fleet of fourteen ships.”

“Jeez, where’d you get them all?” A voice called back. “I mean, by the gods are we glad to see you!”

“We have two tenders stuffed to the gills with supplies,” Toby told them. “How many people remain?”

“Well, you see, that’s the thing,” the voice replied slowly.

“This is Commander Trudy Wilson, to whom am I speaking?” A new voice piped up.

“This is Captain Toby Ramirez of the Tristan,” Toby replied, glancing over to Cody who waved his hands dismissively — he wasn’t getting involved. “We’re here to provide you with aid and a rescue.”

“And what makes you think that we need that?” Trudy Wilson demanded.

“Well, we’d heard that you were not self-sufficient,” Toby said, glancing to Cody with a raised eyebrow. “If you’re saying that you don’t need our help, we will be happy to depart on other missions.”

“Captain Ramirez, this is Timothy Marshall from Deep Space Two,” a new voice piped up. “We have one hundred and fifty souls and would just love to get off of this rock.”

“Traitors!” Trudy Wilson snarled. “Deep Space One will never leave!”

“Speak for yourself,” the original radio operator replied. “I’m Constance Walden, and we’ve got at least fifty people who want out.”

“Connie, you traitor!” Trudy Wilson snarled. “You up there, whoever you are, if you try to land here, we’ll blow your shuttles up!”

“Um, ma’am, that seems a little excessive,” Toby replied. “Also, if we’re going to land supplies, we’ll need assurances that you won’t, in fact, do any such thing.”

“There’s another twenty out at Carlow Shipping on the moon,” Timothy Marshall added. “I’m pretty sure they want off, too.”

“They told that baby that they wouldn’t go with him!” Trudy snapped. “What makes you think that they want to go now?”

“Bad air,” Marshall replied. “Don’t tell me you didn’t hear their mayday.”

Toby looked over at Cody who nodded and punched up his wristcomm. “Nora, head on over to the shipyards and see what’s up, please?”

“On it,” Nora said instantly. “After all, I own them.”

Cody smiled.

“This is Jennifer Krugman, Chief Science Officer on DS1, are you the ship we talked with via tachyonic communications?” A new voice piped up.

“Yes, we are,” Toby replied. “A pleasure to make your acquaintance.”

Cody turned away from the hubbub and activated his intercom. “Hutchinson,” came the prompt reply.

“Colonel,” Cody said, “have you been listening?”

“Yes sir,” Alistair Hutchinson replied. “We’ve been getting good thermal maps on the installations. If we have to force our way, I think we can do it with minimal casualties.”

“I think we’re going to need boots on the ground,” Cody said. “There’s too much crazy down there.”

“I’m afraid I agree with you, sir,” Colonel Hutchinson replied. “How soon?”

“What do you recommend?”

“Well, Commander Wilson is either scared or unbalanced,” Alistair replied. “Neither of those two options are very palatable.” He paused. “Let me get with my people and see what we can plan.

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