Hard into the Storm: First Voyages - Book 3 by Tom Shepherd

Author:Tom Shepherd [Shepherd, Tom]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Bookbag Press
Published: 2024-05-06T00:00:00+00:00

Nineteen

TSC Victoria

Cumberland Tunnel

Max FTL

Three Days Later

Stiff-faced, Acting-Captain Svetkana Vdovina paced the corridor outside the Intensive Care Unit on medical Deck 5. She perked up every time the lift opened and ship’s personnel stepped out. Nurses, physician’s assistants. A river of doctors and med techs flowed with visitors or patients arriving for appointments at the clinics. Svetkana was looking for one particular visitor.

She rehearsed her speech a dozen times this afternoon alone, and she’d been working on it since the Vickie broke orbit at the hab moon Tersoo exactly 77 hours ago.

When the corridor cleared, the Russian XO recited her address one more time. Just a little information dump, whispered to a presently empty accessway.

“Good evening, Tovarishch Komandir Ndari. You probably wonder why I called you to Sick Bay during duty watch. Is very good news. Your brave husband—”

“Is not dead.”

Svetkana wheeled to find an internationally known Asian face of astonishing beauty, even when scowling. She had used the doctor’s only lift, which dumped out directly across from the emergency room entrance.

“Come with me, Comrade,” the Russian said. “I will explain.”

“Knock off the retro-Bolshevik bullshit. Where is the Italian son of a bitch?”

“We talk. Not in corridor.” Svetkana found an unoccupied treatment room with plastic folding chairs and an acrylic cabinet full of quick-apply bandages.

“Where is my husband, Svetkana?” she asked again.

“Tovarishch Ndari, is joyous reunion. The Kapitan has—”

“Lied, misdirected, and scared me out of my wits. He will get no ‘joyous reunion’ from me today.” She turned sideways in the stiff hospital seat. “And when I am done with the Captain, schedule another appointment. You’re next.”

“Do not be too hard on him. His first plea was to tell you.”

“Why didn’t he?”

“Committee of alien allies felt your grief would convince Lutzak the Captain had passed.”

Ndari hopped from her chair, unable to sit. “And did it?”

“Da! That is why—chjort!” Crap! Svetkana shook a fist at her. “You knew already truth at duel site.”

“Da, Tovarishch Komandir.” Ndari crossed her arms like the King of Siam. “Was good acting, no?”

“Very good. Gold Star Awards,” Svetkana said. “How did you learn of plot?”

“Chenoa Zima.” Ndari tossed a hand. “Our bioenergetic ensign regularly links with the Vickie’s computer net to recharge her matrix. When she went internal, Chenoa and Mikey exchanged the latest MLC gossip. Since she’s assigned to me as astrometrics trainee, she briefed her boss upon exiting the system.”

Svetkana grunted. “I must have counseling session with Ensign Zima. Was restricted information.”

“Don’t blame my faithful assistant. Point me to my errant husband.”

“Kapitan recovers in ICU. Barely conscious.”

Ndari’s eyes darkened, threateningly. “What did he order for dinner?”

“Ragu with sage pesto,” Svetkana said. “Is very healthy.”

“Let me at him, now!”

The Russian officer showed her the room and left for other duties.

Aurelio was relaxing in an armchair beside the bio-bed when she stormed in like a Typhoon. He was fully dressed in dark yellow jumpsuit, the color of the day, but his eyes looked tired, like a man recovering from a life-threatening illness.

She could not shout at him. Tears streamed down her face, and she fell to her knees and put her head on his lap.

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