Hunt for the Saiph (The Saiph Series Book 3) by PP Corcoran

Author:PP Corcoran [Corcoran, PP]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: PP Corcoran Ltd
Published: 2015-11-05T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Piggy in the Middle

PLANET IV - 23 LIBRAE SYSTEM - 83.7 LIGHT YEARS FROM EARTH

It was past two o'clock in the morning ship's time and the ensign on duty at the Tactical Station aboard the research ship TDF Henry Moseley was struggling, mostly in vain, to keep his eyes open when an incessant beeping eventually penetrated his groggy consciousness. Rubbing his eyes, he canceled the alarm and checked his panel. The sensors were picking up a ship on approach and by the course it was shaping, it was headed for a low-orbit insertion. The Henry Moseley was in high orbit of Planet IV, known as Uolas by the Deres and Wapal by the Nilmerg. Neither side could agree on a single name for the planet and were not likely to any time soon, was the ensign’s understanding. The Henry Moseley was here in support of the scientific expedition on the surface of the planet, which the Commonwealth simply referred to as Planet IV. The fact that the mission was the combined effort of the Commonwealth, Deres, and Nilmerg was a minor miracle in itself. The arrival of SurvFlot Two and Rear Admiral Torrance three years ago had brought about a ceasefire, albeit a precarious one, in the hundred-year war that had raged between the Deres and the Nilmerg. Both sides had suffered horribly in the conflict and their hatred of each other was so deeply etched into their psyche, even getting them to sit down at the same table had taken the Commonwealth Ambassador, Amber Isa, over two months. The ceasefire she negotiated was only made possible with the promise that the Commonwealth navy would be its guarantor and that the navy would constantly maintain sufficient resources in 23 Librae system to enforce the ceasefire agreement. At present, that force consisted of the four Lynx-class cruisers comprising Cruiser Squadron 1.2.2 under the command of Commodore Mkhize, currently engaged in war games on the edge of the system.

With a few keystrokes, the ensign commanded the tactical computers to run an ID on the approaching ship, which they dutifully accomplished a few seconds later, throwing the results up on the tactical holo cube. The ensign half turned in his seat to face the duty bridge officer, an engineering lieutenant who was so completely engrossed in her PAD displaying details of the latest declassified specs on the new Colossus carriers, she did not even notice the tactical display’s update. "Ma'am, we have a Deres freighter on approach to low-orbit insertion."

Without raising her eyes from the PAD, the lieutenant replied, "Probably just the monthly resupply with more of that stringy stuff the Deres call food. Log it, then inform Base Control to expect visitors."

"Aye-aye, ma'am." Message sent, the ensign shuffled in his seat to find the most comfortable position and returned to his battle with boredom.

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EXPEDITION BASE - SURFACE OF PLANET IV – 23 LIBRAE SYSTEM

Sarah Boone took one last look up at the stars through the clear plasteel dome enclosing the base

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