Showdown (Deep Space Mining Series Book 5) by Mike Coville

Author:Mike Coville [Coville, Mike]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2019-11-08T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 21

Greg walked onto the bridge of DSM Boone. A skeleton crew monitored the ship's progress toward Liwei. It wasn't often his ship sailed into The Ranch empty handed.

"Hey, Greg. Thought you were catching some shut-eye?" Paul said.

"Yeah, that's not working out so well."

"What's bothering you?"

"This will probably be my last flight on Boone."

"You still think that's how it’ll go?"

"I do. Besides, you all knew I was looking to retire. This way, I can take the bad rep with me and let you all go about your business."

"It just doesn't seem right. You should be given a gold watch and a party. Fading into the sunset like this just feels wrong. You deserve better."

"Thanks, Paul. I appreciate it. But if that’s what I can do it’s better than some of the options that have been on the table recently, and I’ll take it. Do me a favor though. Stick with Boone no matter who the new captain is. You know how it handles better than anyone, and I want them to have the best chance at success."

"Of course. I have no plans on retiring anytime soon. Besides, aren't you selling to Teo?"

"I haven't decided yet. I need to go through the process of listing Boone and see what offers come in."

"You do what you need to do, but my vote is for Teo. He'd make a good captain."

"He will. Someday. Maybe he'll get Boone, I'm just not ready to make that decision."

"Got it."

"So, how far out are we?"

A gasp from Yasmin interrupted and got both Paul and Greg to turn toward her.

"Yasmin? What's wrong?"

"I just got an emergency news update over the laz-com. It went out fleet wide. UN Auditor in charge of the ISC, Savion Prince, has died. They are saying he fell ill and died suddenly."

"That can't be good. If you hear anything else, let me know."

"Of course."

Hunter Bailey entered the bridge, eyes open wide.

"Did you hear about Savion Prince?" Bailey asked. Everyone responded that they had.

"Hunter, do you know where Zhelan is?"

"I saw him a couple of minutes ago heading toward the laz-com."

"Thanks. Paul, you have the bridge again."

The ISC had been in enough of a state of chaos from what Greg had heard, this was only going to make it worse. The ministers were all waiting on Prince's decision and the UN to reauthorize their charter. There was no telling what was going to happen now. If someone wanted to destroy the ISC, this sure was the way to do it.

Like Bailey had said, Greg found Zhelan sitting in the laz-com control room.

"Got a minute?" Greg asked.

"Yes. What can I do for you, Greg?"

"How are you holding up?"

"I am well. I heard about Savion Prince from Mr. Bailey. I was thinking of contacting Yao Huang and seeing if he knew more about things on NALC."

"That's a good idea. Between him and Sun Tao, they would probably have the inside scoop."

"You know, as your first officer I could take the blame for selling the asteroid."

"No, you can't. That was my decision and as captain I take full responsibility.

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