Spheres of Influence (Stellar Heritage Book 2) by Bob Mauldin

Author:Bob Mauldin [Mauldin, Bob]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Blade of Truth Publishing Company
Published: 2019-07-13T16:00:00+00:00

“Commander Graham, you are on notice!” She began a five-second countdown, with the ramps closing off the outside light on “three,” sealing tight on “two,” status lights turning green on “one,” and the world seeming to back away from the viewport on “zero.”

Marsha looked at the group of people surrounding Simon and hit her all-ships frequency. “Tiger and Cheetah Flights, thank you for your help, and my compliments to Captain Chapman. You are cleared to return to base.” Two more calls to make. “Kane to Flight Operations. Mission accomplished. Recon One returning to base.” One more call. “Commander Graham, the ship is yours. Please take us home.”

Barely listening to the responses from her calls, she stood behind the two medics checking Simon over. Out of the frying pan and into the fire! she thought. Taking a deep breath, she placed a hand on the shoulder of the nearest medic. She caught the motion of the man looking up at the edge of her vision, but her attention was drawn to Simon, sitting so unnaturally still in the chair.

Clad in a blaze-orange jumpsuit, he was at least twenty pounds thinner and, obvious even to her, near the edge of exhaustion. His left wrist injury, in a cast and strapped to his chest, was apparent. Not so apparent was the hair growing back on the left side of his head just over the ear. Closer examination under the lowered lights of the passenger compartment showed a livid, razor-thin scar trying to hide among the regrowth. And if memory served her, he’d come aboard limping with the assistance of two men, one of whom was Daniels.

With images of Kitty’s automated crypt in her mind, Marsha asked quietly, “How is he? Will he be all right?”

Simon sighed, rolled his head with great effort in the direction of Marsha’s voice, and opened his eyes. “I’ll be fine. Thanks for the lift.”

“Well, I won’t say ‘it was nothing, Captain, but at least no one got killed this time.” Realizing her mistake, she reddened in embarrassment. “I’m sorry, Simon. I didn’t mean to imply...”

Simon raised his right hand a fraction, and a small smile lifted one corner of his mouth. “I know exactly what you meant, Marsha. No offense taken. And you and your team deserve applause for what appeared from my position to be a relatively flawless operation. Take it from me—when you do let the shit hit the fan, and you will eventually, you’ll be your own worst critic.” His voice trailed off for a moment. “There’s only one way to live with your mistakes, Captain, and that is to learn something from them. To let it have been for nothing, there is the crime.”

Simon’s eyes closed and Marsha had to lean closer to hear his next words. “And if no one got killed, you’re going to have to explain your use of the words ‘special weapon’ and ‘fire.’ But let’s do that later. Tell me how bad she’s hurt, Marsha.” The request seemed to

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