Star Trek: Starfleet Academy - The Next Generation - 09 - Nova Command by Brad Strickland & Barbara Strickland

Author:Brad Strickland & Barbara Strickland [Strickland, Brad & Strickland, Barbara]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Science Fiction, Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 0671510096
Google: UwAPNAAACAAJ
Amazon: 0671510096
Barnesnoble: 0671510096
Publisher: Aladdin
Published: 1995-02-15T08:00:00+00:00

Jean-Luc gasped. His view of the planet was splendid, breathtaking. But what had really taken his breath was the moment that Bradbury Station swept into view, sailing serenely from behind the curved, atmosphere-blurred horizon of Mars. The orbital station was a shining white, a complex of six enormous work and habitation disks, each level capable of supporting more than ten thousand colonists and workers. It was far larger than either of the two puny moons of Mars, and as the shuttle approached, it grew until it more than filled the viewports. Still they were a long way away, and Jean-Luc could see the tiny specks of two- and three-person shuttles and the barely visible darting forms of one-person work bees, the tiny ships that carried out the ordinary tasks of maintaining and enlarging one of the solar system’s largest space constructs.

“Close your mouth, farm boy,” came a sneering voice behind him. “Your tongue will dehydrate!”

Jean-Luc glanced around in annoyance, his mood ruined. Roger stood there, leaning on Marta’s seat back. Roger was not a welcome visitor. “Sorry if my enthusiasm offends you, but it’s the first time I’ve seen a working space station,” Jean-Luc said.

Roger patted Marta on the shoulder. “Our wine-growing friend is a little naive, isn’t he?”

Marta didn’t look up at him. “I was dazzled when I first went into space, too, Roger.”

Roger grinned. “Oh, so was I…. I think. Of course, I can’t really remember—I was probably about two years old at the time. After we dock, why don’t we get a bite to eat together? I’ll tell you about it.”

Marta gave him an irritated glare. “Thank you, Roger, but Jean-Luc and I already have plans.” She turned to Jean-Luc, giving him a wink. “Isn’t that right?”

“Absolute1y,” Jean-Luc said. He fought hard to keep his poker face on, though the way Marta had just put Roger in his place delighted him.

Roger sniffed and straightened up. “All right,” he said. Then, in a louder voice, he added, “I guess second-raters just like to hang out together, that’s all.”

Jean-Luc’s cheeks grew hot. He could stand being teased about almost anything else, but not about that.

“Go away,” he growled. Marta put her hand on his arm and gave him a little warning squeeze: Be careful, it told Jean-Luc silently.

“Oh, I’m going,” Roger said. “We have to strap in for docking, you know. But let me tell you something, Mr. Picard. As executive officer on the Ishtar, I’m going to be in charge of reporting on crew morale and achievement. You’d better shape up if you want to get a good rating.” Suddenly he grinned and gave Marta an extravagant wink, as though his threat were just a joke. He went forward.

As he passed Tom Franklin, Franklin turned in his seat. He had a worried expression on his face. He silently mouthed the word “Sorry” to Jean-Luc.

Marta patted his arm. “Don’t let him get to you. Roger’s so full of himself, he doesn’t have any room left over for manners.”

“I know,” Jean-Luc returned.

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