Supercarrier by Scott Bartlett

Author:Scott Bartlett
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Science Fiction, Military, Fiction
ISBN: 9781988380049
Publisher: Kindle Press
Published: 2016-11-21T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter 47

Oh Two Hundred Hours

At oh two hundred hours, when the pair watching the brig were two men he could trust, Mario Laudano paid an unscheduled visit, exchanging nods with them as he walked past and down the long alley between the two rows of cells. Both guards had a long history of pissing off their officers, who typically responded with disciplinary action, culminating eventually in their getting consigned to the Providence . And Laudano had helped both men escape a court-martial at one point or another.

The first cells held those who’d participated in the attempted mutiny, five to a cell, most of them asleep on thin-looking mattresses. Laudano didn’t want to know how they’d decided who got the bunk.

He sneered as he passed the Ixan’s cell, flipping him off, but Ochrim didn’t react. The scientist slumped against the wall at the back of his cell, dressed in shadow.

The Wingers put on more of a show .

“Tyrant!” one shouted.

“Fascist!”

Laudano saluted them in kind, snapping off his best, with a sarcastic flourish as his hand left his temple.

In the last cell on the right, removed from the other prisoners as much as the layout allowed, was Bob Bronson. Like the aliens, he remained awake.

“Laudano. I hear they gave you my old job.”

“It’s not your job anymore.”

“I know. That’s what I just said.”

“No—you don’t know. You’ve been promoted to captain.”

Bronson chuckled. “Did Keyes retire, then? Somehow I doubt he would have recommended me to succeed him.” The former XO leaned back, gently laying his head against the metal bulkhead. “Thanks for the late-night visit, Laudano. Your weird sense of humor is actually cheering me up.”

“I mean it. I was at the meeting where the admirals ordered Keyes to give up his command to you. And he refused. The Providence is in open rebellion right now.”

That gave Bronson pause. “How does the crew feel about that?”

“They put it to a vote, and it was unanimous in favor of keeping Keyes as captain.”

“Well that’s that then, isn’t it?”

“No, it’s not. I voted for Keyes, too, but that’s only because I could see which way the crew was leaning. I think Keyes is a disaster, and I know for a fact there are several who feel the same way as me, no matter how they voted. ”

“What are you proposing? Another uprising, starting here at the brig? Maybe get the Wingers on board? It won’t work. If we still had the element of surprise, perhaps, but those damned Kaithe . . . forget it, Laudano. Keyes holds all the cards.”

“I don’t mean now. I’m saying we bide our time. I’ll keep playing my role, keeping an eye on things as they unfold. I mean, how long can the old man keep it together? Floating in hostile space, with the whole Fleet against him . . . and the moment things fall apart . . .”

“We step in to piece them back together.”

“Exactly.”

“I like it. Why don’t we keep in touch, Laudano? Maybe a little more discreetly than actually coming to visit me in person.

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