The Emissary by G J Ogden

Author:G J Ogden
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ogden Media Ltd

CHAPTER

SIXTEEN

ANY UPGRADE IS WORTH IT

Sterling stood at the viewing gallery window and gazed out at his ship, the Fleet Marauder Invictus. The Heavy Cruiser that was in a dock two pylons along dwarfed the Marauder-class Destroyer in terms of size, but the Invictus still managed to look more aggressive. It was like a scorpion compared to a pit bull terrier.

“Repairs and upgrades are all done, Captain,” came a voice from behind him. Startled, Sterling jerked around to see Lieutenant Commander Crow, smiling amiably at him.

“How long have you been there?” snapped Sterling, wondering how the engineer had managed to sneak up on him unawares.

“Only for a few seconds, Captain,” replied Crow. The engineer was apparently unaware he’d startled his captain. “I was admiring the Invictus too.”

Sterling nodded then saw that Crow was holding a personal digital assistant in his right hand. “So, what upgrades have F-COP’s engineers, in their infinite wisdom, decided to bestow on my ship?” he said, nodding toward the PDA.

“Nothing much, I’m afraid, sir,” replied Crow, the disappointment evident in his voice. “It was mainly routine updates to processing cores and software, plus some enhanced power relays and rail gun components.”

“So, no ‘death rays’ then?” said Sterling, smiling.

Sterling’s question caused Crow to frown down at his PDA. A holographic screen then extended in front of the engineer, projected from the small device, which itself was no larger than a deck of playing cards.

“I don’t see any death rays, sir,” Crow said, scrolling through the work orders. “They must have missed that. I’ll speak to the project manager right away.”

“Relax, Lieutenant Commander, I was joking,” said Sterling, stopping Crow from scurrying away.

“Oh,” replied Crow, looking more perplexed than he did embarrassed. Humor was a concept the engineer struggled with. “Very funny, sir,” Crow then added, faking a smile and a polite laugh.

Sterling turned back to the window and looked out at the Invictus again. F-COP had already begun to feel stifling and claustrophobic to him, despite its vast size. And now he was looking out at his ship, tethered to the station like a captive animal, he had a growing urge to get on board and get underway. With the upgrades complete, there was no longer any reason to stay, so in that moment, Sterling decided to unhook the chain and leave. Tapping his neural interface, he reached out to Commander Banks to notify his first-officer of his decision.

“Mercedes, let the crew know that we get underway at oh-eight-hundred tomorrow,” Sterling said to Banks in his mind. “That way they can have one final hurrah in the bars on F-COP tonight.”

“Aye, Captain,” said Banks. However, his first officer hadn’t replied inside his head – the voice was real and had come from behind him. Sterling again jerked around and saw the commander standing to the side of Crow, hands on her hips. “Are you planning a final hurrah too?”

“Damn it, will you all stop sneaking up on me?” complained Sterling. “And no, I’m not planning a final hurrah, or even a first one, for that matter.

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