Uplink Squadron by J.N. Chaney & Chris Kennedy

Author:J.N. Chaney & Chris Kennedy [Chaney, J.N. & Kennedy, Chris]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Publisher: Variant Publications
Published: 2022-06-05T04:00:00+00:00

16

STATEROOM 27-C, TSS REVENGE, PROCYON A SYSTEM

Baker lay on his rack, fully clothed, looking at the overhead, wondering how everything had come to pass the way it had. Despite his best intentions—despite the overwhelming success he’d had—he was now relegated to the bench as the carrier prepared to jump into a new system. A system that was likely full of aliens who were expecting the Revenge, and had been given plenty of time to prepare for its arrival.

It’s going to be a slaughter. Our slaughter.

Maybe if he petitioned the admiral, he could get the CO’s grounding overturned. That didn’t necessarily mean that the CO would fly him, though, and he doubted the admiral would go head-to-head with his CO. They had a working relationship that had to be maintained; a single lieutenant probably wasn’t worth damaging that over.

He sighed. Maybe the Red Tigers would let me fly with them. They seemed interested in flying with me. That had, of course, been before the flight surgeon had ruled that he was crazy, which might potentially change their opinion of having him fly with them. He shook his head. The Russians are a bit crazy in how they conduct their normal business. Maybe being crazy wouldn’t be a huge impediment for them, after all.

A tentative knock came from the door. One blow, barely enough to be heard. After a couple of seconds, a stronger, more decisive knock came. Several blows, as if the knocker had determined they really did want to talk to him.

“It’s open,” he called.

The door cracked open, then opened far enough for Jimenez to stick her head in. “You… um… busy?”

Baker scoffed. “Nope. Nothing to do until duty starts tomorrow. For the rest of my life.”

“Can I come in?”

“Sure, but aren’t you worried about being seen with the crazy person? It might be contagious.”

“I’m not worried about that,” she said, although she slid through the door and shut it behind her as if she was trying to keep from being seen entering. She turned and looked around, obviously uncomfortable, but couldn’t meet his eyes.

Baker nodded to the chair at the desk. “Have a seat.”

“Thanks.” She sat, not facing him, but not obviously facing away. For long moments, she didn’t say anything.

Baker gave her a moment to compose her thoughts. After a second, she squared her shoulders.

“I’m sorry,” she said. “It’s my fault that everything happened to you.”

“It’s not your fault,” Baker said, looking back at the overhead. “You told the truth, as you should have.”

“But… it was my fault we were even having that conversation. If I’d just learned to overlook my fighter’s peculiarities…”

“Then it might do something crazy at some point. Nothing’s changed with that.”

Now she turned toward him and looked at him, hard, as if trying to see into him. “You’re not really crazy, are you?” The last bit was said hopefully. “You were always a touch different in flight school—but that was more ‘driven.’ You never gave any indication of being crazy.”

“I’ll tell you what I told them.

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