Read Online Dremiks by Cassandra Davis - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Cassandra Davis
Tags: Science-Fiction, Space Opera
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sorry, Honored One, but I must beg your leave. I have to go inform the Chancellor and Vice Chancellor about a communications blackout.”
“There is a problem with the systems?”
“Oh no, no.” Robertson rushed to clarify. Dwax noticed the ensign almost whispered his explanation. “The captain has decided that only official traffic, approved communications messages, can be sent twelve hours before and after the jump.”
Both the Dremikian and Ensign Robertson kept their features neutral. “Ah. Yes. Well I am sure the Chancellor will be happy to oblige.”
“Not.”
Dwax was confused. “I have used the wrong words? He will not be obliged?”
Nate grinned, his tension broken. “No, well… oh, never mind. I’ll see you later, ok?”
“Yes! Please. Good day to you.” Dwax bowed in return to Nate’s formal salute. He was glad the ensign was so friendly and comfortable around Dremikians. Nate’s news was troubling but Dwax had a few hours to work out a way to slip his messages out. He would first spend a bit of free time with the nice doctor.
***
That evening, Commander O’Connell called attention on deck when the captain entered the officer’s mess room. Captain Hill motioned everyone to his seat and nodded his thanks for the cup of coffee Ensign Chi handed him. Once seated, he laid his tablet precisely on the table and nodded once to the commander.
She cleared her throat before speaking. “All right people, let’s get through this. We are twenty-four hours from first jump. We’ve all done this before. You know your duties and assignments. Please remember that jumps are designated “all hands” maneuvers. Make sure your people are properly scheduled and prepared. No mistakes because of fatigue, please.”
Captain Hill watched the expressions of the officers and senior civilian personnel. His brother, Ryan Hill, was seated in Chancellor Trell’s spot at the table. Brett Hill had personally requested the Chancellor’s presence. The change in routine brought a severe frown to the captain’s face. He turned to Lieutenant Price, who was in charge of civilian and military cooperation.
“Price, ensure that Chancellor Trell is aware of the all-hands status and the need for all civilian personnel to be awake and on-station for one hour prior to and one hour after the jump.”
O’Connell flicked her gaze to Ryan Hill. She expected to see him bristle or at least look irritated. Instead he sipped his tea and continued to appear supremely bored. As if he felt her watching him, Ryan’s blue eyes lazily drifted up and locked on her face. His mouth quirked slightly at the corners. Without turning his head he said, “I’m sure I’m trustworthy enough to relay any messages to my colleague, brother.”
To Maggie’s uneasy mind, Ryan seemed to add extra emphasis to the word “trustworthy”. She turned her attention back to the captain and discovered with added unease that he was watching the interplay between her and his brother. Irritated at being put off-balance by the Hill brothers, Maggie charged ahead with the briefing.
“Doctor,” she snapped. “Do you have any questions about medical emergency procedures?
Cassie had her tablet ready for note-taking, but had been sitting quietly with nothing to record or question. She either ignored or missed O’Connell’s tone and shook her head with a sunny smile. “I’m probably more ready than anyone else. If everyone does his job correctly then I have nothing to do but sit back and enjoy the ride.”
Captain Hill chuckled and favored the doctor with a rare smile. “I hope it is a very boring ride for you, Doctor. But, should we disappoint and fail in our assignments, will you be ready to step in and patch us up?”
Typically at sea while military jargon and procedures whizzed over her head at briefings, Cassie was on firm ground now. She happily read off the assignments for her medical crew and the disaster emergency training rotations that she had
“There is a problem with the systems?”
“Oh no, no.” Robertson rushed to clarify. Dwax noticed the ensign almost whispered his explanation. “The captain has decided that only official traffic, approved communications messages, can be sent twelve hours before and after the jump.”
Both the Dremikian and Ensign Robertson kept their features neutral. “Ah. Yes. Well I am sure the Chancellor will be happy to oblige.”
“Not.”
Dwax was confused. “I have used the wrong words? He will not be obliged?”
Nate grinned, his tension broken. “No, well… oh, never mind. I’ll see you later, ok?”
“Yes! Please. Good day to you.” Dwax bowed in return to Nate’s formal salute. He was glad the ensign was so friendly and comfortable around Dremikians. Nate’s news was troubling but Dwax had a few hours to work out a way to slip his messages out. He would first spend a bit of free time with the nice doctor.
***
That evening, Commander O’Connell called attention on deck when the captain entered the officer’s mess room. Captain Hill motioned everyone to his seat and nodded his thanks for the cup of coffee Ensign Chi handed him. Once seated, he laid his tablet precisely on the table and nodded once to the commander.
She cleared her throat before speaking. “All right people, let’s get through this. We are twenty-four hours from first jump. We’ve all done this before. You know your duties and assignments. Please remember that jumps are designated “all hands” maneuvers. Make sure your people are properly scheduled and prepared. No mistakes because of fatigue, please.”
Captain Hill watched the expressions of the officers and senior civilian personnel. His brother, Ryan Hill, was seated in Chancellor Trell’s spot at the table. Brett Hill had personally requested the Chancellor’s presence. The change in routine brought a severe frown to the captain’s face. He turned to Lieutenant Price, who was in charge of civilian and military cooperation.
“Price, ensure that Chancellor Trell is aware of the all-hands status and the need for all civilian personnel to be awake and on-station for one hour prior to and one hour after the jump.”
O’Connell flicked her gaze to Ryan Hill. She expected to see him bristle or at least look irritated. Instead he sipped his tea and continued to appear supremely bored. As if he felt her watching him, Ryan’s blue eyes lazily drifted up and locked on her face. His mouth quirked slightly at the corners. Without turning his head he said, “I’m sure I’m trustworthy enough to relay any messages to my colleague, brother.”
To Maggie’s uneasy mind, Ryan seemed to add extra emphasis to the word “trustworthy”. She turned her attention back to the captain and discovered with added unease that he was watching the interplay between her and his brother. Irritated at being put off-balance by the Hill brothers, Maggie charged ahead with the briefing.
“Doctor,” she snapped. “Do you have any questions about medical emergency procedures?
Cassie had her tablet ready for note-taking, but had been sitting quietly with nothing to record or question. She either ignored or missed O’Connell’s tone and shook her head with a sunny smile. “I’m probably more ready than anyone else. If everyone does his job correctly then I have nothing to do but sit back and enjoy the ride.”
Captain Hill chuckled and favored the doctor with a rare smile. “I hope it is a very boring ride for you, Doctor. But, should we disappoint and fail in our assignments, will you be ready to step in and patch us up?”
Typically at sea while military jargon and procedures whizzed over her head at briefings, Cassie was on firm ground now. She happily read off the assignments for her medical crew and the disaster emergency training rotations that she had
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