Read Online Battlecruiser Alamo: The Price of Admiralty by Richard Tongue - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Richard Tongue
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"Grenade!"
Orlova, outside, saw the tractor running towards the men, breaking their ranks. She took the opportunity for another couple of quick shots, seeing two of them limp off, then saw the remainder hurl themselves to the ground as a piece of debris landed in their midst. She shrugged, figuring that they obviously knew something she didn't. Taking the opportunity, she sprinted forward and grabbed one of the drooped weapons, pointing it at the men on the ground.
"Drop your weapons, damn it!" she yelled. Then to the troopers inside, "Get out with your stuff right now! Station security will be here any second!"
Clarke and Voldinski ran out, grabbed two more of the discarded weapons, covering the cowering cretins. The rest of the troopers bundled everything onto the two trolleys and started them down the corridor, heading back the way they came. Esposito was the last one out, looking Orlova up and down with a smile on your face.
"I thought we had parted company."
"You and that damn Captain of yours are going to give me a bad reputation. Come on, let's get the hell out of here before anyone else sees me."
"Which way to the loading docks?"
Orlova gave a half-laugh. "Follow me and we'll be back at my shuttle in five minutes."
Chapter 6
Ensign Esposito and Lance-Sergeant Hunter stood at attention in front of Marshall's desk, while Orlova slouched along a wall. The captain's office was silent enough to have heard a pin drop; he was still looking over the three reports they had submitted, along with the testimony culled by the remainder of the crew.
The door chimed, and opened to admit a furious-looking Senior Lieutenant Zakharova, who in three paces managed to take a position behind the captain, also standing at attention. Marshall looked up from the datapads, slid them to a side of the desk, and motioned for the assembled to take a seat, then sealed the door.
He tapped a button. "Weitzman, make sure we aren't disturbed until this meeting is over."
"Aye, sir."
He looked around at the four people, with a particular focus on the two espatiers. "To sum these reports, then. Four hours ago I ordered you, Ensign, to launch a covert raid to get back the spare parts that were stolen from this ship over the last forty-eight hours. It was understood that non-lethal weapons only would be used."
"No-one told me that!" Orlova interrupted, to be the subject of a withering look from Marshall.
"If I might continue. This low-impact mission started to unravel when your troopers began to engage in wholesale scavenging – yes, I saw the state of their pockets when they slumped back on board – and went further wrong when you came under fire from a group of thugs using plasma rifles.”
He looked down at the report for effect; he'd got this story memorized, then continued, “ By the skin of your teeth, notably the intervention of Ms. Orlova and some impressive acrobatics from Lance-Sergeant Hunter, you somehow overpowered the opposition and got away. Leaving damage to the lower levels of the station that will cost a hell of a lot more than the parts you reclaimed were worth. Would that be a reasonable assessment?"
"Hell, Captain, the plasma pistols are more than worth it," the Sergeant said. "Sides, the Ensign did fine her first time out."
Esposito flashed a look at her sergeant, then back to Marshall. "We were led to expect only minimal resistance. Not fully-trained combat troops. I don't see if there is anything else that we could have done." She glanced at the sergeant again. "But if there is any blame to assign, then as the officer in charge it belongs with me. Though I note that we did accomplish the mission, and would appreciate if you take that into consideration when considering charges."
Marshall smiled, and shook his head, "Right answer, both of you. Don't worry, there's no consideration of charges here. I'm pretty sure that ordering such a mission would be
Orlova, outside, saw the tractor running towards the men, breaking their ranks. She took the opportunity for another couple of quick shots, seeing two of them limp off, then saw the remainder hurl themselves to the ground as a piece of debris landed in their midst. She shrugged, figuring that they obviously knew something she didn't. Taking the opportunity, she sprinted forward and grabbed one of the drooped weapons, pointing it at the men on the ground.
"Drop your weapons, damn it!" she yelled. Then to the troopers inside, "Get out with your stuff right now! Station security will be here any second!"
Clarke and Voldinski ran out, grabbed two more of the discarded weapons, covering the cowering cretins. The rest of the troopers bundled everything onto the two trolleys and started them down the corridor, heading back the way they came. Esposito was the last one out, looking Orlova up and down with a smile on your face.
"I thought we had parted company."
"You and that damn Captain of yours are going to give me a bad reputation. Come on, let's get the hell out of here before anyone else sees me."
"Which way to the loading docks?"
Orlova gave a half-laugh. "Follow me and we'll be back at my shuttle in five minutes."
Chapter 6
Ensign Esposito and Lance-Sergeant Hunter stood at attention in front of Marshall's desk, while Orlova slouched along a wall. The captain's office was silent enough to have heard a pin drop; he was still looking over the three reports they had submitted, along with the testimony culled by the remainder of the crew.
The door chimed, and opened to admit a furious-looking Senior Lieutenant Zakharova, who in three paces managed to take a position behind the captain, also standing at attention. Marshall looked up from the datapads, slid them to a side of the desk, and motioned for the assembled to take a seat, then sealed the door.
He tapped a button. "Weitzman, make sure we aren't disturbed until this meeting is over."
"Aye, sir."
He looked around at the four people, with a particular focus on the two espatiers. "To sum these reports, then. Four hours ago I ordered you, Ensign, to launch a covert raid to get back the spare parts that were stolen from this ship over the last forty-eight hours. It was understood that non-lethal weapons only would be used."
"No-one told me that!" Orlova interrupted, to be the subject of a withering look from Marshall.
"If I might continue. This low-impact mission started to unravel when your troopers began to engage in wholesale scavenging – yes, I saw the state of their pockets when they slumped back on board – and went further wrong when you came under fire from a group of thugs using plasma rifles.”
He looked down at the report for effect; he'd got this story memorized, then continued, “ By the skin of your teeth, notably the intervention of Ms. Orlova and some impressive acrobatics from Lance-Sergeant Hunter, you somehow overpowered the opposition and got away. Leaving damage to the lower levels of the station that will cost a hell of a lot more than the parts you reclaimed were worth. Would that be a reasonable assessment?"
"Hell, Captain, the plasma pistols are more than worth it," the Sergeant said. "Sides, the Ensign did fine her first time out."
Esposito flashed a look at her sergeant, then back to Marshall. "We were led to expect only minimal resistance. Not fully-trained combat troops. I don't see if there is anything else that we could have done." She glanced at the sergeant again. "But if there is any blame to assign, then as the officer in charge it belongs with me. Though I note that we did accomplish the mission, and would appreciate if you take that into consideration when considering charges."
Marshall smiled, and shook his head, "Right answer, both of you. Don't worry, there's no consideration of charges here. I'm pretty sure that ordering such a mission would be
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