Read Online Craggy 2: Another Last Flight for Craggy by Gary Weston - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Gary Weston
Tags: Science-Fiction, Space Opera, Military, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Space ships, mars, Space Fleet, alien encounters, alien planets
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Home. And no arguments. I want to see a landing without smashing up the ship.'
Dillow stopped shooting and Stella took the ship on a wide, fairly even loop, the engine in harmony with the rest of the ship and the pilot.
'Now,' said Stella. 'I think it was either that way or...no. Maybe that way. Relax. I'm joking.'
At a steady one third power, watching the screen track the way they had travelled, they all let out heavy sighs of relief as Mars became a speck in space, getting bigger by the second. 'I knew it. I was right.'
'Damn,' said Breeze. 'You weren't sure?'
'It sort of felt right. Now relax. We're getting the hang of things. Now all we gotta do is land this bird. Feel free to step in if you have any ideas on how to do that by the way, 'cus I haven't got a clue.'
Chapter 30
'T hey what?'
'Calm down, Lance,' said Potts. 'They decided to do that themselves. No one here either instructed them or even suggested they take off. They're in big trouble when they get back, taking off without clearance.'
Dillow growled, ' If they get back. That damn ship could be a death trap for all we know. Can we contact them?'
'Not as yet. They probably haven't figured out that part of the ship yet.'
Armour Dillow's face was a confused expression of deep concern and fuming anger. 'I should go up there in Eye.'
'Except Breezy is the pilot for your ship. She's the one who knows it inside and out.' Potts shrugged. 'Maybe this is a good thing. The ship had to be tested, anyway.'
Dillow thumped the desk. 'Not this way. Not just blasting off into space in an unfamiliar bird with a rebuilt engine. When they get their sorry asses back here, I'll...'
'You'll what? Arrest them?'
'Yeah. I might just do that.'
'Including your daughter?'
'Especially my daughter.'
Potts' office door burst open and Mars Commander Anton Forbes entered. 'Breaking News. They're in orbit. Still no radio signal from them. Communications are still trying different frequencies.'
'I'm going over there,' said Dillow, storming out.
Forbes said, 'Come on, Pottsy. We need to keep him on a short chain.'
Three communication technicians visibly cringed when the huge Dillow marched in, closely followed by the two Mars Commanders.
'You got that damn bird yet?'
'No, Commander Dillow,' offered one, a small man in his thirties. 'Still trying.'
Forbes said, 'How are you trying?'
Anna Graham, the communications director, said, 'We have no idea what, if any, frequencies they might be using. I've ordered all Ground Based Frequencies shut down to avoid any possible interference and our scanners are on auto tracking. We know the ship's in orbit, so if they attempt to contact us, we should pick them up.' She looked up at Dillow. 'That's as much as we can do this end. The rest is up to them.'
Dillow took a deep breath and could see the “I dare you to have a go at me” look in Graham's eyes. He pulled his head in. 'Sorry I snapped at you. I'm just concerned for them.'
'As are we, Commander Dillow,' said Graham. 'Skye Lewquarker is my niece. I know how you feel.'
Potts said, 'I can see you clearly have the situation well under control, Anna. Just let us know as soon as...'
'Hello? Is there anybody there? This is..shit. I thought I had it then. Hello. Stella Wayward, trying to call Mars. Come in you guys.'
'Yes,' said Graham. 'Gottya.'
The technician spoke into the microphone. 'This is Mars Com One calling Stella Wayward. Are you receiving me?'
'Breezy. I nearly had them then. Stop messing. Hello? Can you hear me? This is...Breezy. Leave that alone, will ya. Jeez.'
Lance Dillow grabbed the microphone. 'Breezy. You stop messing about and let Wayward do her damn job.'
'Yeah,' groaned Graham, rolling her eyes to the heavens. 'Like that should do it.'
'I heard you, Mars Com One. This is Wayward. The ship's flying great. Going to try to set her down on launch pad seven. I could see it was available last orbit. Might need a bucket of water standing by in case we crash
Dillow stopped shooting and Stella took the ship on a wide, fairly even loop, the engine in harmony with the rest of the ship and the pilot.
'Now,' said Stella. 'I think it was either that way or...no. Maybe that way. Relax. I'm joking.'
At a steady one third power, watching the screen track the way they had travelled, they all let out heavy sighs of relief as Mars became a speck in space, getting bigger by the second. 'I knew it. I was right.'
'Damn,' said Breeze. 'You weren't sure?'
'It sort of felt right. Now relax. We're getting the hang of things. Now all we gotta do is land this bird. Feel free to step in if you have any ideas on how to do that by the way, 'cus I haven't got a clue.'
Chapter 30
'T hey what?'
'Calm down, Lance,' said Potts. 'They decided to do that themselves. No one here either instructed them or even suggested they take off. They're in big trouble when they get back, taking off without clearance.'
Dillow growled, ' If they get back. That damn ship could be a death trap for all we know. Can we contact them?'
'Not as yet. They probably haven't figured out that part of the ship yet.'
Armour Dillow's face was a confused expression of deep concern and fuming anger. 'I should go up there in Eye.'
'Except Breezy is the pilot for your ship. She's the one who knows it inside and out.' Potts shrugged. 'Maybe this is a good thing. The ship had to be tested, anyway.'
Dillow thumped the desk. 'Not this way. Not just blasting off into space in an unfamiliar bird with a rebuilt engine. When they get their sorry asses back here, I'll...'
'You'll what? Arrest them?'
'Yeah. I might just do that.'
'Including your daughter?'
'Especially my daughter.'
Potts' office door burst open and Mars Commander Anton Forbes entered. 'Breaking News. They're in orbit. Still no radio signal from them. Communications are still trying different frequencies.'
'I'm going over there,' said Dillow, storming out.
Forbes said, 'Come on, Pottsy. We need to keep him on a short chain.'
Three communication technicians visibly cringed when the huge Dillow marched in, closely followed by the two Mars Commanders.
'You got that damn bird yet?'
'No, Commander Dillow,' offered one, a small man in his thirties. 'Still trying.'
Forbes said, 'How are you trying?'
Anna Graham, the communications director, said, 'We have no idea what, if any, frequencies they might be using. I've ordered all Ground Based Frequencies shut down to avoid any possible interference and our scanners are on auto tracking. We know the ship's in orbit, so if they attempt to contact us, we should pick them up.' She looked up at Dillow. 'That's as much as we can do this end. The rest is up to them.'
Dillow took a deep breath and could see the “I dare you to have a go at me” look in Graham's eyes. He pulled his head in. 'Sorry I snapped at you. I'm just concerned for them.'
'As are we, Commander Dillow,' said Graham. 'Skye Lewquarker is my niece. I know how you feel.'
Potts said, 'I can see you clearly have the situation well under control, Anna. Just let us know as soon as...'
'Hello? Is there anybody there? This is..shit. I thought I had it then. Hello. Stella Wayward, trying to call Mars. Come in you guys.'
'Yes,' said Graham. 'Gottya.'
The technician spoke into the microphone. 'This is Mars Com One calling Stella Wayward. Are you receiving me?'
'Breezy. I nearly had them then. Stop messing. Hello? Can you hear me? This is...Breezy. Leave that alone, will ya. Jeez.'
Lance Dillow grabbed the microphone. 'Breezy. You stop messing about and let Wayward do her damn job.'
'Yeah,' groaned Graham, rolling her eyes to the heavens. 'Like that should do it.'
'I heard you, Mars Com One. This is Wayward. The ship's flying great. Going to try to set her down on launch pad seven. I could see it was available last orbit. Might need a bucket of water standing by in case we crash
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