Read Online Family Law 2: The Long Voyage of the Little Fleet by Mackey Chandler - Free Book Online
Authors: Mackey Chandler
Tags: Science-Fiction
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like to know why or find out what duty this person is charged with. Such absolute certainty honestly frightens me. I'm rarely ever that certain about anything."
"Ming Lee?" Gordon read off the screen. "Would you like to explain your assessment for Thor and our benefit?"
"Yes, I'm the second cook on The Champion William . Despite what Mr. Thor seems to think, I am not a crank or disturbed person. I simply have experience, strongly reinforced in my family, as to what these broadcasts are. My great-grandfather and grandfather lived in an area of China on Earth which was populated by an ethnic minority. The government kept very tight control, suppressing even the slightest expression of dissidence. I have searched and highlighted a number of files of similar human video productions I will attach right now as references. I suggest you watch them silently, with no translation or captioning. The resemblance is uncanny. What you are seeing in these broadcasts is revolutionary theatre, or propaganda. Even the dark orange color of authority is a coincidental close match to the red of my homeland. I predict they will be authoritarian and very difficult with which to deal," he finished.
"Thank you Ming, Mr. Jefferson?" Gordon allowed next.
"Even before Mr. Ming's assessment of the honesty of what they portray in their broadcasts, we only have a view through their camera lens and never got close enough to see for ourselves what is on the surface of the planet from orbit. I'd suggest we need some direct observation, perhaps even some closer looks from atmospheric drones and try to establish some communications from orbit before risking physical contact."
"This seems the course of caution to me too," Gordon agreed. "If anyone disagrees and feels it is too stand-offish write out your thinking and submit it to these suggestions. I should warn you that if you are in favor of a landing and an immediate face to face meeting, we'll take it as volunteering for such duty."
Nobody seemed eager to be such a volunteer and Gordon closed out the all-crew session.
"We need to decide how we are going to approach this world and compose a greeting and initial contact video formatted for their receivers," Gordon said to the flight crews. "I'd like to do a few orbits and map the surface before we decide where we are going to direct our contact message. I find myself leery of transmitting it to the entire surface as we orbit. We'll announce this fleet wide again first shift tomorrow and consider any further analysis of their transmissions that wasn't considered today. Let's get some supper and let the B team carry the ball a bit," he told the bridge crew.
"This is the first time we have heard anyone but the captain speak from The Champion William ," Gordon noted to Thor, "and not much from him."
"Well you invited anyone to speak. He would have been out of line to deny Ming Lee his opportunity. What is your point? Did you think he'd spaced them all and was flying her alone?"
"Just that we usually have some chatter from the other ships officers. We're a civilian group, not under strict military discipline. I consider it a strength that we get different inputs. I haven't seen any indication it weakens my command authority. Do you think perhaps Priceless is a bit too much of a disciplinarian? Will he need to be questioned or counseled about it?"
"He is ex-military, Gordon. And so are a lot of his crew. They may be perfectly comfortable with no chatter on the flight deck. At this stage I'd just consider it a different command style than yours and let it go. Now, if we start getting requests from his crew to transfer to another ship or formal complaints, then I'd start asking questions. We may run into things out here where quick obedience to commands and snappy action will save his butt. Maybe your easy going style wouldn't work for him. It works for you because of the odd mystique you hold with your crews."
"What's that?" Gordon asked.
"Same as the
"Ming Lee?" Gordon read off the screen. "Would you like to explain your assessment for Thor and our benefit?"
"Yes, I'm the second cook on The Champion William . Despite what Mr. Thor seems to think, I am not a crank or disturbed person. I simply have experience, strongly reinforced in my family, as to what these broadcasts are. My great-grandfather and grandfather lived in an area of China on Earth which was populated by an ethnic minority. The government kept very tight control, suppressing even the slightest expression of dissidence. I have searched and highlighted a number of files of similar human video productions I will attach right now as references. I suggest you watch them silently, with no translation or captioning. The resemblance is uncanny. What you are seeing in these broadcasts is revolutionary theatre, or propaganda. Even the dark orange color of authority is a coincidental close match to the red of my homeland. I predict they will be authoritarian and very difficult with which to deal," he finished.
"Thank you Ming, Mr. Jefferson?" Gordon allowed next.
"Even before Mr. Ming's assessment of the honesty of what they portray in their broadcasts, we only have a view through their camera lens and never got close enough to see for ourselves what is on the surface of the planet from orbit. I'd suggest we need some direct observation, perhaps even some closer looks from atmospheric drones and try to establish some communications from orbit before risking physical contact."
"This seems the course of caution to me too," Gordon agreed. "If anyone disagrees and feels it is too stand-offish write out your thinking and submit it to these suggestions. I should warn you that if you are in favor of a landing and an immediate face to face meeting, we'll take it as volunteering for such duty."
Nobody seemed eager to be such a volunteer and Gordon closed out the all-crew session.
"We need to decide how we are going to approach this world and compose a greeting and initial contact video formatted for their receivers," Gordon said to the flight crews. "I'd like to do a few orbits and map the surface before we decide where we are going to direct our contact message. I find myself leery of transmitting it to the entire surface as we orbit. We'll announce this fleet wide again first shift tomorrow and consider any further analysis of their transmissions that wasn't considered today. Let's get some supper and let the B team carry the ball a bit," he told the bridge crew.
"This is the first time we have heard anyone but the captain speak from The Champion William ," Gordon noted to Thor, "and not much from him."
"Well you invited anyone to speak. He would have been out of line to deny Ming Lee his opportunity. What is your point? Did you think he'd spaced them all and was flying her alone?"
"Just that we usually have some chatter from the other ships officers. We're a civilian group, not under strict military discipline. I consider it a strength that we get different inputs. I haven't seen any indication it weakens my command authority. Do you think perhaps Priceless is a bit too much of a disciplinarian? Will he need to be questioned or counseled about it?"
"He is ex-military, Gordon. And so are a lot of his crew. They may be perfectly comfortable with no chatter on the flight deck. At this stage I'd just consider it a different command style than yours and let it go. Now, if we start getting requests from his crew to transfer to another ship or formal complaints, then I'd start asking questions. We may run into things out here where quick obedience to commands and snappy action will save his butt. Maybe your easy going style wouldn't work for him. It works for you because of the odd mystique you hold with your crews."
"What's that?" Gordon asked.
"Same as the
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