Read Online Jordan by Susan Kearney - Free Book Online Page A

meeting.
    “What exactly do you want us to do?” Darren asked.
    Jordan stared at the stars on the screen. “For starters, work together to find us a planet with food.”
    Several crew, including Knox, left the bridge, their expressions determined and hopeful.
    Gray hovered over his console. “What parameters should I plug into the search engine?”
    “A planet with atmosphere and gravity similar to Earth would be best,” Vivianne suggested, placing George under a console,
     where the dog curled up and promptly went to sleep. “One with water.”
    “A planet that’s close enough for the
Draco
to reach within three days without reentering hyperspace,” Jordan added.
    Vivianne scanned the diagnostics she was running. “Why a planet only three days out?”
    “In case the first world turns out to be a dud, we’ll still have time for a second try,” Jordan said.
    Lyle threw his hands in the air. “I vote we search for Earth, not hunt for food on some strange world where the natives may
     decide to eat
us.
”
    Jordan eyed the man coldly. “The
Draco’
s not a democracy. If you don’t hunt, you don’t eat. And if you don’t obey orders, I’ll shove you out the nearest airlock.”
    A few of the crew chuckled.
    Lyle opened his mouth. Jordan raised an eyebrow.
    “Understood, sir.” Lyle’s face reddened. He ducked his head and walked off the bridge.
    Jordan wondered where Lyle had gone to sulk. He also wondered exactly what Vivianne had been doing in the captain’s quarters
     before he’d arrived. Vivianne had told him she’d tried to send a message to Maggie, but had she also tried to contact anyone
     else? Perhaps someone on Pendragon or Honor? Had she told him the truth? Although she’d settled down, he knew better than
     to think she trusted him.
    With Lyle’s departure, for a long minute or two an awkward silence fell over the crew. Then Sean strode onto the bridge, Darren
     behind him. Darren held out a scanner. “I’ve got that cargo inventory you asked for. Want me to download it?”
    “Yes, please,” Vivianne answered. “You find anything useful?”
    “That depends how you define useful.” Sean vibrated with excitement.
    “Star charts?” Vivianne asked.
    “None.”
    “Food?” Darren guessed.
    “Nothing edible.”
    “What did you find?” Jordan asked.
    “A first-aid kit.” He held it up. “Vitamins and spare clothing, which I left in the hold. And”—Sean broke into a wide smile—“three
     spacesuits.”
    “What?” Vivianne exchanged a long, surprised look with Jordan. “Those weren’t due for delivery for another two weeks. Good
     work, Sean.”
    “Lyle found them.” Sean still looked pleased at the compliment, and his grin widened. “I’ve already checked them out. They
     hold pressure and air. Would you like me to go outside to see if we’ve sustained any damage?”
    Before Jordan could answer, Gray’s monitor beeped. “I’ve got three possible planets. Want me to post them on the overhead?”
    “Yes, please,” Vivianne answered.
    “This one is closest.” Gray pointed at a world with four continents and a polar ice cap. “The planet’s similar in gravity
     to Earth. Ditto for distance to the sun. We can probably breathe the atmosphere, but the oxygen’s thin.”
    “Maximum magnification,” Jordan requested. All four continents on that world were black, the sea brown.
    Gray switched the visual. “These two planets are in the opposite direction and share a solar system. The smaller one’s only
     land mass is one icy and mountainous island in a planet of blue seas. The air’s breathable, but the weather seems extreme.
     I’m currently counting five class-ten hurricanes and another building off the southern hemisphere. The last world in this
     system is larger, colder, with lots of ice, but still within our parameters.”
    Vivianne looked at Jordan. “What do you think?”
    Gray’s jaw dropped as he listened through his headset. “There’s also a