Read Online Reavers (Book 3) by Benjamin Schramm - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Benjamin Schramm
Ads: Link
he quickly turned on the short man. “I doubt you’ll be of any help boarding a ship.”
Kevin took a defensive position between the two.
“Settle down, boys,” Rosalyn said with a trace of annoyance in her voice. “Save that energy for when we really need it. The two of you are free to go. Run back to your friends in the crew quarters. Leave the planning to us.”
With a smug look, Andreas followed after Rosalyn. With little more than a shrug, Kevin turned and headed back to their bunks. After Kevin had made light of it, everything was obvious. Why else would the captain have them do something as useless as hand washing every inch of her ship? Knowing Andreas, he’d do it just to torment the crew. The captain, on the other hand, was above such petty things. Rosalyn acted with a purpose. Tardos actually found himself excited at the prospect of taking on a job or two.
“Congratulations!” Revel forcefully slapped Kevin with his mended arm as they entered the crew quarters.
“Don’t tell me you knew!” Tardos asked flabbergasted.
“Of course I did; we all did! What do you think the rest of us did for our first two weeks?”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“Andreas is a little rough around the edges, but his methods are sound. I bet you know this ship better than the back of your aching hands.”
“Surely there is an easier way to have us learn the ship,” Sasha grumbled as she meandered toward her bunk.
“Easier? Sure,” Revel said with a wide grin. “More enjoyable for our sadistic leader? Nah.”
As Sasha gingerly lowered her aching body onto her bunk, Tardos realized she was once again wearing the outfit Kevin had given her. He couldn’t help but chuckle. Kevin acted cold and distant toward her, but Tardos knew better. He would often complain she had no place on the ship, but Tardos knew the boy was just worried about her safety. It was cute, in a way. The big strong Kevin was tied up in knots worrying about the sweet young thing he had publicly humiliated.
“So what can we expect now?” Tardos asked the still grinning Revel.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, you went through the same two weeks of hand washing the ship. What happens after that?”
“That’s the fun part. The captain is going to pick an easy target. Something to test you out.”
“When?”
As Revel opened his mouth to speak, an elaborate tone rang out. Despite its complex melody, it simply meant the captain was about to address the crew.
“I know you’ve all got a bit of cabin fever after two weeks of boredom,” Rosalyn said through hidden speakers. “Fortunately, we’ve got a target ready for the taking. We jump in fifteen. Be ready to board the ship in twenty.”
Isabella paused outside the doorway to check over her uniform one last time. Renoff was a stickler for appearance. The last head of Military Intelligence was a bit of a slob and never really noticed such things as unsightly creases in people’s uniform. While she hadn’t cared about pressed uniforms, she had been a brilliant analyst. When she stepped down, it had been a powerful blow to MI.
Her replacement, Renoff, was proving harder to assess. It was obvious the man was talented, but he tended to get distracted by minor details. Isabella couldn’t be sure if he was a perfectionist or just easily distracted. Time would tell. For the moment, however, she had her duties to perform and had to make sure an imperfection in her dull black uniform didn’t distract the man from the important details.
“Good afternoon, sir,” she said with a brief salute as she entered the briefing room.
He glanced up from his pad and nodded in acknowledgement.
“What do you have for me today?” he asked distractedly as his attention drifted back to the pad.
“Several reports from operatives finishing up routine assignments, a few progress updates on some ongoing
Kevin took a defensive position between the two.
“Settle down, boys,” Rosalyn said with a trace of annoyance in her voice. “Save that energy for when we really need it. The two of you are free to go. Run back to your friends in the crew quarters. Leave the planning to us.”
With a smug look, Andreas followed after Rosalyn. With little more than a shrug, Kevin turned and headed back to their bunks. After Kevin had made light of it, everything was obvious. Why else would the captain have them do something as useless as hand washing every inch of her ship? Knowing Andreas, he’d do it just to torment the crew. The captain, on the other hand, was above such petty things. Rosalyn acted with a purpose. Tardos actually found himself excited at the prospect of taking on a job or two.
“Congratulations!” Revel forcefully slapped Kevin with his mended arm as they entered the crew quarters.
“Don’t tell me you knew!” Tardos asked flabbergasted.
“Of course I did; we all did! What do you think the rest of us did for our first two weeks?”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“Andreas is a little rough around the edges, but his methods are sound. I bet you know this ship better than the back of your aching hands.”
“Surely there is an easier way to have us learn the ship,” Sasha grumbled as she meandered toward her bunk.
“Easier? Sure,” Revel said with a wide grin. “More enjoyable for our sadistic leader? Nah.”
As Sasha gingerly lowered her aching body onto her bunk, Tardos realized she was once again wearing the outfit Kevin had given her. He couldn’t help but chuckle. Kevin acted cold and distant toward her, but Tardos knew better. He would often complain she had no place on the ship, but Tardos knew the boy was just worried about her safety. It was cute, in a way. The big strong Kevin was tied up in knots worrying about the sweet young thing he had publicly humiliated.
“So what can we expect now?” Tardos asked the still grinning Revel.
“What do you mean?”
“Well, you went through the same two weeks of hand washing the ship. What happens after that?”
“That’s the fun part. The captain is going to pick an easy target. Something to test you out.”
“When?”
As Revel opened his mouth to speak, an elaborate tone rang out. Despite its complex melody, it simply meant the captain was about to address the crew.
“I know you’ve all got a bit of cabin fever after two weeks of boredom,” Rosalyn said through hidden speakers. “Fortunately, we’ve got a target ready for the taking. We jump in fifteen. Be ready to board the ship in twenty.”
Isabella paused outside the doorway to check over her uniform one last time. Renoff was a stickler for appearance. The last head of Military Intelligence was a bit of a slob and never really noticed such things as unsightly creases in people’s uniform. While she hadn’t cared about pressed uniforms, she had been a brilliant analyst. When she stepped down, it had been a powerful blow to MI.
Her replacement, Renoff, was proving harder to assess. It was obvious the man was talented, but he tended to get distracted by minor details. Isabella couldn’t be sure if he was a perfectionist or just easily distracted. Time would tell. For the moment, however, she had her duties to perform and had to make sure an imperfection in her dull black uniform didn’t distract the man from the important details.
“Good afternoon, sir,” she said with a brief salute as she entered the briefing room.
He glanced up from his pad and nodded in acknowledgement.
“What do you have for me today?” he asked distractedly as his attention drifted back to the pad.
“Several reports from operatives finishing up routine assignments, a few progress updates on some ongoing
Similar Books
