Read Online Regan's Reach 4: Avarice by Mark G Brewer - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Mark G Brewer
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a suicide but of course we'll check. Our other problem is we've now only got twelve
days to appoint a replacement - any ideas?"
"One of us could do it?" Marin
suggested.
"Babe, it's not our skill," Leah
countered, "none of us have the patience to deal with the crew issues, let
alone the twelve hundred colonists on that vessel."
"Regan," Hilary interrupted,
"if I may speak, it might be useful to talk to Mary, I think she may have
a suggestion."
Regan cocked her head in surprise. "Mary?
I take it you have some thoughts on this too, Hilary?"
"I do, but it would be good if you
talked with Mary first, shall I set up a meeting?"
"Yes, yes of course and we'd better
get down for the crew meeting, could you pop us down there please."
"Errr, and Hilary," Leah glanced
at Regan apologetically, "could you pop me back to the Medlab
please."
Regan swung to her. "Oh shit . . . of
course, Jared, what's happening down there?"
Ham quickly raised a hand, "Everything
is going fine Regan, I'm operating even as we speak and I didn't need Leah for
the moment but yes, there is some cleaning up to do, we should get back there
now . . ." already his form was beginning to fade but not before Regan just
caught his final words, "I do have a lot on . . . and oh, I've had to make
some executiv . . ." and he was gone.
Regan cringed . . . executive decisions!
* * *
The Stein Family Compound, Hillary Station
Mary was talking with the US office, as always
busy with the responsibilities of STEIN CEO, a role that she thrived on. She
loved the action, the deals and the profit returns while Kevin worked the
international circuit as head of the International Space Coalition.
There would be no hurrying Mary, Regan knew
from experience she moved at her own pace, so instead she took a seat to wait.
As an old friend and colleague Mary was one of the few who didn't jump when
Regan entered a room and she loved that about her, she was a great sister-in-law.
Making herself comfortable she reclined on the couch, closed her eyes and used
the time to review the earlier meeting in quadruple time. At times she imagined
her left brain processor must be buzzing away frantically and she could almost
hear it. She chuckled at the thought.
The meeting had gone well, with just the
senior crew present, all of them good men and women. They mixed well together and
the camaraderie was evident from the moment of the first arrivals. Only the
crew from the Fair Passage looked in any way stressed and that was
understandable; they arrived last and immediately the mood had become somber
with the death of the Commander on everyone's minds. Conversations changed with
the shift in mood and everyone began to focus on the risks in space. It took a
few drinks and good food before the atmosphere started to lift.
Commander Rubik of the Ascendant had proved
a revelation. Personally Regan would have dropped him after the battle seven
years earlier but Ham seemed to have confidence in him and that confidence had
been rewarded. The man seemed positive and optimistic and was a great
encourager of the Ascendant senior crew who were mostly Coran like himself. Humans
and Dahlians made up the balance of his own crew complement and all were
experienced operators they trusted.
While the ship was only leased from Reubus,
the Fair Passage crew all came from Hillary Station and they were among the
best. Nevertheless, none of the appointed crew had the gravitas required for
the role of Commander, which on a vessel largely run by the ship mind, called
more for people skills than piloting or engineering aptitude. Regan allowed her
mind to drift, pondering the problem. Who does Hilary have in mind for
commander?
"Done!" With the sound of Mary's exclamation
Regan's eyes popped open, almost startled to find herself back in the lounge so
real was the cyber review of the meeting. She turned to see her friend’s ample
figure approaching and knowing the bubbly woman would not be
a suicide but of course we'll check. Our other problem is we've now only got twelve
days to appoint a replacement - any ideas?"
"One of us could do it?" Marin
suggested.
"Babe, it's not our skill," Leah
countered, "none of us have the patience to deal with the crew issues, let
alone the twelve hundred colonists on that vessel."
"Regan," Hilary interrupted,
"if I may speak, it might be useful to talk to Mary, I think she may have
a suggestion."
Regan cocked her head in surprise. "Mary?
I take it you have some thoughts on this too, Hilary?"
"I do, but it would be good if you
talked with Mary first, shall I set up a meeting?"
"Yes, yes of course and we'd better
get down for the crew meeting, could you pop us down there please."
"Errr, and Hilary," Leah glanced
at Regan apologetically, "could you pop me back to the Medlab
please."
Regan swung to her. "Oh shit . . . of
course, Jared, what's happening down there?"
Ham quickly raised a hand, "Everything
is going fine Regan, I'm operating even as we speak and I didn't need Leah for
the moment but yes, there is some cleaning up to do, we should get back there
now . . ." already his form was beginning to fade but not before Regan just
caught his final words, "I do have a lot on . . . and oh, I've had to make
some executiv . . ." and he was gone.
Regan cringed . . . executive decisions!
* * *
The Stein Family Compound, Hillary Station
Mary was talking with the US office, as always
busy with the responsibilities of STEIN CEO, a role that she thrived on. She
loved the action, the deals and the profit returns while Kevin worked the
international circuit as head of the International Space Coalition.
There would be no hurrying Mary, Regan knew
from experience she moved at her own pace, so instead she took a seat to wait.
As an old friend and colleague Mary was one of the few who didn't jump when
Regan entered a room and she loved that about her, she was a great sister-in-law.
Making herself comfortable she reclined on the couch, closed her eyes and used
the time to review the earlier meeting in quadruple time. At times she imagined
her left brain processor must be buzzing away frantically and she could almost
hear it. She chuckled at the thought.
The meeting had gone well, with just the
senior crew present, all of them good men and women. They mixed well together and
the camaraderie was evident from the moment of the first arrivals. Only the
crew from the Fair Passage looked in any way stressed and that was
understandable; they arrived last and immediately the mood had become somber
with the death of the Commander on everyone's minds. Conversations changed with
the shift in mood and everyone began to focus on the risks in space. It took a
few drinks and good food before the atmosphere started to lift.
Commander Rubik of the Ascendant had proved
a revelation. Personally Regan would have dropped him after the battle seven
years earlier but Ham seemed to have confidence in him and that confidence had
been rewarded. The man seemed positive and optimistic and was a great
encourager of the Ascendant senior crew who were mostly Coran like himself. Humans
and Dahlians made up the balance of his own crew complement and all were
experienced operators they trusted.
While the ship was only leased from Reubus,
the Fair Passage crew all came from Hillary Station and they were among the
best. Nevertheless, none of the appointed crew had the gravitas required for
the role of Commander, which on a vessel largely run by the ship mind, called
more for people skills than piloting or engineering aptitude. Regan allowed her
mind to drift, pondering the problem. Who does Hilary have in mind for
commander?
"Done!" With the sound of Mary's exclamation
Regan's eyes popped open, almost startled to find herself back in the lounge so
real was the cyber review of the meeting. She turned to see her friend’s ample
figure approaching and knowing the bubbly woman would not be
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