Read Online Search for the Phoenix: Phoenix Series Book 2 by Jim Proctor - Free Book Online
Authors: Jim Proctor
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ship. Any questions?” the big man asked.
“What should I call you?” Nolan asked.
“Captain will suffice.”
Nolan nodded. “Thank you, Captain.”
“This way,” the captain said as he turned and headed up the corridor.
The bridge was fairly standard, though not as automated as the Independence. There were a lot more manual controls than Nolan was used to seeing. He doubted he could fly this ship without lessons were the need to arise. The captain proceeded to the helm and sat, strapping himself in. Nolan suddenly remembered that this ship would not have the gravgen coupled to the drive system. He slipped into a chair to the right of the captain and fastened the harness, pulling the belts tight.
“Officially, I’m going to orbit to test the ship after making repairs. I do that pretty regularly, seeing as this old girl breaks down a lot.”
“Really? How frequent are your failures?” Nolan asked nervously.
“Not to worry, lad. I take good care of the critical systems. I haven’t had a failure of one of them in a couple of weeks. Oh, there’s my departure clearance. Here we go.”
Nolan closed his eyes and gripped the armrests tightly as he felt the ship rise from the pad. The forward acceleration began gently, but it quickly increased to an uncomfortable level, probably around four Gs he guessed. Then, to his horror, the ship rolled hard to the right. His eyes flew open wide. “Oh hell!”
The captain laughed. “Relax, lad. I always do a roll on my way out. It’s my signature, you might say.”
“I think I’m gonna hurl,” Nolan said.
“Hold it in, lad, or you’ll be cleaning it up.”
Nolan couldn’t recall ever being so relieved to reach orbit before. He felt sick, and his legs were shaking. This ship’s gravgen maxed out at half a G, which made it easier for him to get around. He wasn’t sure that his legs would support him at a full G right now.
“We’re starting our orbit, lad. You have ninety minutes to suit up and get into the airlock. I’ll tell you when I’m going to start the venting process. Once that completes, open the outer door and be ready to step out on my command.”
“Yes, sir,” Nolan replied as he headed down the corridor to the preparation room.
The cases containing his pressure suit and helmet were here. He looked around the room until his gaze fell upon an old, decrepit-looking maneuvering pack. After a moment, he continued looking around the room for the pack he would actually be using. To his horror, there wasn’t another. “It’s a museum piece!” he shouted.
“It may be old, but it works perfectly,” the captain said, his voice issuing from a speaker grill overhead. “You don’t have to yell. The ship has an excellent audio system. You’re wasting time, lad. Suit up and get the pack on.”
Nolan opened the larger of his cases. Carefully unfolding his suit, he began inspecting it.
“Don’t just look at it, lad, put it on,” came the voice from above. “The ship has a good video system, too.”
“I always check my suit carefully before I entrust my life to it,” he said.
There was a laugh from the speaker. “Good for you. You have seventy-eight minutes until I throw you out of here, suit or no suit.”
“I’ll be ready,” he said as he continued to inspect his suit bit by bit.
Satisfied that his suit had suffered no damage, he stripped down and put on one of the diapers. Then he opened the airtight seams in the suit and worked himself into it. He struggled a little, trying to close the seams again. This was his backup suit, and it had not been used in more than a year. For better or worse, this was all he had.
After a brief struggle, he had the suit sealed. Opening the smaller case, he removed his helmet and set it on the counter that ran along one wall. Next to the helmet was a rack full of air tanks. He slotted four tanks into the holders on his belt and attached the hoses. All indicated a full charge. Retrieving his
“What should I call you?” Nolan asked.
“Captain will suffice.”
Nolan nodded. “Thank you, Captain.”
“This way,” the captain said as he turned and headed up the corridor.
The bridge was fairly standard, though not as automated as the Independence. There were a lot more manual controls than Nolan was used to seeing. He doubted he could fly this ship without lessons were the need to arise. The captain proceeded to the helm and sat, strapping himself in. Nolan suddenly remembered that this ship would not have the gravgen coupled to the drive system. He slipped into a chair to the right of the captain and fastened the harness, pulling the belts tight.
“Officially, I’m going to orbit to test the ship after making repairs. I do that pretty regularly, seeing as this old girl breaks down a lot.”
“Really? How frequent are your failures?” Nolan asked nervously.
“Not to worry, lad. I take good care of the critical systems. I haven’t had a failure of one of them in a couple of weeks. Oh, there’s my departure clearance. Here we go.”
Nolan closed his eyes and gripped the armrests tightly as he felt the ship rise from the pad. The forward acceleration began gently, but it quickly increased to an uncomfortable level, probably around four Gs he guessed. Then, to his horror, the ship rolled hard to the right. His eyes flew open wide. “Oh hell!”
The captain laughed. “Relax, lad. I always do a roll on my way out. It’s my signature, you might say.”
“I think I’m gonna hurl,” Nolan said.
“Hold it in, lad, or you’ll be cleaning it up.”
Nolan couldn’t recall ever being so relieved to reach orbit before. He felt sick, and his legs were shaking. This ship’s gravgen maxed out at half a G, which made it easier for him to get around. He wasn’t sure that his legs would support him at a full G right now.
“We’re starting our orbit, lad. You have ninety minutes to suit up and get into the airlock. I’ll tell you when I’m going to start the venting process. Once that completes, open the outer door and be ready to step out on my command.”
“Yes, sir,” Nolan replied as he headed down the corridor to the preparation room.
The cases containing his pressure suit and helmet were here. He looked around the room until his gaze fell upon an old, decrepit-looking maneuvering pack. After a moment, he continued looking around the room for the pack he would actually be using. To his horror, there wasn’t another. “It’s a museum piece!” he shouted.
“It may be old, but it works perfectly,” the captain said, his voice issuing from a speaker grill overhead. “You don’t have to yell. The ship has an excellent audio system. You’re wasting time, lad. Suit up and get the pack on.”
Nolan opened the larger of his cases. Carefully unfolding his suit, he began inspecting it.
“Don’t just look at it, lad, put it on,” came the voice from above. “The ship has a good video system, too.”
“I always check my suit carefully before I entrust my life to it,” he said.
There was a laugh from the speaker. “Good for you. You have seventy-eight minutes until I throw you out of here, suit or no suit.”
“I’ll be ready,” he said as he continued to inspect his suit bit by bit.
Satisfied that his suit had suffered no damage, he stripped down and put on one of the diapers. Then he opened the airtight seams in the suit and worked himself into it. He struggled a little, trying to close the seams again. This was his backup suit, and it had not been used in more than a year. For better or worse, this was all he had.
After a brief struggle, he had the suit sealed. Opening the smaller case, he removed his helmet and set it on the counter that ran along one wall. Next to the helmet was a rack full of air tanks. He slotted four tanks into the holders on his belt and attached the hoses. All indicated a full charge. Retrieving his
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