Read Online Spinward Fringe Broadcast 7: Framework by Randolph Lalonde - Free Book Online Page A

when
Minh-Chu gave into an impulse to say something that seemed to be
hovering overhead for the entire briefing. “You’re going to need to
hire more pilots.”
    Lieutenant Commander Moda stopped and said,
“Pardon me, Sir?”
    “If your government has friends in higher
places, they should start making calls and bringing help in. The
war is almost here, and you won’t be able to fight it with the
ships you have in this solar system, even if you spend everything
you have on outsourcing.”
    “Do you have information you haven’t
shared?” Lieutenant Commander Moda asked.
    “No, but I’ve seen two wars start in my
lifetime, and this will be number three,” Minh replied. He turned
back towards the doorway, through which he could see the faces of
his pilots. Some were ashen white, others were concerned, while
Joyboy seemed unbothered by anything he’d overheard.
    “Which wars?” asked Lieutenant Commander
Moda. “Sir! Which wars?”
    Minh didn’t bother turning around but
answered. “The All-Con conflict, and the Vindyne liberation.”
    “Why isn’t that in the record?”
    “Because I’d rather tell stories that have a
happy ending, and both left millions in the cold.”
    The door closed behind them, and Slick
stopped Minh-Chu. “What’s going on?” he asked in a whisper. “You’ve
been in a bad mood for days and now I know it has nothing to do
with Paula dogging you whenever you make landfall.”
    “Let’s start with the pilots that shouldn’t
be here,” Minh said levelly. “A third of our wing would make
passable transit pilots, but they’re not ready for combat. You and
I both know they’re only here because we’re trying to earn as much
as we can, running extra patrols using filler. We have to cut back
on our patrols so we can use our best pilots every time.”
    “Pardon me, Sir,” interjected Quiz, a thin
young man who was a little shorter than Ronin and nothing but skin
and bones. “I bagged one of those ‘bots, I know, but I could still
use experience. How am I supposed to get that if I’m grounded?”
    “I give you credit for knowing you’re one of
the pilots I was talking about,” Minh-Chu said. “We’ll rig a
computer to host simulations for you and the other greens. You’re
going to spend some time in sims, and you’ll spend as much time
with the physical training group.”
    “What?” Quiz replied. “Physical
training?”
    Ronin sighed and looked at Slick.
    “If you want to fly,” Slick said. “You’re
going to have to train our way. It’s our fault for putting you up
here too early. Enjoy flying your ship back to Tamber, it could be
the last time you see the inside of a cockpit for a while.”
    “Hell, no!” Quiz shouted. “I get my first
kill and you pull me? Is this your way of telling us you want all
the kill pay for yourselves? We’re just goddamn decoys?”
    “Don’t get me started on what’s wrong with
your kill,” Ronin replied. “If we keep you in the pilot’s seat,
you’re going to get yourself or others killed. I’ll prevent that
however I can, so you’re grounded. If you can’t live with that,
then maybe you can qualify for transit, I hear we’re low on shuttle
pilots,” Minh-Chu finished with an upraised eyebrow.
    Slick stepped in just as Quiz was about to
forcefully retort. “Cool off on your way to the launch bay,” he
said. “You’re dismissed.”
    “Let’s make that trip,” Joyboy said to the
pilots. “Come on.”
    Ronin and Slick waited for the group to
leave via the elevator. “I hope that’s the last pilot we take in
from Patrizia Salustri. That’s one thing checked off your list,”
Slick said. “What else is bothering you?”
    “I think what we have to do next won’t help
our popularity with the Carthans, Nathan,” Minh-Chu replied. “We
can’t come back to Skydock.”
    “You’re thinking this is a target now,”
Slick said.
    Minh-Chu nodded. They started walking to the
elevator and pushed the call button.