Read Online Starship Eternal (War Eternal Book 1) by M.R. Forbes - Free Book Online
Authors: M.R. Forbes
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denied. It seems Command doesn't think there's anything difficult with being a celebrity. They aren't accounting for the fact that you watched your entire squad get blown away."
Mitchell winced. It wasn't the most sensitive statement, but his heart was in the right place. "Thanks for trying, doc."
"I'm just doing my job. So you know, Major Arapo requested copies of all the records, as well a full write-up. If you hear or see anything else, just try to ignore it, and definitely don't try to convince her. The more I have to talk to her, the more apropos your praying mantis analogy seems."
Mitchell laughed. "Is that your professional opinion?"
Dr. Drummond got to his feet. "I'm seventy-four years old, seventy-eight in Earth time. It's my experienced opinion."
"I don't suppose you can tell me anything else about her?"
"Like her birthday?"
"Like who she's reporting to? What branch she's out of? I have my hunches, but..."
"They don't tell me much. What I can tell you is that I was surprised to find out someone like her was already stationed on Liberty. I'm pretty confident you're the reason for that."
It wasn't anything Mitchell didn't already know, but it was nice to have confirmation. "Thanks again, doc. I hope I don't see you again too soon."
"Me, too, Captain. Me, too."
Major Arapo was waiting for him outside, her flat expression betraying her tense posture.
"I know," Mitchell said, cutting her off before she could speak. "Nothing on the scan. No abnormalities anywhere. Dr. Drummond seems to think I'm stressed."
"We're all stressed. It's part of what we do."
"I don't suppose I could get a week off sometime?"
"I'll bring it up with Command. Right now, we have to get you ready for the gala tonight."
"Get me ready?"
"There's a new dress uniform waiting in your room. You need to try it on. We used the measurements from your scan this morning, but when you're going to be meeting with General Cornelius and the Prime Minister of Delta, you take extra precaution."
Mitchell stopped walking. "Wait. Did you say the Prime Minister?"
"Yes."
"Of the entire quadrant?"
"Yes. Why do you think there was such a rush to put this thing together? It's going to be great for publicity to have you up there getting awarded by the Prime Minister."
"And I'm not supposed to be stressed?"
She stopped a dozen feet ahead of him and spun around. "I thought you were a Space Marine?"
"I'd rather drop into the middle of a nuke field than make small talk with the Prime Minister."
"There's nothing to be afraid of, Captain. He pisses the same as you do."
"Just into a nicer bowl?"
"Yes. Come on."
Mitchell caught up to her, and they continued walking.
"So, after I try on the uniform, then what?"
"Don't you ever check your ARR? We canceled everything else today ahead of time, in case your scan came back problematic. Command didn't want to take chances on this one. You have a whole seven hours to yourself." She smiled sideways at him. "Of course, you're locked down to your room until then."
"I figured as much. Are you going to be standing guard outside my door?"
"I have better things to do than babysit you all the time."
"Like what?"
They reached the officer's barracks. Mitchell followed her to his room near the center of the long, flat building. There were two MPs already waiting outside, ready to ensure he stayed put. They were both larger than him, with square jaws and thick muscles. They came to attention when they approached. Maybe she wouldn't be standing guard. Someone would.
"This is for your protection, Mitch," she said, ignoring his question. "Since you're not sure about your own stability. It's only until after the gala."
"Not taking chances. I get it. Howdy, boys."
"Captain Williams," one of them said in greeting.
His hatch opened and he stepped into the room. "I'll see you later then, Major," he said, turning around. She was already on her way back out.
Mitchell closed the hatch and went into the bedroom. The
Mitchell winced. It wasn't the most sensitive statement, but his heart was in the right place. "Thanks for trying, doc."
"I'm just doing my job. So you know, Major Arapo requested copies of all the records, as well a full write-up. If you hear or see anything else, just try to ignore it, and definitely don't try to convince her. The more I have to talk to her, the more apropos your praying mantis analogy seems."
Mitchell laughed. "Is that your professional opinion?"
Dr. Drummond got to his feet. "I'm seventy-four years old, seventy-eight in Earth time. It's my experienced opinion."
"I don't suppose you can tell me anything else about her?"
"Like her birthday?"
"Like who she's reporting to? What branch she's out of? I have my hunches, but..."
"They don't tell me much. What I can tell you is that I was surprised to find out someone like her was already stationed on Liberty. I'm pretty confident you're the reason for that."
It wasn't anything Mitchell didn't already know, but it was nice to have confirmation. "Thanks again, doc. I hope I don't see you again too soon."
"Me, too, Captain. Me, too."
Major Arapo was waiting for him outside, her flat expression betraying her tense posture.
"I know," Mitchell said, cutting her off before she could speak. "Nothing on the scan. No abnormalities anywhere. Dr. Drummond seems to think I'm stressed."
"We're all stressed. It's part of what we do."
"I don't suppose I could get a week off sometime?"
"I'll bring it up with Command. Right now, we have to get you ready for the gala tonight."
"Get me ready?"
"There's a new dress uniform waiting in your room. You need to try it on. We used the measurements from your scan this morning, but when you're going to be meeting with General Cornelius and the Prime Minister of Delta, you take extra precaution."
Mitchell stopped walking. "Wait. Did you say the Prime Minister?"
"Yes."
"Of the entire quadrant?"
"Yes. Why do you think there was such a rush to put this thing together? It's going to be great for publicity to have you up there getting awarded by the Prime Minister."
"And I'm not supposed to be stressed?"
She stopped a dozen feet ahead of him and spun around. "I thought you were a Space Marine?"
"I'd rather drop into the middle of a nuke field than make small talk with the Prime Minister."
"There's nothing to be afraid of, Captain. He pisses the same as you do."
"Just into a nicer bowl?"
"Yes. Come on."
Mitchell caught up to her, and they continued walking.
"So, after I try on the uniform, then what?"
"Don't you ever check your ARR? We canceled everything else today ahead of time, in case your scan came back problematic. Command didn't want to take chances on this one. You have a whole seven hours to yourself." She smiled sideways at him. "Of course, you're locked down to your room until then."
"I figured as much. Are you going to be standing guard outside my door?"
"I have better things to do than babysit you all the time."
"Like what?"
They reached the officer's barracks. Mitchell followed her to his room near the center of the long, flat building. There were two MPs already waiting outside, ready to ensure he stayed put. They were both larger than him, with square jaws and thick muscles. They came to attention when they approached. Maybe she wouldn't be standing guard. Someone would.
"This is for your protection, Mitch," she said, ignoring his question. "Since you're not sure about your own stability. It's only until after the gala."
"Not taking chances. I get it. Howdy, boys."
"Captain Williams," one of them said in greeting.
His hatch opened and he stepped into the room. "I'll see you later then, Major," he said, turning around. She was already on her way back out.
Mitchell closed the hatch and went into the bedroom. The
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