Read Online T'aafhal Legacy 1: Ghosts of Orion by Doug L Hoffman - Free Book Online Page B

just signed on for the voyage. Why are you here?”
    “I'm going on the voyage as well. You're crew?”
    “Sensor operator and combat ops if needed. You?”
    “I'm on the science staff,” the she-bear replied with just a hint of superiority in her voice.
    “Really? Are the humans going to study you during the trip or something?”
    Ahnah's eyes narrowed and her ears flattened. In a not so friendly tone of voice she replied, “I'll have you know I have a PhD specializing in developmental biology and chemical ecology.”
    “Whoa,” Umky said, “Didn't mean to raise your hackles, sweetheart.”
    This reply antagonized the ursine scientist even more. “Listen, you stupid bruin, don't get any amorous ideas about this trip or I will remove your hairy testicles and feed them to you. Understand?”
    Damn it all! Though Umky, I signed on for this trip to get away from uppity females, now it looks like I'm bunking with one. “Look Ahnah, I've got no desire to take a tumble with you. I signed up to get away from romantic entanglements, not for a shipboard romance with a she-bear I've never met. Can we call a truce? I have equipment I need to check out in the Armory.”
    Ahnah snorted. “You've got the left side of the habitat.”
    “Port side,” Umky replied, “on a ship it's the port side, not left side.”
    “Whatever. Try to stay on your side in the future.” Ahnah pointedly turned her back on the exasperated male and took two bounds, landing in the pool. This effectively ended the conversation. 
    Well, talk about getting off on the wrong paw, Umky thought to himself as he went back into the passageway and headed forward toward the Armory . No, that didn't go well at all...  
     
    Main Lounge, Peggy Sue
    Rosey finished her interview with the Captain and was headed aft. Her intended path took her through the ship's main lounge and down the companionway at its rear. This would take her to the lower deck and the crew's quarters. Ahead, she spied the ship's First Officer leaning against the lounge's curving mahogany bar, viewing a data tablet.
    “Good afternoon, Ma'am,” the ex-Marine said. 
    “Good afternoon, Ms. Acuna,” the officer replied. “I take it from your smile that things went well with the Captain?”
    “Yes, Ma'am, he said I was welcome to join the crew for the next voyage.”
    “Good,” said Beth, wrestling with a decision in her mind.
    Well, nothing for it, she thought. Decision reached, she straightened up and laid the tablet on top of the bar. “You know, Ms. Acuna, I talked with Gen. Rodriguez about you.” 
    Rosey swallowed and said, “Yes, Ma'am?”
    “The Corps Commandant said she remembered you from the Peggy Sue's second voyage,” Beth continued in a neutral tone, “that you were a good Marine; steady under fire. She also said you were well liked by your squad mates and members of the crew.” 
    “Yes, Ma'am.”
    “I also know why you ended up on the Corps' shit list.”
    Not knowing what to say, Rosey came to attention—back straight, eyes focused at a spot six inches above the officer's head.
    “I am also sure that my husband, the Captain, was too much a gentleman to mention this.” Beth paused to let that sink in. “What's past is past, and I have no interest in those events, Ms. Acuna. What I am concerned with is the morale of the crew and the smooth operation of this ship.”
    A pause followed by silence.
    “Any action, any activity that sows discord among the crew or interferes with the safety and operation of the Peggy Sue will not be tolerated. Do I make myself clear?” 
    “Yes, Ma'am.”
    “Very well,” the First Officer said, closing the subject. “In any case, welcome aboard—it's good to know we have people who have been there before. You can carry on.”
    “Aye, aye, Ma'am,” the ex-Marine acknowledged, then she turned smartly and resumed her journey aft.
    Well that was rather unpleasant, Beth said to herself. I had forgotten what a thankless job being