Read Online The Phoenix Conspiracy by Richard L. Sanders - Free Book Online
Authors: Richard L. Sanders
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that stupid grin off your
face, Lieutenant Commander." She snapped, then suddenly closed her
mouth and stood at attention, realizing she'd crossed a line. But
her anger didn't bother Calvin. In fact, he thought she'd finally
reached the heart of the matter. It hurt her pride that she had to
report to, and take orders from, someone a full rank below her and
three years her junior. Especially when that person seemed to break
all the rules and do everything he wasn't supposed to. He wondered
if she knew he was only a half-citizen as well.
But Calvin didn't feel threatened.
Everything he had he'd earned, and he trusted himself even if she
didn't. "Are you finished, Summers?"
"Yes," she said calmly, letting out a
sigh of relief. "Except for one more thing. You really need to call
me Commander, not Summers. That's a very important
protocol."
Calvin resisted a chuckle and reclined
in his chair.
"Didn't that feel good?"
"What?"
"Letting it off your
chest."
"A little, I suppose. But it was a
mistake."
"But it felt good?"
"A little."
"Good. I don't need any officers
walking around with pent up anger like ticking time-bombs," he
spoke gently. "I want you to know you can speak to me freely at any
time. In fact, I hope you do. It's important for me to know what my
crew's feelings are." He paused to let that sink in.
"Now, as for your concerns. I'm sorry
that the transition from a disciplined navy attack cruiser to an
Intel Wing stealth frigate is hard because of my command style.
But, you'll have to adapt to it. While I may do things a little…
differently, in this squadron I'm allowed that right as long as I
get the job done." He was only half telling the truth; he too was
subject to protocols and regulations but in his mind he'd convinced
himself otherwise.
"Yes, sir." She was quieter now, but
he still saw subtle defiance in her eyes.
"Now another protocol is to follow the
orders of your commanding officer, and to do so absolutely. And I
order you to call people by their names instead of their ranks. If
you don't know their names, you will make it your duty to learn
them at your earliest convenience."
"What?" She was stunned.
"So now you have conflicting orders.
Follow the protocol to maintain ship formality or follow the
protocol to obey your commanding officer. Which commandment you
break is up to you."
She looked irritated again but she hid
it quickly. "Well, as you say, sir. Protocols aren't very important
to you. That means I don't really have to follow your
orders."
Was there a sense of humor inside her
after all? Calvin smirked. "That's better. Now if you want a short
break to see to your quarters and arrangements that's fine. But I
expect you back on the bridge in an hour."
"That isn't necessary. I am prepared
to do my full shift."
"Oh, okay, good. Well then you're free
to go."
"Thank you, sir."
She left and the door closed behind
her.
Calvin let out a small
moan. What am I going to do with
her? The last thing he needed was a
protocol zealot, especially if she found out he wasn't entitled to
nearly as many liberties as he took. And if she knew he had to make
reports to Fleet Command she might send a few of her own and get
him in trouble. For all he knew, she was here for that exact
purpose, to keep him in line.
"Blah..." he said, unable to
get himself to pull the documents back out for study. Instead he
turned on his desk and played a game of chess against the computer.
And lost. As usual. " Cheater ." He glared down at
it.
"Would you like to play again?" The
computer asked. It startled him, since he thought it was
muted.
"No. Shut up." He turned it off just
as Shen's voice crackled over his speaker.
"We've pulled free from Praxis One and
we're in open space. Also, Miles is on his way to the
bridge."
"Good,” said Calvin and headed he for
the door.
He and Miles entered the bridge at the
same time from opposite sides.
"Hey man, I'm really sorry. I owe you
big, Cal. Real big," Miles's voice boomed as
face, Lieutenant Commander." She snapped, then suddenly closed her
mouth and stood at attention, realizing she'd crossed a line. But
her anger didn't bother Calvin. In fact, he thought she'd finally
reached the heart of the matter. It hurt her pride that she had to
report to, and take orders from, someone a full rank below her and
three years her junior. Especially when that person seemed to break
all the rules and do everything he wasn't supposed to. He wondered
if she knew he was only a half-citizen as well.
But Calvin didn't feel threatened.
Everything he had he'd earned, and he trusted himself even if she
didn't. "Are you finished, Summers?"
"Yes," she said calmly, letting out a
sigh of relief. "Except for one more thing. You really need to call
me Commander, not Summers. That's a very important
protocol."
Calvin resisted a chuckle and reclined
in his chair.
"Didn't that feel good?"
"What?"
"Letting it off your
chest."
"A little, I suppose. But it was a
mistake."
"But it felt good?"
"A little."
"Good. I don't need any officers
walking around with pent up anger like ticking time-bombs," he
spoke gently. "I want you to know you can speak to me freely at any
time. In fact, I hope you do. It's important for me to know what my
crew's feelings are." He paused to let that sink in.
"Now, as for your concerns. I'm sorry
that the transition from a disciplined navy attack cruiser to an
Intel Wing stealth frigate is hard because of my command style.
But, you'll have to adapt to it. While I may do things a little…
differently, in this squadron I'm allowed that right as long as I
get the job done." He was only half telling the truth; he too was
subject to protocols and regulations but in his mind he'd convinced
himself otherwise.
"Yes, sir." She was quieter now, but
he still saw subtle defiance in her eyes.
"Now another protocol is to follow the
orders of your commanding officer, and to do so absolutely. And I
order you to call people by their names instead of their ranks. If
you don't know their names, you will make it your duty to learn
them at your earliest convenience."
"What?" She was stunned.
"So now you have conflicting orders.
Follow the protocol to maintain ship formality or follow the
protocol to obey your commanding officer. Which commandment you
break is up to you."
She looked irritated again but she hid
it quickly. "Well, as you say, sir. Protocols aren't very important
to you. That means I don't really have to follow your
orders."
Was there a sense of humor inside her
after all? Calvin smirked. "That's better. Now if you want a short
break to see to your quarters and arrangements that's fine. But I
expect you back on the bridge in an hour."
"That isn't necessary. I am prepared
to do my full shift."
"Oh, okay, good. Well then you're free
to go."
"Thank you, sir."
She left and the door closed behind
her.
Calvin let out a small
moan. What am I going to do with
her? The last thing he needed was a
protocol zealot, especially if she found out he wasn't entitled to
nearly as many liberties as he took. And if she knew he had to make
reports to Fleet Command she might send a few of her own and get
him in trouble. For all he knew, she was here for that exact
purpose, to keep him in line.
"Blah..." he said, unable to
get himself to pull the documents back out for study. Instead he
turned on his desk and played a game of chess against the computer.
And lost. As usual. " Cheater ." He glared down at
it.
"Would you like to play again?" The
computer asked. It startled him, since he thought it was
muted.
"No. Shut up." He turned it off just
as Shen's voice crackled over his speaker.
"We've pulled free from Praxis One and
we're in open space. Also, Miles is on his way to the
bridge."
"Good,” said Calvin and headed he for
the door.
He and Miles entered the bridge at the
same time from opposite sides.
"Hey man, I'm really sorry. I owe you
big, Cal. Real big," Miles's voice boomed as
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