Read Online Voyage of the Sanguine Shadow 1: Shadow Galactic by Erik P. Harlow - Free Book Online
Authors: Erik P. Harlow
Tags: Science-Fiction
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stand. A
holographic caution cone appeared over the mess, and a tiny yellow light began
flashing near the briefing room’s doorway. Takeo fell in behind as they
stepped out into the hall.
“Let’s go find Valerie,” he said, and they made
their way to the cargo passage.
Chapter
07
“Our
friends interpret the world and ourselves to us, if we take them tenderly and
truly.” –Amos Bronson Alcott
Valerie watched Gavin,
Taryn and Takeo exit the rec room, and she slowly shook her head, wearing an
amused smile. A moment later, Zerki stepped into view through the same
doorway, and she took a seat next to her first mate. “I don’t know how you do
it, Captain,” said Valerie.
“Do what?”
Valerie crossed her arms and leaned back. “You
know what.”
Zerki chuckled quietly and looked ahead. “Let’s
schedule a call to Gavin’s folks. At least he’ll get a chance to warn them,
although I’m not sure what good it’ll do.” After a moment, she nodded and
asked, “You gave them quarters?”
“I did, but now we’re officially out of space. I
gave Gavin Kendra’s old place, but I had to put Taryn and Takeo in the same
cabin.” She presented her tablet to Zerki and tapped on the Sanguine Shadow ’s
deck plan.
“I’ll have someone transfer one of the double bunks
from the shuttle,” Zerki replied.
Valerie nodded, but she frowned somewhat. “Did
you even test him to see if he has the Awareness?”
“I’m about to, but I’m certain he has it. No way
he doesn’t.”
“Captain, if we keep picking up strays, we’ll be
over capacity, and food is already very tight.”
Zerki puffed her cheeks as she released a drawn
breath. “One more job. Maybe two, depending on how the next one goes, and
I’ll be able to get something bigger, something with a warp drive.” She
clapped Valerie’s knee and pushed up to stand. “Talk to Collins and see what
kind of work he can come up with for Taryn and Takeo. I’ll be calling an
all-hands meeting at 1600 SST to discuss our upcoming exchange with the Ellogon
Mercantile.”
“Aye, aye, Captain,” Valerie affirmed.
After Zerki had departed, she leaned over her
ship’s comm and hailed the bridge. Jackson Collins, the officer of the watch,
came into view, and he smiled at seeing her. He was a chiseled fellow, with
handsomely styled brown hair, accented by white sideburns. “Hey, Collins,” she
greeted him, and she waved with her fingertips.
“Greetings, Ms. Sawyer. To what do I owe this
pleasure?”
Valerie sent over the forms Taryn, Gavin and Takeo
had filled out. “Got another Navigator.”
“So I heard. Congratulations on the good read.”
He paused to review the files he had just received. “It’s a guy?” He looked
surprised. “Navigators are women. In fact, this may be the first male
Navigator I’ve ever worked with. Is he reliable?”
“Captain thinks so.” Valerie raised her brows.
“She put the other two on E-1 status. Can you give them something to do?”
Jackson took a moment to review his assignment
list, and he puffed his cheeks. “I’m going to have to start sharing to-do
lists pretty soon. Um…” He shrugged. “We can always use more security
officers. I’ll put them on D’Arro’s team.”
Valerie cautioned, “Taryn’s ospyrean.”
Jackson nodded. “Yeah, I see that. It’ll be good
for him. He’s been mourning Threena for how many years, now?”
“They mate for life, Collins. He’s never getting
over her.”
Jackson shrugged. “Couldn’t hurt to give the poor
guy a chance.”
Valerie shook her head, and she laughed
humorlessly. “You don’t understand ospyreans at all! I’ll be sure to expedite
the request for team transfer when it comes in.”
“Wow, no faith in this old man,” he snorted.
“Have some faith in me, huh?”
“Bye, Collins,” she responded and switched off the
comm.
·· •
holographic caution cone appeared over the mess, and a tiny yellow light began
flashing near the briefing room’s doorway. Takeo fell in behind as they
stepped out into the hall.
“Let’s go find Valerie,” he said, and they made
their way to the cargo passage.
Chapter
07
“Our
friends interpret the world and ourselves to us, if we take them tenderly and
truly.” –Amos Bronson Alcott
Valerie watched Gavin,
Taryn and Takeo exit the rec room, and she slowly shook her head, wearing an
amused smile. A moment later, Zerki stepped into view through the same
doorway, and she took a seat next to her first mate. “I don’t know how you do
it, Captain,” said Valerie.
“Do what?”
Valerie crossed her arms and leaned back. “You
know what.”
Zerki chuckled quietly and looked ahead. “Let’s
schedule a call to Gavin’s folks. At least he’ll get a chance to warn them,
although I’m not sure what good it’ll do.” After a moment, she nodded and
asked, “You gave them quarters?”
“I did, but now we’re officially out of space. I
gave Gavin Kendra’s old place, but I had to put Taryn and Takeo in the same
cabin.” She presented her tablet to Zerki and tapped on the Sanguine Shadow ’s
deck plan.
“I’ll have someone transfer one of the double bunks
from the shuttle,” Zerki replied.
Valerie nodded, but she frowned somewhat. “Did
you even test him to see if he has the Awareness?”
“I’m about to, but I’m certain he has it. No way
he doesn’t.”
“Captain, if we keep picking up strays, we’ll be
over capacity, and food is already very tight.”
Zerki puffed her cheeks as she released a drawn
breath. “One more job. Maybe two, depending on how the next one goes, and
I’ll be able to get something bigger, something with a warp drive.” She
clapped Valerie’s knee and pushed up to stand. “Talk to Collins and see what
kind of work he can come up with for Taryn and Takeo. I’ll be calling an
all-hands meeting at 1600 SST to discuss our upcoming exchange with the Ellogon
Mercantile.”
“Aye, aye, Captain,” Valerie affirmed.
After Zerki had departed, she leaned over her
ship’s comm and hailed the bridge. Jackson Collins, the officer of the watch,
came into view, and he smiled at seeing her. He was a chiseled fellow, with
handsomely styled brown hair, accented by white sideburns. “Hey, Collins,” she
greeted him, and she waved with her fingertips.
“Greetings, Ms. Sawyer. To what do I owe this
pleasure?”
Valerie sent over the forms Taryn, Gavin and Takeo
had filled out. “Got another Navigator.”
“So I heard. Congratulations on the good read.”
He paused to review the files he had just received. “It’s a guy?” He looked
surprised. “Navigators are women. In fact, this may be the first male
Navigator I’ve ever worked with. Is he reliable?”
“Captain thinks so.” Valerie raised her brows.
“She put the other two on E-1 status. Can you give them something to do?”
Jackson took a moment to review his assignment
list, and he puffed his cheeks. “I’m going to have to start sharing to-do
lists pretty soon. Um…” He shrugged. “We can always use more security
officers. I’ll put them on D’Arro’s team.”
Valerie cautioned, “Taryn’s ospyrean.”
Jackson nodded. “Yeah, I see that. It’ll be good
for him. He’s been mourning Threena for how many years, now?”
“They mate for life, Collins. He’s never getting
over her.”
Jackson shrugged. “Couldn’t hurt to give the poor
guy a chance.”
Valerie shook her head, and she laughed
humorlessly. “You don’t understand ospyreans at all! I’ll be sure to expedite
the request for team transfer when it comes in.”
“Wow, no faith in this old man,” he snorted.
“Have some faith in me, huh?”
“Bye, Collins,” she responded and switched off the
comm.
·· •
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