Shelby 9 Snippet 4

 

Chapter 4

 

Tortuga

 

“What a rush,” Pops gushed, bobbing up and down in a characteristic otter show of excitement. “Like a slip and slide,” he said.

Captain  Jira “Crusty” Kireski glanced at his chief helmsman and then away. The otters were overdue for time off so he was cutting them a lot of slack.

The courier had handled the transit through the wormhole smoothly. His professional eyes scanned the readouts as the ship’s tiny crew and AI switched over to sublight.

“We’ve been welcomed to the star system, sir,” the ship’s AI stated. “Are we going to stay?”

“No. Let’s get this show on the road. The sooner we get to where we’re going, the sooner Pops and the other otters get to get some time off in an ocean or water park.”

“Definitely,” Pops said. He bobbed and weaved. “Course plotted.”

The captain glanced at it. It wasn’t quite the least-time course to the jump point zone he was expecting. As usual Pops was taking a few liberties to buzz around the traffic ahead of them.

“Pops, you do remember flight regulations?” the captain reminded him gently.

“I’ve got it,” the ship’s AI stated, cleaning up the projected flight path.

“Spoil sport,” the otter stated.

The captain snorted softly.

“Ready to implement.”

“So ordered. Send the command our regrets. Perhaps next time.”

“Aye aye, sir. Message away. We are underway.”

The captain nodded once and sat back and relaxed.

>>>~<<<

Admiral Th’m’ll noted the courier’s departure and relaxed. He had offered to host the army general out of formality. He was pleased that the invitation had been declined. As much as his staff wanted him to make contacts with higher-ups he’d rather not get involved. The sooner they were out of his AO, the better.

>>>~<<<

It took a day to get through the gates and to the Tortuga-Tau Gate Star System next.

Pops made a joke about the navy chauffeur service which was not well received by the captain. The otter shrugged and then set course for the jump point to the sector capital. Two days later they were back in hyperspace once more.

>>>~<<<

New Tau Metropolis

 

Shelby alerted to the arrival of an inspection tour group in Tortuga. “Great, just what we don’t need.”

“Ma’am?” her AI asked.

“A colonoscopy by DPs.” Shelby said in through disgust.

Her AI snorted in a mannerism she had copied from her principle. “I understand it is mostly made up of army personnel?”

“With some sprinkling of IG people and others. They will look for something. There is no such thing as a zero defect system anywhere. If there is, someone is hiding something.”

“Ah.” The AI paused and rapidly checked the schedule. “Well, they won’t be here for eight weeks, ma’am.”

“Lovely. Something to look forward to,” Shelby muttered.

>>>~<<<

Wayne checked on status. Rick Hunter’s Ninth Fleet was en route from 63 to the Confederation. At the moment, the ships were in hyperspace. They checked in regularly at each stop. So far, no problems.

Admiral Snake Charmer’s Tenth Fleet had gone back to Rho and had moved on to Sigma. He hoped that they wouldn’t be missed too badly.

Admiral Kara Danvers was safely tucked away in 63. All other commands … his practiced eye scanned them almost unconsciously registering details. “Yep, all’s …,” he caught himself just in time before he said the curse words.

He glanced around and noted a gremlin watching him. “Yeah, I almost said it but I didn’t so, mmm,” he said as he stuck his tongue out at the apparition. Now that they knew that the gremlins were real and watching them it was best not to tempt them by saying things like “all is quiet.” That was just asking for trouble.

The gremlin’s reptilian eyes blinked and then it cackled and danced around and then disappeared.

He snorted and shook his head before picking up his coffee cup and taking a sip.

>>>~<<<