Free Alutia Rising, Anniversary Edition (Alutia Rising Series, Book 1) by Craig Gerttula

escort
fleet, looked up from their stations to Sasha, then Xin'Eir, who
was blushing furiously.
    “This is why...I prefer to talk...talk
without titles. It makes even the most technical
conversations...have a chance to be entertaining,” Sasha stuttered,
her laughter continuing to breakthrough her words. “Please...please
continue with this next section, Xin'Eir, and I'll keep what you
said between us,” she recovered, winking with delight at the still
mute flight supply officer.
    “Yes, Sasha.” The squeak that touched Sasha’s
ears made her realize it may not be wise to let Xin'Eir meet Tiana
until she could properly prepare her...the young flight supply
officer might not survive the encounter.
    “This next section is the hanger bay. This is
a uniquely required feature of the ABF Princess One, since most
capital docking bays are not meant to handle shuttles of this size.
The ferry shuttle docked within can carry six people comfortably
and up to 10 in emergencies,” Xin’Eir accelerated her explanation,
talking without pause. “Beyond that we have main engineering, the
secondary armory, maintenance and tools bays, and finally, the NSD,
or Neutron Star Drive Core,” Xin'Eir finished, finally taking a
breath. Sasha sighed, winking again at the young flight supply
officer whose blush of embarrassment had yet to start fading,
thinking it about time to release her from her torment.
    “Thank you, Xin'Eir. Your explanations were
very informative and I appreciate you taking the time to speak
freely with me.” The young lady somehow blushed further at Sasha's
praise, “Just remember to use proper formalities in the presence of
others...it may cause some...confusion,” Sasha paused for a moment,
considering. “Actually, Xin'Eir, I would like to dine with you
sometime during our journey. Send a message to Gil'Da, my personal
servant, with the times you will be off-duty and she will set
something up,” Sasha explained as the idea struck her, not wanting
to lose it amongst her many other responsibilities.
    Before Xin’Eir could respond, Sasha went a
step further, accessing her private BAP with her BC node to create
a note to herself to arrange casual dinners with the rest of the
officers, and possibly group meals with the general crew. They
are the precious crew of my personal starship , after
all, she thought, knowing they would be working together quite
closely in the coming months. It would only be prudent to prepare a
casual environment so as to allow her to get to know each and every
one of them, while listening to their concerns. It wouldn't hurt
their moral either , she realized, knowing that there patron
cared enough to invite them to dinner could do wonders.
    Sasha could only smile when she realized her
thoughts had become those of a ruling noble...or how she always
thought a ruling noble should act. Not like the traditionalists,
who treated the lower classes like filth. She’d promised herself
that if ever provided with the opportunity to rule, she would do
everything in her power to provide for all those in which she
ruled, and she would not renege on that promise.
    Once more she nodded her thanks to the
saluting Xin'Eir, the projection vanishing as the private channel
close. Sasha began to rise from her seat, deciding to explore her
apartments before they rendezvoused with the escort fleet, only to
find Tiana's grinning face less than a hand’s breath from her own.
She shrieked surprise as she stumbled back into her chair,
horrified by the undignified sound that just escaped her lips.
    Sasha quickly recovered her wits, ignoring
the concerned queries from the bridge crew and Tiana, who had a
mischievous smirk spread from ear to ear, and walked briskly to the
front of Sir Seb'Losh, who stood stone faced by the door.
    “I shall be retiring to my apartments and I
am not to be disturbed! Not by you...and especially not by her!”
She pointed back across the deck to Tiana, whose smirk turned
immediately into a