Free Battlecruiser Alamo - 7 - Battlecruiser Alamo: Sacred Honor by Richard Tongue

the risk…”
     “I think, Lieutenant, that there would be a rather greater risk in not going.”
     “Maggie, you…”
     “No. This one’s mine, and mine alone.”
     

 
    Chapter 7
     
     Cooper took a deep breath as he stepped out onto the bridge, looking around the familiar flight deck. Alpha Watch was entering the second hour of its shift, but already he could see something out of place; the watch officer’s chair was empty, Midshipman McGuire periodically leaning over from her chair at Guidance to make adjustments to the vacant console. She looked over, belatedly noticing his presence on the bridge.
     “Can I help you, Corporal?”
     Shaking his head, he replied, “I’m looking for Sub-Lieutenant Matsumoto. Any idea where she is?”
     “I wish I did. She called me a couple of hours ago and said that she had something urgent to do, ship’s business she couldn’t tell me about, and that I was handling the watch. We’re breaking out of hendecaspace in four hours; she’d better be back by then.”
     “Do you have any idea what she was doing?”
     “She wouldn’t tell me. Why do you want her?”
     “Same problem as you,” he replied, lying through his teeth. “I was supposed to meet up with her to discuss my last after-action report, and she never showed up.” 
     Turning back to her station, McGuire replied, “Well, if I see her, I’ll tell her you dropped by. This isn’t like her at all.”
     Cooper turned to the elevator, then paused at the threshold, “Does the Captain know she isn’t here?”
     That elicited a frown from McGuire, “I presume so. He’s off-shift right now, down in his cabin. Do you think I should check?”
     “No, it’s probably nothing important. I’m sure she wouldn’t miss a shift without permission, ma’am.”
     Glancing up at the clock, the midshipman replied, “I’ll give her another half-hour, then I think I’d better make inquiries. If Lieutenant Lane comes up here we’ll all catch seven varieties of hell in any case.” Turning back to Cooper, she said, “If you find her, let me know right away, will you?”
     “Certainly, ma’am.”
     Stepping back into the elevator, he tapped for the quarters deck. Visiting the bridge was unusual enough that he’d been reluctant to take the risk, but an enlisted wandering around officers’ country was going to attract even more attention. He tapped his foot on the floor waiting for the doors to open; after a few seconds, he stepped out into a deserted deck.
     He walked the ten paces to Matsumoto’s quarters, paused for a moment, and rang for entry. First once, then twice, then again. No response. The door was sealed, locked from the inside. Reaching down for his communicator, he paused for a second then raised it to his mouth. 
     “Cooper to Matsumoto,” he said, softly. “Cooper to Matsumoto.” There was no reply, and somehow, he wasn’t surprised. Looking at the lock, he started to remember his combat hacking training. He knew enough to get the door open, but what he wasn’t sure about was whether he could cover his tracks well enough to get past Security.
     Voices coming down the corridor broke his deliberation, and he started to jog in that direction, searching his mind for an excuse. Tyler and Kibaki were walking towards the elevator; the latter looked over at Cooper, frowning.
     “Lost, Corporal?”
     “Just going for a jog, sir,” he said. “Twice round the ship.”
     “It’s the middle of the night,” Tyler replied. “Shouldn’t you be in your rest period?” 
     Looking down at the ground, and thanking the acting lessons he’d taken in school, Cooper said, “I haven’t been able to sleep since the battle, sir. Not for long, anyway.”
     Kibaki patted his hand on Cooper’s shoulder, “I understand, son. You should think about seeing the doctor if it doesn’t get better. We’re going to need you fresh and ready to take on those