Free Loyalty to the Cause (TCOTU, Book 4) (This Corner of the Universe) by Britt Ringel Page B

arrived in record time.
    When
Truesworth told the orbital security-police to escort Hussy’s crew to another
waiting area, the pirate crew’s protests were easily quelled by the brandishing
of multi-rifles.  The junior grade lieutenant’s last act had been to lock the
docking tube closed and set Hussy’s airlock to departure status.
    Inside
the freighter, the pair of pilots assigned to watch over Müller had also been tasked with wrapping the body of the
freighter’s former captain and placing him in the aft cargo hold.  Vernay was
undecided as to whether she would simply open the hold to space in transit to
the Narvi tunnel point or wait until the ship was in t-space.  The remainder of Hussy’s new crew was busy acquainting themselves to the various jobs of
the freighter: propulsion, operations systems, life support, and so on.  Each
crewmember had been told what general task he or she would be responsible for
but until the specific freighter had been commandeered, no detailed training
could be accomplished.  Individuals across the ship now scrambled to
familiarize themselves with performing the jobs they would fulfill during Hussy’s journey.
    Vernay
stepped to the faux-leather captain’s chair to sit down.  A wide gash in the
bottom of the faded, red seat had been sloppily covered with an adhesive.  Will
I stick to the seat if I sit down? she wondered.  She risked it.  The seat
did feel a little gummy.  “Diane, are you confident you can pilot this ship to
the tunnel point?”
    Selvaggio
looked at Vernay quizzically.  “Navigating is no problem, Captain.  That’s the
same no matter what you’re in.  But…”  Selvaggio turned dramatically to her
panel and placed her right hand on a large dial.  She turned it carelessly back
and forth.  “This?  I have no idea what this does.”
    Vernay
felt her heart leap into her throat at her navigator’s recklessness.  She
reached out in alarm when Selvaggio burst out laughing.
    “Sorry,
ma’am,” Selvaggio said penitently.  “That’s the fo’c’sle articulating
fore-thruster control.  This piece of crap only has four thruster arrays.”
    “How
does she change heading with only four?”
    “The
arrays rotate so I still have a full range of motion,” Selvaggio explained as
her face registered distaste.  “But, yeah.  Primitive.”  She pointed to the
drive controls, centered between the helm and engineering stations.  “What, is
this positioned here so the helmsman and engineer can hold hands while
operating the drives?”
    “Hey
now,” Truesworth called out from his corner of the bridge.  “Don’t get any
ideas, Diane.”
    Vernay
grinned as she reached down to the panel in front of her.  Unlike a navy ship, Hussy’s gaudy captain’s chair was positioned behind a control panel.  Consisting mostly
of status displays, the right side of the console also had a communications
suite while the left held a tiny tactical touchscreen for ad hoc navigation
computations.  The myriad of status displays relayed information about not only
the freighter’s status but also its cargo.  There appeared to be a standard
container in the forward cargo hold.  Vernay assumed the green highlight around
the container’s symbol meant it was properly secured.  I need to find out
what we’re carrying although I think I already know.   She selected Hussy’s main engineering compartment and pressed a comm button.  “Mr. Müller, is Hussy prepared for open space?”
    “ Ja, Dame Vernay.  My lady is ready.  Auxiliary mixture
controls will be restored shortly.”
    “Thank you, Joachim.”  Vernay released the communications button
but saw it was stuck in the depressed position.  She wiggled it until the
button popped up.
    “Okay,
Jack,” Vernay said, “if Diane thinks she can push us from the orbital without
any major catastrophes, then inform orbital control we are casting off.  Break
our moors, navigator.  Lateral thrust X plus two-thousand