Free Athena Lee Chronicles 7: The Martian Inheritance by T S Paul Page B
Authors: T S Paul
there!”
“Thank you Ma’am.”
“You’re welcome Lieutenant.”
The Captain smiled at me. He'd still been prodding me to apply for bridge officer’s school.
“Sir, Intelligence is reporting that there seems to be a massive amount of infrastructure on Deimos.”
“Thank you Commander Blomkvis. Inform Intel that they are to scan and capture as much information as possible. The tech gonzos have a request in for any specs or first hand knowledge of Martian capabilities.”
The striped ship directed us to a location with a good view of the small moon. It appeared to be a military outpost. There were about a dozen destroyer sized ships on a constant patrol around the base. Shuttle craft and small piloted pods seemed to be everywhere in orbit zipping around. Two shipyards and what appeared to be a fighter wing base also orbited the moon. Most of our crew had not seen this much firepower since the war. Only the renegade Commodore’s fleet had come close to this.
“Captain, we are instructed to take a shuttle down to the base where we will be met by the Assembly delegation. We are to bring the delegates, you or your representative, and a total of four guards. They say that they will provide a beacon.”
The Captain looked at me. “That’s it then. Commander if you would send a message to Lieutenant Mutai. Tell him to bring along four of the shipboard marines. Full weapons load out, but no powered armor: that’s an order! Have him meet us in the main hanger. We will be taking an assault shuttle down.”
The seven of us soon boarded the shuttle. We had a small crew on the shuttle, but they would stay on it in case we had to make a run for it. “Captain? Is this unusual for a meeting?”
“I’m not sure, Commander. The last time we met with anyone from Mars in an official capacity was over thirty years ago. I was told that your father was part of that mission. It’s possible that they’ve been having issues with others?”
Our shuttle followed the beacon down to a large surface base that clung to the edge of a large crater. The edge of the crater held what looked to be gun emplacements. A large door opened to lead us to an unknown fate. I was reminded of some of the early space warfare vids where the dark tunnel led to a large monster at the end. Hopefully this would not be the case.
The ship shuddered a moment as gravity was restored to the outside tunnel. Our antigrav units switched on immediately as their sensors detected the change. A secondary door opened at the end of the tunnel. A well lit hangar bay half filled with people greeted us. A platform with flashing landing lights signaled our landing spot. Our pilots set us down in a text book landing. There was a loud hissing, followed by a thump as our ship was re-pressurized and all vents opened. Lieutenant Mutai reached past the Captain and lowered the loading ramp. It was now or never. Captain Gorshin led us into history.
Chapter 12
Have you ever had one of those dreams where you walk into a room and everyone gasps at your appearance because you’re naked? I now know what it feels like to have one while awake.
Captain Gorshin had led our small party off the shuttle. Lieutenant Mutai followed him with me and the guards bringing up the rear.
A large crowd of delegates and onlookers half filled the bay. A tall gentleman in an archaic style military uniform shook Captain Gorshin’s hand. “Welcome to Mars. I am Admiral Demetrius Dorr, Commander of the Mars Defense Force.”
“Thank you Admiral. I am Captain Frank Gorshin of the PPL James Cook. Behind me is Lieutenant Kinno Mutai and Commander Athena Lee.”
Being short I stepped out from behind the two taller men. I immediately froze at the gasp of surprise from the gathered delegates and the crowd. I instinctively glanced behind me scanning for a threat. As I turned back I found the entire room
“Thank you Ma’am.”
“You’re welcome Lieutenant.”
The Captain smiled at me. He'd still been prodding me to apply for bridge officer’s school.
“Sir, Intelligence is reporting that there seems to be a massive amount of infrastructure on Deimos.”
“Thank you Commander Blomkvis. Inform Intel that they are to scan and capture as much information as possible. The tech gonzos have a request in for any specs or first hand knowledge of Martian capabilities.”
The striped ship directed us to a location with a good view of the small moon. It appeared to be a military outpost. There were about a dozen destroyer sized ships on a constant patrol around the base. Shuttle craft and small piloted pods seemed to be everywhere in orbit zipping around. Two shipyards and what appeared to be a fighter wing base also orbited the moon. Most of our crew had not seen this much firepower since the war. Only the renegade Commodore’s fleet had come close to this.
“Captain, we are instructed to take a shuttle down to the base where we will be met by the Assembly delegation. We are to bring the delegates, you or your representative, and a total of four guards. They say that they will provide a beacon.”
The Captain looked at me. “That’s it then. Commander if you would send a message to Lieutenant Mutai. Tell him to bring along four of the shipboard marines. Full weapons load out, but no powered armor: that’s an order! Have him meet us in the main hanger. We will be taking an assault shuttle down.”
The seven of us soon boarded the shuttle. We had a small crew on the shuttle, but they would stay on it in case we had to make a run for it. “Captain? Is this unusual for a meeting?”
“I’m not sure, Commander. The last time we met with anyone from Mars in an official capacity was over thirty years ago. I was told that your father was part of that mission. It’s possible that they’ve been having issues with others?”
Our shuttle followed the beacon down to a large surface base that clung to the edge of a large crater. The edge of the crater held what looked to be gun emplacements. A large door opened to lead us to an unknown fate. I was reminded of some of the early space warfare vids where the dark tunnel led to a large monster at the end. Hopefully this would not be the case.
The ship shuddered a moment as gravity was restored to the outside tunnel. Our antigrav units switched on immediately as their sensors detected the change. A secondary door opened at the end of the tunnel. A well lit hangar bay half filled with people greeted us. A platform with flashing landing lights signaled our landing spot. Our pilots set us down in a text book landing. There was a loud hissing, followed by a thump as our ship was re-pressurized and all vents opened. Lieutenant Mutai reached past the Captain and lowered the loading ramp. It was now or never. Captain Gorshin led us into history.
Chapter 12
Have you ever had one of those dreams where you walk into a room and everyone gasps at your appearance because you’re naked? I now know what it feels like to have one while awake.
Captain Gorshin had led our small party off the shuttle. Lieutenant Mutai followed him with me and the guards bringing up the rear.
A large crowd of delegates and onlookers half filled the bay. A tall gentleman in an archaic style military uniform shook Captain Gorshin’s hand. “Welcome to Mars. I am Admiral Demetrius Dorr, Commander of the Mars Defense Force.”
“Thank you Admiral. I am Captain Frank Gorshin of the PPL James Cook. Behind me is Lieutenant Kinno Mutai and Commander Athena Lee.”
Being short I stepped out from behind the two taller men. I immediately froze at the gasp of surprise from the gathered delegates and the crowd. I instinctively glanced behind me scanning for a threat. As I turned back I found the entire room
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