Free Voyage of the Sanguine Shadow 1: Shadow Galactic by Erik P. Harlow Page B

bridge.  “Pretty soon,” he began,
“we’ll be starting up the jump drive.  Your friend’s never done this before, so
it could take a while before the PLA is ready to fire.  If he’s as good as the
captain says, it could take an hour, but it usually takes two.”  He glanced
toward several tiny vessels docked at the back of the bay.  “I wanted to show
you rookies our boarding sleds beforehand, let the vets give you a few
pointers.”
    Taryn raised her hand.
    “Don’t do that,” D’Arro advised.  “Speak your piece.”
    “I’ve never had any training in this sort of
thing.”  She glanced to Takeo.  “I mean, he has… sort of, but not me.”
    D’Arro smiled slyly.  “You’re ospyrean.  Your
friend could train his whole life and never have what you and I are born
with.”  He nodded toward Takeo.  “No offense.”
    Takeo tilted his head slightly, his lips thin. 
“None taken.”
    “Plus, it’s a cakewalk,” added D’Arro.  “The point
of this little outing is to give you both some field experience with the
HERC’s.”
    “HERC?” asked Takeo.
    D’Arro crossed to one of the sleds and tapped it
open, revealing the back half of an enclosable suit.  The front half remained
attached to the top portion of the sled.  “Hostile Environment Reconnaissance
and Combat.”  He gestured for Takeo to approach.  “Why don’t you lie down in
there and try this one on for size.”
    ·· • ··
    On the deck above, Zerki led Gavin along a
brightly lit hall.  They soon stopped before a lift door that Zerki tapped
open.  “This will take us to the bridge,” she stated and entered before him. 
Once he was inside, the door slid closed, and they both experienced a brief
sensation of movement before the doors opened to the command deck.
    Circular and wide, the bridge was well-lit and
bore the same light gray carpeting common to most of the starship’s interior. 
Its trim was black and pale blue.  To his right, Gavin spotted a second
chamber, its lighting dim.  It housed a slanted bed with ankle and wrist
restraints, as well as three walls with dormant displays.  “That’s the jump
rig,” Zerki explained.
    Within a slightly sunken inner ring, encircled by
handrails and a pathway that led to the various command stations, the captain’s
chair stood proudly upon its dais, close behind the helm.  Seated at the helm,
Krane raised his hand without turning around, acknowledging the presence of his
captain.  He was a tall fellow with hazel eyes and a lanky build.  He shaved
his head twice a week, and he always covered it with either a baseball cap or a
leather fedora, depending on his mood.  Presently, Krane Eichmann wore a
baseball cap.
    Collins rose from the captain’s chair to greet
Zerki with an excited smile.  “Ma’am,” he said.
    “I’ll take over,” she replied, and she bowed
somewhat.
    “Aye, aye,” he said and saluted.  “Mind if I stick
around for the jump?”
    “Could take a while.”
    He nodded resolutely.  “I’m aware of that.”  He
glanced to Gavin.  “Might be bad luck to have anything but a woman sitting in
that rig.  Could be an albatross.”
    Zerki laughed warmly and shook her head.  “You
lovingly nurture so many superstitions, it’s amazing you get anything done.”
    Collins winked.  “Ship’s still flying.”
    With a quiet chuckle, Zerki indicated the scanning
station and the woman who was manning it.  “You can hang out over there.”
    Facing Gavin, she waved for him to follow and led
him to the darkened jump rig chamber.  “Have a seat and concentrate on the
overhead navigation display.  You’re going to see dozens of images flash
through your mind’s eye after I switch on the cephalotronic.”  As Gavin
settled, she began securing the wrist and ankle restraints.  “They’re meant to
help you get a sense of where our destination is, relative to our current
position, but for first-timers, I’m told that can be a bit of a