the hand-held back as their waitress appeared to take their order. “It’ll take a four-week jump to get there. I’m hoping the DSMC can send us more info before we jump.”
Once their jump drive engines kicked in, the jump couldn’t be stopped or changed until they reached their destination, and they couldn’t receive outside communications from the DSMC. Because of their ships’ configurations, they would execute a tandem jump, joined together by tractor beams, which meant they could still have ship-to-ship communications between them.
The security request explained why several crates of weapons had been added to their cargo manifests, as well as an emergency retrofit adding large, powerful long-distance plasma cannons to all three ships. The docking crews currently working on their vessels would finish just hours before their planned departure late the next day.
The landing vehicles were also switched out on all three vessels, providing them larger vessels that could carry more passengers and cargo from the ships to the planet’s surface and back. And unmanned cargo transports were added as well. While she’d thought their cargo bay was full before, Emi realized she felt practically claustrophobic in the cavernous space. Every square inch of space that could reasonably be utilized had been filled.
Despite their dinner’s convivial atmosphere, Emi sensed a disquiet in all the men, enough to outweigh the happiness in Captain Elloy’s soul over having Donna back with them. Aaron and Elloy seemed especially disconcerted. Perhaps Captain Tarrence, far less experienced than the other two captains and with a background in research, not combat or space missions, didn’t understand something the other two captains did.
Halfway through their meal, Donna and Emi excused themselves to the ladies’ room. Donna opened up to Emi. “They’re great!” she called out of her stall. “Oh, my God, those guys are fantastic! Man, did I miss them.”
Emi used the facilities, washed her hands, and waited for Donna to emerge. They had the bathroom to themselves. “I didn’t get the impression when I met them that they were…fluffy kind of guys.”
Donna laughed as she emerged and washed her hands. “I definitely wouldn’t call them that, but they sooo have their soft spots.” She grinned. “I’m hoping I can work on them and get them into an arrangement like you’ve got.”
Emi’s eyes widened before she laughed. “Somehow, I don’t see Elloy bending over and taking it up the ass from anyone.” She hadn’t told Donna about Kels. “My boys had a very unique beginning. Remember, they’ve been together twenty years now.”
“I meant a single group cabin.” She winked. “I’m going to chip away at them one point at a time. Not like they haven’t seen each other naked before. Why waste time having a stuffy, old schedule to follow.” A smile filled her face. “But who knows? Maybe I can work on loosening their inhibitions.”
Emi suspected Donna might have her hands full. “Isn’t something like that against ‘regulations’?”
Donna examined the hickey on her neck. “Yeah, well, I set them straight about their rigid view on ‘regulations’ from the start.” She slyly grinned. “Then I proceeded to jump on the table and offer them a free sample. By the time I turned them loose, they were drooling and begging me to sign with them. I talked to the Braynow guys first, though. Then again, that all happened in the sim.” She shrugged. “They were nice and everything, but they didn’t flip my switch. You know what I mean?”
“Yeah. So why did you decide to join the DSMC?”
Donna blushed. Emi didn’t miss that rare event. “I saw how happy you looked with your guys. I’d been thinking about it for a while, after you joined.” She shrugged. “Hey, who knows what the future may hold? I’ve got three guys who are crazy about me and sort of have them held captive. Not going to complain about