Free The Phoenix Conspiracy by Richard L. Sanders Page B

missing Harbinger.
    "So Raidan, you're the link
somehow."
     
    ***
     
    Summers sat in the CO's chair watching
the bridge crew work, keeping tabs on the ship's systems.
Everything seemed orderly and under control, now that she'd
lectured them on proper conduct. A military starship was meant to
be an efficient machine, and in the navy such casual inappropriate
behavior was enormously wrong. She'd always assumed the
Intelligence Wing held even higher standards, after all it was
harder to get into, but now she knew better. The Nighthawk was a
disaster. More disorderly than a pirate ship.
    The most insufferable of
them all was the egomaniacal commanding officer. A rash, careless
young boy who lacked the experience and wisdom of a professional
captain. His cocky recklessness was exactly the kind of attitude
that would put them all in danger, and his methodology was
questionable at best .
    How he'd won two Silver Stars and two
merit medals was beyond her. Luck, or maybe he'd taken credit for
someone else's work. Too bad she'd never know for certain. Most of
the details of Calvin's missions were classified beyond classified,
leaving her unable to reconcile the on-paper genius with the brash
arrogant youth she saw in the flesh. Whatever he was, he was a real
brat. And, unfortunately, a pleasant looking brat.
    Strong jaw, bright blue eyes, sandy
loose hair, she was even jealous of how it looked so perfect
with—no doubt—no effort. He wasn't pretty enough to be a model, but
the slight roughness to him made him seem even more appealing. And
something in his eyes glowed. He wasn't large or significantly
muscular, but still firm, well-toned, and athletic. Enough to look
good with a shirt off. Someone who kept himself in shape but didn't
have to prove anything to anyone. He also had good height and
hygiene. And he had this pleasant smell about him. To her, every
man had a unique smell, and his was a good one. And she hated that.
Because he didn't deserve to be attractive. She could imagine him
stealing the hearts of young women because he was deceptively nice
looking. And then turn around and break them. Why is it the jerks
were always the good-looking ones?
    She wasn't going to let Calvin charm
her. If anything, she'd be even harder on him. Because Calvin knew
he was attractive. And he let it, and everything else, get to his
head. He was a spoiled young boy who'd been given everything on a
silver platter, including this ship, his medals, and his good
looks.
    No, no, no. She would stop thinking about
him. Calvin was three years younger than her. A child. And she
wasn't going to let a child manipulate her, or take advantage of
her, or use her. Not after Asari Raidan's betrayal. Oh no, Summers
would never allow a CO to keep her in the dark again. If only she'd
been more vigilant, maybe she could have prevented the whole
disaster. But she'd let her feelings cloud her better judgment, and
now she bore the penalty... a guilty conscience... because she
hadn't recognized Raidan for the snake he’d turned out to
be.
    And maybe that's what bothered her
most about Calvin—he was too similar to Raidan. Both began their
careers as young prodigies, shooting up the ranks with medals and
awards heaped upon them. Neither were willing to compromise, and
they both had egos the size of planets.
    But they had their differences too.
Raidan was older and more seasoned than Calvin, and more clever.
He'd managed to keep his thoughts and plans far enough below the
radar that even Summers had been completely blindsided by his
betrayal. Calvin, however, seemed impulsive and not very subtle. He
was like a younger stupider version of Raidan. But enough like him
to make Summers feel on her guard whenever he was around. Like his
blue irises could cut through her armor and read her thoughts. He
was smart. But, she reminded herself, she was smarter. And despite
having to work alongside this Calvin Cross, she would find Raidan
and see that he got what he deserved. She