order. Got it,
Captain Ammati?”
“I’m noting it in the command log, sir,” the captain said, her
fingers tapping as she entered the information.
“I think I can remember that one.” Jake could feel the tension
between his shoulder blades. “You’re taking two transports down.
Who’s flying?”
“We have three pilots trained for military deployments like this on
board. One of them is currently under disciplinary confinement, so I
would think it is obvious she’s excluded. I gave orders for Lieutenants
Brown and Devonham to ready their crafts”
“Brown is only level 3.”
“He can handle this. He’s just giving us a ride.”
“Peyton is better qualified.”
A muscle in Kel’s cheek twitched. “ Lieutenant Valmont is not
active duty at this moment, Colonel Naiad.”
80
Annabel Wolfe
True enough, but while Jake had no problem with his superior
officer—and friend’s—strict regulation enforcement policy usually,
he felt giving this rescue attempt the best chance possible superseded
the rulebook.
“At least have her on standby to bring down more men if you need
them.” He had a bad feeling about all of this. It had been there when
they heard about the escaped convicts and it was still firmly in place.
Lawless desperate escapees roaming free on a peaceful colony, even
if the inhabitants were evacuated to bunkers, was a recipe for a danger
that could become a catastrophe.
He’d be damned glad when this mission was finally over. What
the hell were they going to be called to next? Disintegrating planets
and dangerous felons terrorizing peaceful colonies…it was going to
be hard to top those two.
“No. She stays here. Do you think I’d allow her anywhere near
Anaya Two under these situations?”
Captain Ammati looked up sharply in surprise at the vehemence
and content of a statement that was obviously a personal decision, not
necessarily a military one.
Even though the situation was far from amusing, Jake had to
smother a laugh over Kel’s chagrined expression over the slip. His
friend cleared his throat. “What I mean is I am not taking any female
personnel down with me. These men are extraordinarily dangerous
and haven’t seen females in quite some time. I’m taking every single
man we can spare and still leave you with the ability to run this ship.”
“I don’t disagree with that,” Jake assented. “But if you need
assistance—”
“No.” Kel gave him his infamous flinty look.
Then the commander turned and strode to the door, scanning out.
When he was gone, Jake turned to find Ammati staring at the
doorway with her brows lifted. He said in a neutral tone, “I doubt the
commander would appreciate you repeating what you just heard to
other personnel, Captain.”
Under His Command
81
“I doubt they’d believe me anyway,” Ammati muttered. “If I’m
not mistaken, Commander Gallico just showed emotion .”
“He does, now and then, believe it or not.”
“Over a female?”
He wasn’t about to comment on Kel’s personal life, but the truth
was, Peyton was different. Instead of answering he said briskly, “Now
then, we’ll set a holding orbit pattern right after the transports launch
and I want all channels open. Who knows what they’ll find down
there.”
“Yes, sir.”
* * * *
Something was going on. Peyton paced across the sitting area, too
restless to sit. Every moment that passed made her more suspicious, if
not downright worried. Kel and Jake both had been gone over twentyfour hours. Dual time on the bridge like that usually meant some kind
of emergency.
It chafed to be in the dark. This had something to do with the
hijacked Serpentine. She could feel foreboding building like a Minoan
desert sandstorm.
There was only one way she could communicate out. The rows of
monitors were all guarded by passwords she didn’t have, but the
medical emergency channel was always open. Since there was
nothing at all wrong
Captain Ammati?”
“I’m noting it in the command log, sir,” the captain said, her
fingers tapping as she entered the information.
“I think I can remember that one.” Jake could feel the tension
between his shoulder blades. “You’re taking two transports down.
Who’s flying?”
“We have three pilots trained for military deployments like this on
board. One of them is currently under disciplinary confinement, so I
would think it is obvious she’s excluded. I gave orders for Lieutenants
Brown and Devonham to ready their crafts”
“Brown is only level 3.”
“He can handle this. He’s just giving us a ride.”
“Peyton is better qualified.”
A muscle in Kel’s cheek twitched. “ Lieutenant Valmont is not
active duty at this moment, Colonel Naiad.”
80
Annabel Wolfe
True enough, but while Jake had no problem with his superior
officer—and friend’s—strict regulation enforcement policy usually,
he felt giving this rescue attempt the best chance possible superseded
the rulebook.
“At least have her on standby to bring down more men if you need
them.” He had a bad feeling about all of this. It had been there when
they heard about the escaped convicts and it was still firmly in place.
Lawless desperate escapees roaming free on a peaceful colony, even
if the inhabitants were evacuated to bunkers, was a recipe for a danger
that could become a catastrophe.
He’d be damned glad when this mission was finally over. What
the hell were they going to be called to next? Disintegrating planets
and dangerous felons terrorizing peaceful colonies…it was going to
be hard to top those two.
“No. She stays here. Do you think I’d allow her anywhere near
Anaya Two under these situations?”
Captain Ammati looked up sharply in surprise at the vehemence
and content of a statement that was obviously a personal decision, not
necessarily a military one.
Even though the situation was far from amusing, Jake had to
smother a laugh over Kel’s chagrined expression over the slip. His
friend cleared his throat. “What I mean is I am not taking any female
personnel down with me. These men are extraordinarily dangerous
and haven’t seen females in quite some time. I’m taking every single
man we can spare and still leave you with the ability to run this ship.”
“I don’t disagree with that,” Jake assented. “But if you need
assistance—”
“No.” Kel gave him his infamous flinty look.
Then the commander turned and strode to the door, scanning out.
When he was gone, Jake turned to find Ammati staring at the
doorway with her brows lifted. He said in a neutral tone, “I doubt the
commander would appreciate you repeating what you just heard to
other personnel, Captain.”
Under His Command
81
“I doubt they’d believe me anyway,” Ammati muttered. “If I’m
not mistaken, Commander Gallico just showed emotion .”
“He does, now and then, believe it or not.”
“Over a female?”
He wasn’t about to comment on Kel’s personal life, but the truth
was, Peyton was different. Instead of answering he said briskly, “Now
then, we’ll set a holding orbit pattern right after the transports launch
and I want all channels open. Who knows what they’ll find down
there.”
“Yes, sir.”
* * * *
Something was going on. Peyton paced across the sitting area, too
restless to sit. Every moment that passed made her more suspicious, if
not downright worried. Kel and Jake both had been gone over twentyfour hours. Dual time on the bridge like that usually meant some kind
of emergency.
It chafed to be in the dark. This had something to do with the
hijacked Serpentine. She could feel foreboding building like a Minoan
desert sandstorm.
There was only one way she could communicate out. The rows of
monitors were all guarded by passwords she didn’t have, but the
medical emergency channel was always open. Since there was
nothing at all wrong
Similar Books
