Alpha One: The Kronan by Chris Burton Read Free Book Online Page A

other Admiral’s standing in support of Admiral Torrance’s no-confidence motion. The Chair then stood and granted the motion.
    “A motion of no-confidence in the CIC has been called and this will be arranged urgently. Admiral Clarke, do you know when Admiral Koenig will next be available to address the bench?”
    Clarke stood in disbelief. Koenig had asked him to pacify the bench and to try to take the pressure away from him. It seemed the opposite had happened and gloomily he advised that Admiral Koenig proposed to address the bench later that day.
    The motion was confirmed. Admiral Clarke left the bench and headed for his office. He had to tell Koenig that his CIC post was very much in jeopardy.

    * * * *

    “You are seeking to replace me and yet you cannot, between you find a suitable candidate to support.” Koenig was in full swing.
He took the news of the no-confidence motion badly, but he was not going to let the president’s security screw up stand in the way of his continuing in office.
    “There are some who say, that I should be commanding the fleet. Why? Admiral’s Haines and Shenke are both coveted and experienced fleet commanders. They do not need me. My experience is needed here to ensure the fleet capabilities are enhanced to the best possible effect. Now is not the time to replace your CIC. We need continuity and one voice in this chamber and we must stop this uncertainty. Yes, we are in trouble, but it is likely we will soon have control of both Earth’s shield systems and SED. Then we will be in a much better position to control matters.
    I have spoken to the president this morning and given the security breach, he is considering handing control of both the shields and SED to Alpha. Let us take stock, re-engage, and take advantage of this situation.”
    The emergency motion ended shortly after Koenig sat down. For now, Koenig had pacified the bench with the prospect of control of the SED. This was a political chalice and one that may yet save his faltering leadership.

Chapter Twelve
The TG Finals

    Jake Carter was on route to Titus 3 and he was alone. Not physically alone—over fifty other TG contestants surrounded him but he was the sole representative from the South Downs Alpha Academy.
    He spent the last three hours trying to rationalize whether this was a good thing or not. He kept coming back to the eerie conclusion: Steve was not there because of him. Steve Costello was forced to sit out the finals, despite having won the South Downs competition. His bar room bust up, his drinking, his temper and his inability to make any impact on his study catch-up, had grounded him, confined to the Academy until graduation. This left Jake on his own, as runner up in the South Downs TG competition, here on merit, but Steve’s absence was all down to him and Carla. Jake stole his best friend’s girlfriend. Neither Jake nor Carla told him but Steve guessed. He allowed this and his defunct hero status to take him to a bad place. Steve had gone from hero to villain.
    The journey to Titus 3 was tediously slow at sub SD3. It would be a very long three days if he spent the entire journey in silence, restricted to his own company. He tried to make conversation with his fellow contestants, but after introductions and small talk, the other contestants drifted back to their own academy companions. However, Jake was not here to make friends. He was here to win the competition. His Resume would read much better as the 2213 TG winner.
    “Hi, the names Tom Duke.”
    Jake’s thought process was interrupted by a bald American contestant who plumped himself down in the seat next to him.
    “I guess you must be Jake Carter and you are the sole South Downs contestant, what with Costello, having pulled out. That makes you and me amongst the favorites.”
    Jake had heard about Tom Duke. He was reputed to be the hottest TG prospect from the American continent. He was good, confident and he knew it.
    “Yes. I’m Jake