Desperate Times (Lost Planet Warriors Book 1) by K. McLaughlin Read Free Book Online

is the same sort of outfit you are wearing?” she asked.
    “Yes, Captain Kenson” I replied.
    “Kim,” she replied, flashing her teeth.
    “I thought you reserved that name for your friends?”
    “And aren’t you?” she said. “I have a feeling you are.”
    I looked into her eyes, the green offset by her red hair, clashing mightily with the brilliant gold armor. I smiled back at her. “Yes.”
    “What can this stuff do?” she asked, breaking eye contact by glancing down at herself.
    “I’ll inform you of its capabilities later, but for now we must go contact your ship. Follow me?”
    “Of course,” she said, falling in behind me.
    We left the medical room and made our way to the bridge of the Nova Song. The doors snapped open at our arrival, and the murmurs buzzing around the room vanished as I entered, the crew going silent.
    That couldn’t be a good thing. The rumor mill must have been going into overdrive. If there was one truth about armies and navies alike through all of history, it was that soldiers and sailors talked. My crew had much to talk about. It wasn’t surprising to hear them whispering to one another. What bothered me was their silence when I arrived. What were they thinking?
    “Status report,” I ordered.
    “The Terran ship is still fleeing back to its home world,” Karen said. “We are in pursuit. They have locked onto our ship with their weapons again, but so far they have not fired.”
    This would devolve into disaster quickly if either side fired upon the other. Kim seemed to sense this as well. I could feel her tension rising as Karen spoke.
    “We have to do something,” Kim said.
    “And we will,” I said. “Hail their ship.”
    There was a moment’s pause. “No response, sir.”
    “Let me try talking to them directly?” Kim said.
    I nodded, ushering her forward toward the communications console. She looked down quizzically at the array of screens in front of her. She didn’t know our technology, had no idea how to use our machines. The crewman tapped the correct screen for her.
    “The channel is open to your ship,” I said. “Speak to them.”
    “Ariel, this is Captain Kenson, please respond,” she said. She paused and cleared her throat. “Guys, I’m OK.”
    “Kim? Oh, thank god,” a female voice said over the speaker.
    “Put them on the main screen,” I ordered. I turned to face the screen as it flickered from an image of the fleeing ship, and resolved to show a nervous Terran woman staring at us.
    "We thought you were dead," the woman said. Her face was tight with tension.
    "I'm fine, Kara," Kim replied. "See?"
    The woman on the screen smiled thinly. "You look better than fine. Nice outfit."
    I watched Kim turn crimson in reaction. So curious, that something as simple as her attire could embarrass her like that. Privately, I admitted I enjoyed the exhibition. I was also watching her to see how she managed her people. Clearly, her crew cared about her deeply. I could see that by their worry - and their relief. A true leader would be able to take command. How would Kim respond? The next few moments would tell me much about her.
    "I was injured helping the crew here repel some boarders," Kim said. "They've patched me up, though. I'm well. They're not here to hurt us."
    "Well, that's good. Earth is on high alert," Kara said. "We're under orders to report back immediately."
    "I bet," Kim said. She ran a hand through her hair. "Let them know I am fine. I'm going to continue the conference here."
    "Are you sure...?" Kara asked.
    "Yes," Kim replied. Her voice was kind, but firm. "I've got this. At least until a diplomatic team from Earth can take over. Tell them they'll want one out here. Stat."
    "You got it."
    An alarm sounded from the sensor station, catching my attention. I knew every audible alarm on my ship by heart. That one wasn't good news. My eyes narrowed.
    "Are you expecting more traffic?" I asked Kim.
    "Not for weeks."
    "Incoming ship, coming out of