Space Trippers Book 1: Trippin' by A. Lightbourne Read Free Book Online Page A

told that stubborn and irritating Captain up there, before they launched, that the ship was not finished. However, all she did was babble on about orders and refurbishing. I do not think that woman would believe anything unless it was in an order and signed in triplicate. You said you are the operations person right?” she asked him simply.

    "Well, all I can say is plan on having a lot of time on your hands because as far as scanners and things of that nature go, you are pretty much in the dark. And that goes for weapons, off ship communications and just about everything else. The only things working on this vessel are the engines. But I wouldn't be too sure about those either.
    Experimental power sources and non-tested engines can be somewhat tricky. But I suppose General Gorbok knew that before he sent her out."

    “Are you saying that the General is knowingly sending out a completely unequipped vessel? Is this the same General who has been seen sneaking around the science wing of Tech-Labs?!” the Ensign cried, realizing what she was implying.

    “That would be the one.” she agreed. “General `Warlord’ we call him. But don’t tell the Captain that, she is friends with him. He has been slinking around here for months trying to figure out a way to get his hands on this ship,” she informed him.

    “Why do you suppose he would want a science vessel?” Sanic puzzled, trying to get a picture of the situation.

    “It’s not really the ship as much as her capabilities.” Valesque responded thoughtfully, striving to make her suspicions plain. “This ship is loaded with new experimental gadgets. One of which you have already seen, the foursquare weapon’s system, located in the lower array disk and the four upper array arms. That system coupled with the dual oscillating shield would make this ship virtually impenetrable and therefore very much to be desired by the power hungry General.
    That is of course, depending on its actually working or not. It has never really been successfully accomplished. This would be the first ship to be designed to handle it, if it handles it.” she concluded hurriedly, unsure of which way the final test would turn out.

    “It seems he must not have known how incomplete the ship was then. Otherwise, he never would have sent it out. Especially not with Captain Fairbanks and our pilot, Lieutenant Baine." Sanic mused.

    "What is so special about this Captain C. Fairbanks and the jockey Pilot?” she queried.

    “Captain C. Fairbanks? I guess being a scientist, you would not know, but she is one of the top ranking military captains of all time. Except of course for her husband, who is right now out there getting a good beating in the war. But do you know who introduced them?” the Ensign asked, looking at her out of the corner of his eyes like a gossiping old woman. “General Gorbok, that’s who. So why would he want one of his most prized prodigies to be sent off to her death? It just doesn’t quite fit. So there must be another reason.”

    “Well, I for one am not waiting around to find out!” Valesque exclaimed figuring she had already wasted enough time talking. “The General’s reasons aside I know what will happen to this ship, and if you are smart you will come with me, because I intend to get out of here! And if not all I can say is: Good bye, Good luck! And I hope to be off this ship before it happens.” she replied dispassionately, standing up and heading for the double, automatic doors.

    He may not know a lot about Virrilians but he knew a lot more than she obviously did about ship relations and politics. He quickly grabbed up his gear, put on the anti-gravity disks he had shoved in his pockets and slid hastily after her.

    "Wait," he called as he hurried to catch up to her, "what about the shields? And the Scuttle? The Captain isn't likely to just hand one over to you. Besides it would take two programmers to work it all out, one on board and one in the