Test of Mettle (A Captain's Crucible Book 2) by Isaac Hooke Read Free Book Online Page A

you do have me moved to a toaster, I would prefer that it was in your household.”
    Jonathan grinned. “Thanks, Maxwell.”
    “Of course, Captain. How could I refuse the opportunity to continue burning your toast?”

six
     
    T wo days later, shortly after assuming his morning shift on the bridge, Jonathan received the status update he was looking for.
    “Lazur, tap me in to the Marley , and share the feed with the remaining captains of the task group. I want them to witness this.”
    “Yes, sir,” Lieutenant Rald Lazur answered from the comm station, two seats to Jonathan’s left in the command circle. The bulbous-nosed fifty-four-year-old had gray, matted hair. A former pugilist, these days he was a bit on the thick side, no thanks to the underground rotgut operation that occupied his off-hours aboard the Callaway . Jonathan allowed the illegal distillery to operate partially because he purchased more than his fair share of the stuff and it was quite good, and partially because it was good for morale.
    He had served on carriers where the captains were strict disciplinarians, and never even allowed the crew to enjoy a navy-sanctioned “beer day” once every three fortnights. He had also served on those more like his own, where alcohol was openly illegal but tolerated behind closed doors. Oddly enough, more fights broke out on the stricter ships. Certainly, Commander Cray still had to deal with the occasional drunken brawl, but statistically speaking, such incidences were far fewer than on the more stringent vessels in the fleet.
    Even so, he had no doubt that Maxwell would present his laissez-faire attitude to alcohol during Jonathan’s inquiry, further besmirching him in the eyes of the board. Perhaps the AI would even reveal the centuries-old Scotch Jonathan had hidden in the safe in his office.
    Captain Salari of the Marley materialized at the center of the command circle courtesy of Jonathan’s aReal. He was a civilian: Builders were crewed mostly by robots but a few civilian contractors, including the captain, oversaw the work.
    Jonathan authorized the holographic video for display to all the bridge crew. It was up to the other captains who were receiving the feed whether or not they wanted to do the same.
    The civilian captain smiled. “You received my little update this morning, sir?” 
    “I did,” Jonathan said.
    “We’re currently awaiting your order to send a test drone through Contessa Gate to confirm functionality.”
    “You have my authorization,” Jonathan told the man.
    “Thank you,” Salari said. “Launching test telemetry drone.”
    On his aReal, Jonathan pulled up an external view from a forward camera and zoomed in on the Marley . The vessel released a small sphere toward the Gate. As per standard protocol, the drone approached the entrance on the right side, as determined by the absolute, or galactic, coordinate system. Incoming objects always entered on that side of completed Gates, which ensured that outgoing ships always emerged on the left, avoiding collisions.
    The drone released propellant in the forward direction and halted.
    Jonathan minimized the video feed and enlarged the tactical display on his aReal. According to the three dimensional diagram, the drone had paused on the very brink, right at the moment before it would have passed through.
    “Gravitational readings from the new Gate are holding steady,” Salari said. “Meanwhile shear forces on the drone remain negligible. We’re good to go. Sending the craft through.”
    The drone passed into the invisible opening in space-time demarcated by the ten kilometer ring of the Gate and promptly vanished.
    “Telemetry drone is through,” Salari said. “I repeat, telemetry drone is through. T-minus ten seconds until its return. Nine. Eight...”
    “Three.”
    “Two.”
    “One.”
    Jonathan stared at the display. He could feel the tension rising on the bridge. Five more seconds passed. Ten.
    “Well?” Jonathan said.