Alpha One - Chris Burton [132]
As the ranking officer in the field, it was his right to carry out the initial interviews. He looked forward to the opportunity to grill Winterburn on the Kryl’s plans. He looked forward to having a certain conversation with both his CAG and Enson Carter. Carter should never have been authorized to board the AUSWAS vessel, but he knew Carter’s youthful enthusiasm, naiveté, and his intent to find the Stevenson sisters meant he would have tried anyway.
Hoskins was not overly concerned. He would chastise the young Enson but would not make it official. By all accounts, Carter proved his excellent jump pilot skills and took an integral part in the capture of one of the sections of the AUSWAS ship. In addition, he was blooded, witnessing his first real death in combat. The realities of war, especially on the ground, were not pleasant. All in all, this was an excellent grounding for a young officer to experience, one which would stand him in good stead for future endeavors.
Hoskins turned his attention back to Winterburn, and was just about to head off to the Halo 7’s detention deck when Commander Jacques opened a comm link to him.
“Commander we have sighted a further fleet of Kryl vessels on a route to intercept us. I have raised the ships status to condition yellow.”
Hoskins sighed. They were not out of the woods yet. It was clear that they may have to engage the Kryl again before they reached the wormhole. This would be an excellent time to discuss these matters with Winterburn.
Chapter Fifty-Eight
Where Is Jake?
Steve spent the last three days on call with his Rapier squadron. He had not taken to jump ship shift routines easily. After six shifts off and six on, he was relieved to be free to take some time and visit the leisure facilities aboard the Pacific. His first task was to make contact with Jake. He knew the information board should show Jake’s squadron and shift details. He needed to check these and then arrange to meet up with Jake when they were both free. Clearly they needed to meet urgently, and he was surprised, given Jake’s enthusiasm to find Carla, he had not made contact already.
Steve stood in front of the board, unable to believe what he saw. He took his eyes away and looked again, the entry was clear: Enson Jake Carter M.I.A.
Missing in Action. Oh my God, thought Steve. What the hell does that mean out here? He opened a comm link to Jake’s CAG and the answer soon became clear. Jake Carter had gone AWOL.
He had gone through the blue wormhole, out playing the hero once again. His actions were obsessive, thought Steve, unusually so for Jake.
There was definitely more to Jake’s’ recent relationship with Carla. There must be something more. Jake must have been seeing Carla behind his back and the stupid bastard stole a jump ship. Oh, my God, if he makes it back I am going to kill him. If he brings Carla back. Oh shit, I hope he brings Carla back.
Steve Costello was not the only person who had just found out what happened to Enson Carter. Admiral Shenke was advised in his daily briefing. He was annoyed but said nothing.
“I am sure you can deal with your CAG and her subordinates on this matter Commander. We do have more pressing matters to attend to. Let me know if Carter returns. Now to more pressing matters.”
“Dr. Cameron, do you have any news for me on the closure of these wormholes?”
“Some, certainly, but nothing of any substance yet.”
“Doctor, I don’t need to express to you the urgency of the situation. Are you taking full advantage of the Alpha facilities we have available?”
“Admiral, you have to understand the extent of this. We have six days to come up with a way to close something that took twenty years of research to devise how to open. We looked at your overall weapons capability, and none of them will do the job. To explode any of them, within the hole, will serve simply as a catalyst to allow the hole to grow.”
“What about conventional methods? The pulse resonator. Can’t it simply be put into reverse? Surely this is the most obvious and straight forward route to pursue?”
Cameron