Alpha One - Chris Burton [34]
Obeya Temsouri arrived on Venus two days ago, following three weeks on Seta Nine visiting her parents. She felt refreshed and ready to start her fourth tour, in the knowledge that she was the Sabre lead aboard the new ship. She was not immune to the problems her relationship with Jonathan caused. He called her and told her his wife knew of their affair. It made Obeya extremely anxious; she was not, she told herself, someone who would condone extra-marital affairs, and certainly would not have entertained Jonathan’s advances had she known he was married.
Her hybrid Barcudian senses told her enough was enough. She would make it clear how they should bring their relationship back to a professional footing. Her Dactorian genes controlled her emotions however; she loved Jonathan and would find it difficult to stop seeing him. This blend of rational thought set against human-like emotions was often a useful tool, and she thought it gave her an advantage over her peers. Today, these two aspects of her psyche were in conflict and she had no idea which way this would go.
Commander Jacques stood at his station awaiting final confirmation of their launch parameters and the entrance of his Commanding Officer. The Halo 7 was about to be launched officially for the first time.
Jacques, a thirty-nine year old Frenchman, was passionate about his chosen career. He was a jump ship veteran who, at the age of thirty-two, decided to move from Rapier command to Bridge command. He was on his second tour under Hoskins’ command and had learned a great deal from his commanding officer. Although he respected Hoskins, he learned his CO was impulsive, head strong and a womanizer. He didn’t particularly respect him, but he did like him and he was currently comfortable in his role as Executive Officer. He reasoned that while this was an important stepping-stone in his career, at the end of this tour he would look to secure his own command.
Hoskins entered the bridge and his crew saluted and, then, guided by their Executive Officer, began to applaud their commander. This was a fantastic new ship, and each one of his crew knew their lives were made a little better.
Hoskins smiled. “Thank you everyone. I agree with your sentiments. We have a marvelous new ship here; are we ready to take her out?”
“Yes,” replied Jacques.
“Then let’s make it so.” Hoskins sat down at his station and allowed his Executive Officer to complete final checks and initiate their departure.
“Release docking clamps,” said Jacques. “Alpha Five controls. Clearance requested for departure from dock seven.”
Alpha control came back and confirmed clearance and the docking clamps released. The new ship reversed and was moved via remotely-controlled equipment into its launch position.
“Thank you, Number One.” Hoskins took over.
“Take us out, heading Kuiper Belt ST5, maximum auxiliary thrust.” Hoskins guided the ship towards the Kuiper Belt and the Oort cloud on the edge of the solar system. They headed toward a region currently free from conflict, to allow the ship and her crew three weeks of extensive testing and evaluation of her capabilities. The Halo 7 would maintain maximum auxiliary thrust while diagnostic checks were carried out to ensure all systems worked correctly, and within expected tolerances, before committing the vessel to light speed.
Over the next two hours, the bridge and engineering crews busied themselves with a comprehensive series of diagnostic checks. The ship passed Earth, Mars and then Jupiter, before rounding Saturn’s rings and heading to the outermost sections of the solar system via Quaoar and Sedna.
Finally the checks were complete. Hoskins verified with his Chief Engineer that the Stellar Drive was on line. The main stellar drive was the larger of