Journey to Centauri is a web-based episodic tale that details the splintering of the U.N. Alpha Centauri Mission on its way to the new world. Read the previous episodes. |
Journey to Centauri : Episode 11 "Commander Saratov. Commander Saratov! Respond immediately." Garland stopped to listen, searching the pure silence of the commlink for any sign of reply. "Nothing, Captain," said Lal. "Try one of these engineers we're tracking. Try this one..." "Saki." Lal tapped a glowing indicator on the screen and a channel opened immediately. "Lt. Saki come in. This is Commander Lal and Captain Garland, in the command mod." A pause, thick with hesitation. Finally..."Yes sir. Sirs." "What are your orders, Lieutenant? What has Commander Saratov ordered you to do?" "He has ordered us to the Weapons Bay, sir. Is there something amiss?" That last word...'amiss'...sounded strange to Garland, like a word out of an 19th century play, so polite. "Has Commander Saratov told you anything about your assignment?" "Negative, Captain. Is everything all right, sir?" "Radio me when you reach your Commander, Lieutenant. We have lost contact with him and we are concerned." Not exactly a lie but not the whole truth either, thought Garland as he broke the link. "Saratov must be taking matters into his own hands, fearing for the safety of his crew. He wants to distribute weapons, and with these insurgents in the ship I can't quite blame him..." Garland paused, again looking up at the U.N. symbol etched into the command mod's ceiling. "What will you do, Captain? We must fix the ship, and Saratov is acting against orders.' Garland let out a deep breath. "Not completely against orders. The safety of the crew must be our first concern. I can't push this issue with Saratov while the ship remains damaged. But I can go down there and locate him." "A moment," responded Lal, soft and urgent. "Two of Saratov's engineers have reached the antechamber to the Weapons Bay. I believe they are opening it..." |
