corner she abruptly stopped walking. Up ahead two Marines were posted at a hatch. Both men were large, intimidating, and armed. Wolfe knew they weren’t there before. A crewmember approached the hatch and the Marines stopped her and asked her for identification. A checkpoint. But why? She knew of no threat that needed checkpoints on the ship. They hadn’t even left the station yet. Wolfe had seen enough. She marched straight up to the two men, who promptly snapped a salute when they saw her approach.
“What is going on here?” demanded Wolfe. Each Marine stood perfectly straight, still at attention. After a brief moment of uncertainty the Marine closest to her spoke up.
“We are under orders to establish a checkpoint here, Sir,” said the Marine.
“Whose orders?”
“Security Chief St. Clair, Sir.”
While St. Clair was responsible for security on board the ship, security checkpoints would slow down movement and damage morale. She should’ve been consulted about a decision like this. “And why did the Chief want a checkpoint here?”
“He didn’t tell us, Sir.”
She didn’t think the Marines would know why. Wolfe was sure that St. Clair had his reasons, but if there was a threat serious enough to warrant checkpoints, then she damn well needed to know what it was.
“Very well, carry on,” said Wolfe. Not happy about the checkpoint, she wouldn’t override the Chief’s orders without more information. Efficiency required order, and order required hierarchy. As the second in command of the Hermes, she needed to be in the loop regarding any decision that affected the ship. Taking her out of the loop not only undermined her authority, it also undermined the chain of command and set a bad example for the rest of the crew.
Once out of earshot of the Marines, Wolfe opened a comm with St. Clair.
“Yes, Commander. What can I do for you?” St. Clair answered.
“Chief, I just ran into a couple of your Marines on Deck Theta. They had setup a checkpoint there. I was not told about any checkpoints,” said Wolfe.
“My apologies, Commander. It is merely a security precaution.”
“That’s not good enough Chief. Establishing security checkpoints on board a starship is not standard operating procedure. That is unless there is a threat to the starship or its crew. Is there a threat to the Hermes, or its crew, Chief?”
“I’m sorry, Commander, I’m not at liberty to answer that question.”
“I’m the Hermes’s Executive Officer. You damn well better answer that question.”
“I can’t, Commander. I’m under orders directly from the Captain. If you want answers you’ll have to take this up with him.”
“I’ll do that, Chief. Wolfe out.” Temples pounding, anger rising, Wolfe closed the comm before losing her composure. What kind of Captain blinds his XO to potential threats? Her breathing grew shallow and her pulse raced. Growing aware of her body’s reaction, she concentrated on regaining control. First, she took control of her breathing. Taking deep breaths, in through her nose and out through her mouth, she slowed down her pulse and put herself in a more relaxed state. As her body calmed, the muscles in her neck and shoulders began releasing their grip. A few moments later and she had complete control over herself. Satisfied that her emotions were stable she opened a comm with the Captain.
“Yes, Commander,” said Jon.
“Captain, I need to discuss a few things with you. Is it possible to schedule a meeting today?”
“Yes, Commander. Of course. I’m just finishing up with Doctor Ellerbeck. We can meet in my ready room in an hour. Does that work for you?”
“Yes, Captain. Thank you. I will see you in an hour. Wolfe out.”
Closing the comm she walked off. She still had a lot of work to do, threat or no threat.
CHAPTER 11
Sitting in his ready room, Jon pondered his situation. If true, he could stay alive for a long time, regardless of whether he wanted to. If the creature
“What is going on here?” demanded Wolfe. Each Marine stood perfectly straight, still at attention. After a brief moment of uncertainty the Marine closest to her spoke up.
“We are under orders to establish a checkpoint here, Sir,” said the Marine.
“Whose orders?”
“Security Chief St. Clair, Sir.”
While St. Clair was responsible for security on board the ship, security checkpoints would slow down movement and damage morale. She should’ve been consulted about a decision like this. “And why did the Chief want a checkpoint here?”
“He didn’t tell us, Sir.”
She didn’t think the Marines would know why. Wolfe was sure that St. Clair had his reasons, but if there was a threat serious enough to warrant checkpoints, then she damn well needed to know what it was.
“Very well, carry on,” said Wolfe. Not happy about the checkpoint, she wouldn’t override the Chief’s orders without more information. Efficiency required order, and order required hierarchy. As the second in command of the Hermes, she needed to be in the loop regarding any decision that affected the ship. Taking her out of the loop not only undermined her authority, it also undermined the chain of command and set a bad example for the rest of the crew.
Once out of earshot of the Marines, Wolfe opened a comm with St. Clair.
“Yes, Commander. What can I do for you?” St. Clair answered.
“Chief, I just ran into a couple of your Marines on Deck Theta. They had setup a checkpoint there. I was not told about any checkpoints,” said Wolfe.
“My apologies, Commander. It is merely a security precaution.”
“That’s not good enough Chief. Establishing security checkpoints on board a starship is not standard operating procedure. That is unless there is a threat to the starship or its crew. Is there a threat to the Hermes, or its crew, Chief?”
“I’m sorry, Commander, I’m not at liberty to answer that question.”
“I’m the Hermes’s Executive Officer. You damn well better answer that question.”
“I can’t, Commander. I’m under orders directly from the Captain. If you want answers you’ll have to take this up with him.”
“I’ll do that, Chief. Wolfe out.” Temples pounding, anger rising, Wolfe closed the comm before losing her composure. What kind of Captain blinds his XO to potential threats? Her breathing grew shallow and her pulse raced. Growing aware of her body’s reaction, she concentrated on regaining control. First, she took control of her breathing. Taking deep breaths, in through her nose and out through her mouth, she slowed down her pulse and put herself in a more relaxed state. As her body calmed, the muscles in her neck and shoulders began releasing their grip. A few moments later and she had complete control over herself. Satisfied that her emotions were stable she opened a comm with the Captain.
“Yes, Commander,” said Jon.
“Captain, I need to discuss a few things with you. Is it possible to schedule a meeting today?”
“Yes, Commander. Of course. I’m just finishing up with Doctor Ellerbeck. We can meet in my ready room in an hour. Does that work for you?”
“Yes, Captain. Thank you. I will see you in an hour. Wolfe out.”
Closing the comm she walked off. She still had a lot of work to do, threat or no threat.
CHAPTER 11
Sitting in his ready room, Jon pondered his situation. If true, he could stay alive for a long time, regardless of whether he wanted to. If the creature
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