The Catherine Kimbridge Chronicles #1, Inception by Andrew Beery Page A
Authors: Andrew Beery
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do I have before you need the Bowman underway?"
"Frankly I need you gone already."
Captain Ramchandani checked his tablet. "My replacement First Officer is coming in from Mars. He won't be here for another 36 hours."
"My guidance is to make do with the personnel you already have. Earth may need those 36 hours later."
***
Cat was just coming out of the Bowman's gym when her comlink flagged a message from the captain. "Sir, Kimbridge here"
"Cat, I've just come out of a meeting with the Admiral. We are not going to be able to wait for Jason's replacement. Effective immediately you are my new First Officer."
Unsure of what to say Cat responded with a polite "Thank you, Sir!"
"We have an unknown incursion by an alien craft just outside of Pluto’s orbit. We’ve been ordered to investigate.
I want you to run the crew through a couple of weapons drills, and then join me and Commander Kirkland in my Ready room in sixty minutes."
"Aye, Sir"
“And Cat…”
“Yes, Sir?”
“Make sure the teams are ready for anything… I’ve got a bad feeling.”
Chapter Six – Ganymede Station...
Weapons, repair crews and navigation had all performed well during the drills, but, as Cat was well aware, when a person knew a drill was taking place they did not have to deal with the stress associated with ‘life and death’ situations. With the captain’s permission she arranged a special simulation.
The ship would jump to Ganymede Station and take on more armaments. Cat’s plan was to introduce an unexpected attack seconds after the next jump. If the crew performed as well as during the previous drills she would be satisfied they were as prepared as they could be.
“Lt. Shelby, Standby to jump.”
"Aye, Ma'am" the petite southerner answered.
"On my mark... 5, 4,3,2,1... Engage!"
The crew experienced the same brief flutter they had experienced on the second jump. Cat signaled Lt. Commander Kirkland in engineering and at the same time triggered a prewritten routine in the Bowman's AI.
Immediately, the ship shuddered as the inertial dampers cycled on and off in quick succession. At the same time the red alert klaxons kicked in and a handful on nonessential systems, like deck lighting and the occasional gravity plate, went offline.
Captain Ramchandani winked at Cat and signaled for Lt. Cortez to open a ship-wide channel. "All hands... Battle stations... Repeat... All hands, battle stations."
The Bowman's AI quickly rotated the ship while at the same time reducing the effectiveness of the inertial dampers by fifty percent. Cat had to grip the console in front of her station to keep her seat.
Amazingly it was over in forty-eight seconds. That was how long it took for all stations to report ready. More impressively, the shields and weapons systems reported ready in under fifteen seconds... A full eight seconds faster than their previous best.
The captain came back on the comms. "Crew of the Bowman. Stand down. Well done. This was an unannounced drill and I'm pleased to announce that by-in-large you did very well. Department heads please submit an assessment of your individual areas by 0800 tomorrow to the First Officer. Again, well done. Ramchandani out."
Turning to his newly promoted First Officer "That goes for you too Cat. A crew is only as good as its leaders and if this is any indication, then the Admiral was right to encourage me to promote from within."
"Thank you, Sir" Cat responded. "I'll get a team together to assist the armory at Ganymede station. I'd also like to borrow our Chief Engineer for a few hours if that is permissible?"
"Certainly... Care to share with your captain what you and Ken will be up to?"
Cat grinned mischievously... "Nothing good... I assure you Captain!"
***
Cat picked up Ken on the way to the Bowman's shuttle bay.
"Care to let me in on what we are up
"Frankly I need you gone already."
Captain Ramchandani checked his tablet. "My replacement First Officer is coming in from Mars. He won't be here for another 36 hours."
"My guidance is to make do with the personnel you already have. Earth may need those 36 hours later."
***
Cat was just coming out of the Bowman's gym when her comlink flagged a message from the captain. "Sir, Kimbridge here"
"Cat, I've just come out of a meeting with the Admiral. We are not going to be able to wait for Jason's replacement. Effective immediately you are my new First Officer."
Unsure of what to say Cat responded with a polite "Thank you, Sir!"
"We have an unknown incursion by an alien craft just outside of Pluto’s orbit. We’ve been ordered to investigate.
I want you to run the crew through a couple of weapons drills, and then join me and Commander Kirkland in my Ready room in sixty minutes."
"Aye, Sir"
“And Cat…”
“Yes, Sir?”
“Make sure the teams are ready for anything… I’ve got a bad feeling.”
Chapter Six – Ganymede Station...
Weapons, repair crews and navigation had all performed well during the drills, but, as Cat was well aware, when a person knew a drill was taking place they did not have to deal with the stress associated with ‘life and death’ situations. With the captain’s permission she arranged a special simulation.
The ship would jump to Ganymede Station and take on more armaments. Cat’s plan was to introduce an unexpected attack seconds after the next jump. If the crew performed as well as during the previous drills she would be satisfied they were as prepared as they could be.
“Lt. Shelby, Standby to jump.”
"Aye, Ma'am" the petite southerner answered.
"On my mark... 5, 4,3,2,1... Engage!"
The crew experienced the same brief flutter they had experienced on the second jump. Cat signaled Lt. Commander Kirkland in engineering and at the same time triggered a prewritten routine in the Bowman's AI.
Immediately, the ship shuddered as the inertial dampers cycled on and off in quick succession. At the same time the red alert klaxons kicked in and a handful on nonessential systems, like deck lighting and the occasional gravity plate, went offline.
Captain Ramchandani winked at Cat and signaled for Lt. Cortez to open a ship-wide channel. "All hands... Battle stations... Repeat... All hands, battle stations."
The Bowman's AI quickly rotated the ship while at the same time reducing the effectiveness of the inertial dampers by fifty percent. Cat had to grip the console in front of her station to keep her seat.
Amazingly it was over in forty-eight seconds. That was how long it took for all stations to report ready. More impressively, the shields and weapons systems reported ready in under fifteen seconds... A full eight seconds faster than their previous best.
The captain came back on the comms. "Crew of the Bowman. Stand down. Well done. This was an unannounced drill and I'm pleased to announce that by-in-large you did very well. Department heads please submit an assessment of your individual areas by 0800 tomorrow to the First Officer. Again, well done. Ramchandani out."
Turning to his newly promoted First Officer "That goes for you too Cat. A crew is only as good as its leaders and if this is any indication, then the Admiral was right to encourage me to promote from within."
"Thank you, Sir" Cat responded. "I'll get a team together to assist the armory at Ganymede station. I'd also like to borrow our Chief Engineer for a few hours if that is permissible?"
"Certainly... Care to share with your captain what you and Ken will be up to?"
Cat grinned mischievously... "Nothing good... I assure you Captain!"
***
Cat picked up Ken on the way to the Bowman's shuttle bay.
"Care to let me in on what we are up
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