Pegasus In Space
- Автор: Маккефри Энн
- Серия: Talents #3
- Язык: английский
- Жанр: Научная фантастика
Электронная книга - «Pegasus In Space». Краткое содержание книги:
For an overpopulated Earth whose resources are strained to the breaking point, there is only one place to look for relief: straight up. With the successful completion of the Padrugoi Space Station, humanity has at last achieved its first large-scale permanent presence in space. But there are those who, for motives of their own, want Padrugoi to fail. Standing in their way are the Talented, men and women gifted with extraordinary mental powers that have made them as feared as they are respected--and utterly indispensable to the colonization effort. Now, as sabotage and attempted murder strike the Station, it's up to the Talented to save the day. Only who is going to save the Talented?
Pegasus in Space is the tale of Peter Reidinger, first Tower Prime!
"I have them, Lieutenant Sakai," Peter said into the comunit.
"You do?" Dash Sakai swung his chair round toward the engineering station in surprise.
"Madlyn," Peter said in explanation.
"Oh. Very good. Thank you, Reidinger. They didn't think we'd see them with so much else going on."
A simple case of 'quis custodiet,' Madlyn said smugly.
Peter thought her quote inappropriate but her watchfulness was not.
The pilot of the gig to which Peter shifted the three grunts acknowledged their proximity and gave them a tow back to the Station.
"Admiral Coetzer, I have the captain of the CeeCeeD on-line, demanding to know who turned off his maneuvering engines and who-" and Sakai paused.
"Let me have it, Lieutenant," the admiral said with a malicious smile.
"The hell endangered his crew with that-I'd rather not repeat that, sir-precipitous mooring?"
"Inform the captain of the CeeCeeD that he is to be in my office with his log file at 1600 hours. Inform Mr. Honeybald that the crew is not allowed shore leave and that the captain is not to be admitted back on board without direct orders from me."
The emergency lasted two hours, of which only the first threequarters were critical; the rest was spent mending the broken net cables and herding the captured cargo back into confinement.
Peter did not admit to anyone how tired he was from that spate of concentrated activity. He was unexpectedly relieved when the admiral stood the watch down from the scramble. Coetzer gave a "well-done" and a special nod of thanks to Peter and Johnny before he left the CIC for his office. Peter was surprised to see others reacting to the all clear. Temuri Bergkamp sat back from the engineering panels, dramatically mopping his sweaty forehead.
"Never appreciated what you guys can really do," he said. "I know you shift cargo up here, but bouncing a freighter with its thrusters on is something else again."
"I turned the thrusters off first and I thought the admiral meant what he said," Peter replied.
"He did," Temuri replied feelingly. "I just don't think he thought you could do it that fast."
"No problem with the generators the Station has," Peter said, feeling his face flush at the praise.
"Pete loves generators, Bergkamp," Johnny said with a wide smile. "The bigger the better. He can do anything with the right amount of power… and a place to stand."
There are moments, General, when you're a pain in the ass, Peter remarked.
If anything, the general's smile got wider.
Sorry, Pete. Let's blow this joint.
"Thanks for your help, Bergkamp. C'mon, Pete, I know you didn't get a chance to settle in." And I won't mention the beautiful redhead you brought up with you.
You just did.
Rank has some privileges. I'm grabbing some lunch. What about you?
I need to unpack.
Catchya later. Johnny Greene turned in the other direction and Peter gratefully went to his quarters. He'd left his bag in the personnel carrier and now 'ported it up to his cabin. He would have to apologize to Dr. Scott for leaving her in the abrupt way he had. Maybe they would have explained it all to her when she reached the sick bay. Thinking of apologies reminded him that his remarks to the general had been uncalled for, even if Johnny had not apparently taken offense. But Peter was annoyed with himself for snapping like that.
Peter changed his waste-bag and showered, closing his eyes as he levered shampoo to his head. He stood under the fine air-driven hard spray until he no longer felt the sting of soap on his sweated face. The warm air circulated through the shower enclosure and died away as the cubicle's sensors ceased registering moisture to be recycled.
Peter lay down on the bunk, lifting the light cover over his bare body.
"I'll just close my eyes," he murmured. He did, and was startled by the strident buzz of the intercom.
"The admiral's compliments, Mr. Reidinger," said a voice he recognized as Yeoman Nicola Nizukami, "and would you kindly join him for dinner at 2130 hours?"
Peter saw that he had an hour to get dressed.
"Yes, certainly, Mr. Nizukami. Delighted."
He must have slept nearly three hours. He'd have to get fit. There was a Reeve Board up here for him to use and he could rig the hydrotherapy bath for swimming against a current. He'd start tomorrow morning. That is, if his schedule allowed.
8
"Asked their permission?" Incredulity and outrage colored Johnny Greene's voice as Peter Reidinger arrived at the admiral's lounge, promptly at 2130 hours. "Asked their permission to move the freighter?"
"Or so the company spokesman informed me," the admiral said, his tone amused.
"Then that captain should have asked our permission for tangling in our net, " Johnny said.
"The net was not where it was supposed to be," Dirk replied in the manner of someone reporting conversation. "Good evening, Pete. Barney, see what Mr. Reidinger wants to drink."
"Lit up like a Christmas tree," Johnny went on, "dense enough to be clearly visible on the antiquated screens those tubs use, and three klicks from where he should have been to reach the mooring Honeybald assigned him. That captain is suffering from a serious visual malfunction." Then as an afterthought, "Or he wasn't even on the bridge."
"How did you know?" Dirk said, grinning. "And he's captain no longer."
"Good!" Johnny took a swig of his drink like a toast to that dismissal. "We've got enough problems up here without someone inventing more. Freighting's a boring job. I wouldn't want it. But that," and he pointed his finger at the admiral, "doesn't mean I would be a damned fool."
"Ah, Dr. Scott," the admiral said, leaving Johnny to greet another guest. "Hope that little flap on your arrival didn't give you a false impression of our hospitality."
"Of course not. I was impressed by the way you all handled the emergency. Good evening, Peter," she added, nodding to him.
Ceara Scott was certainly not flustered this evening. She wore a burgundy silk suit that was a stunning contrast to her upswept red hair and fitted her extremely well. She certainly didn't look like any medical person he'd ever encountered.
"Admiral?" Johnny's tone chided Coetzer to introduce him and, grinning, Dirk did so.
"A pleasure to meet you, Dr. Scott," the general said, with a wide grin and appreciative glances.
"So you are the famous John Greene," she said. "I was warned about you."
"You were?" Johnny pretended surprised dismay. "Who would cast aspersions on my innocent head?"
"My uncle, Jerry Scott, was in your etop squadron."
"Rosie Scott?" Johnny's surprise was no longer pretend. "You're Rosie's niece?"
She nodded and sighed. "Rosie!" She added, with a grimace, "He hated that nickname."
"Then he shouldn't have been saddled with that shade of red hair," Johnny replied. "Damned good etop, though," he said in an aside to Dirk.
Dash Sakai and Madlyn Luvaro, who looked elegant in a rich emerald green, Pota Chatham, and Shandin Ross arrived in a group and that completed the admiral's table.
Peter sat across from Ceara Scott and tried not to stare at her or worry if she was noticing him. He felt unaccountably awkward with knife and fork. He also felt awkward in answering her questions, especially when the admiral, Johnny, Madlyn, and Dash informed her of his particular part in coping with the emergency. She had watched the space drama from the sick bay.
"Didn't put you off a space walk, did it?" Shandin Ross asked.
"If anything, I was reassured," she replied, her glance flicking from Peter to Johnny.