Starfire
Copyright© 2025 by Mark Randall
Chapter 14
Halfway through the midwatch, Captain Kaplan was awakened by the duty officer.
“Sir, we have just received that radio contact that you told us to watch for.”
“Are you sure?” Kaplan asked.
“Yes, Sir. The specified frequency, tone, and duration.”
“Very well, Lieutenant, you can return to your duties.”
Five minutes later, Captain Kaplan, dressed in a fresh uniform, nervously approached the one door on his ship that he needed permission to enter. At one point, it had originally been slated to become the quarters for Admiral Daggatt. The Invictus was supposed to have been the Admiral’s flagship. But that had changed when the Invictus was given this mysterious mission, and Admiral Daggatt’s quarters had become the quarters of Mr. Lewis Keseburg.
Keseburg rarely left the room. He demanded that his meals be delivered, as well as a pot of tea, twice a day.
There was very little in space that could make Captain Kaplan nervous. However, what was behind that door had been causing him nightmares since Invictus launched on this mission. As he knocked on the door, a voice inside called out, “Enter.”
When Captain Kaplan opened the door, the interior of the room was dark. The only light was from a lamp on the desk. Keseburg was sitting behind the desk, his face hidden by shadows.
“What is it, Captain?” Keseburg’s voice was firm but cold and carried a sense of menace behind it.
“Sir,” Captain Kaplan said, “the signal you asked us to watch for was just detected. Do you have any further orders?”
“No, Captain”
“Yes, Sir. Begging your pardon Sir, I would like to discuss something with you.”
The man had already turned his attention back to the old-fashioned bound book that he had been reading. Slowly looking back up at the Captain, “Well?” He spoke, the impatience in his voice clear.
“Sir, it’s about the fuel situation. Because of the speed that you have ordered, our fuel reserves are dangerously low. We will soon reach our point of no return.”
The man said nothing but continued to stare at the Captain. “Well, sir,” Kaplan stammered, “If we reduce our speed, we could extend our range and still have enough fuel to return to Federated space.”
The man slowly closed his book. “Captain, you will not reduce our speed. We will obtain sufficient fuel when we reach our destination and have completed my primary mission.”
“Yes, Sir, about that, what exactly is our mission? I mean, my orders are vague. All they said was to follow your instructions.”
“And yet, here you are questioning my orders?” With a dismissive, shooing wave of his hand, he continued. “That will be all, Captain. You are dismissed.” The contempt in his voice couldn’t be mistaken.
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