Starfire
Copyright© 2025 by Mark Randall
Chapter 32
It was just after the morning meal, such as it was, and Paul Holt, Wayne Turner, and Grant Rogers joined David in the security control room. The past 48 hours had been an exercise in patience and frustration. They had started watching the monitors and listening to activity reports from around the ship. But as time went by and there was no activity, they decided to split up the watch. The others had retired to a nearby breakroom.
“What’s up, boss?” Wayne asked.
“Nothing much, they have been sticking to their quarters for the most part. They just went to the mess hall as a group, so I would imagine they’ll be getting something better than stale donuts and cold coffee.”
“Good for them.” Wayne groused.
Paul had been looking closely at the video feed from the mess hall. “Commander, didn’t you say they all headed to breakfast?”
“Yes, about 15 minutes ago.”
“Well, I only count 18 in the mess hall. It seems we are missing 4 of them.”
David rushed to the monitor and looked closely. “I count 18 also, even worse, Lansford Graves is also missing.”
Just then, the communications officer called out. “Commander, we’ve just got another of those encrypted messages.”
“Thank you, commo.”
“Sir, this one is different. It’s an incoming signal, not outgoing.”
David’s face paled. “Damn, get me the captain NOW.”
The commo officer was ready for this and made the connections, “Captain’s on the line, Sir.”
“Captain, this is Barth in security. Sir, it’s started.”
“Are you sure, Commander?”
“Yes, Sir, everything but the shooting.”
“Very well, thank you.”
David then turned to Grant, Paul, and Wayne. “OK, gentlemen, you have your assignments. Let’s get to it.”
As Paul was leaving the command center, he called Betsy. “Honey, it’s started. I need you and your family to fort up and stay safe.”
Betty Chin was with her grandfather when the call came in. “I hear you, Paul. Stay safe, Omae,” She then turned to her grandfather. “Grandfather, the battle has begun. Paul wishes us to stay here and protect our family.”
The old man, seated in lotus, slowly looked up to his favored granddaughter, “Child, our family is this ship. Long have we dedicated our lives, our families’ lives to this ship. Much has been given to this family by this ship. Today, we will continue to serve and defend this ship.”
Turning to the rack behind him, he drew the Katana from its sheath and stood. “I go to the mother of us all. To live or die in her service.”
Betsy, with tears in her eyes, also drew her own Katana. “Can I do any less, Grandfather?”
Together they walked from the room and headed towards Grandmother Agnes’s rooms.
On the bridge, Captain Sullivan turned to April, his co-captain and wife. “It’s time, you need to head to the auxiliary bridge now.”
She leaned into him, and they kissed. Then she turned and half ran from the bridge.
Henry turned to his commo officer. “Ensign Smith, let’s sound the yellow alert and get Commander Olivet on the air.”
“Already here, Captain.” Tom Olivet’s voice came out on the overhead speaker.
“Good, go ahead and start your launch, Tom. Let’s get everybody off the deck.”
“Yes, Captain, the blue squadron is already out, and the red squadron just finished fueling ops and is launching as we speak.”
Turning back to the commo officer, Captain Sullivan said, “I need a ship-wide address now.”
“Yes, sir, ready in 3, 2,” when he pointed his finger at Henry. The overhead speakers throughout the ship gave a short pop.
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