Read Ep.#15 - "That Which Other Men Cannot Do" (The Frontiers Saga) Online
Authors: Ryk Brown
Ep.#15 - "That Which Other Men Cannot Do" (The Frontiers Saga) (61 page)
Nathan stepped through the hatch from his ready room, onto the bridge.
“Captain on the bridge!” the guard barked.
Nathan looked about at his staff, each of them already standing at attention. Commander Willard was standing next to the tactical station. Nathan stepped up to him. “As soon as I’m gone, jump away and head home. Let the admiral deal with the negotiations. You just get everyone safely back to Sol.”
“Yes, sir.”
“The ship is yours, Commander. Take good care of her, and take good care of her crew.”
Commander Willard stared into his captain’s eyes, unsure of what to say. “I don’t think I’m ready,” he admitted in a quiet voice.
“You’re more ready than I was,” Nathan reassured him. “You’ll do fine.” Nathan shook Commander Willard’s hand, then turned to Jessica. She threw her arms around him, holding him tight, like she would never let him go. “You’ll never know how important you are to me,” she whispered in his ear. After another minute, she pulled back slightly, kissed him softly on the cheek, then released him and stepped back, wiping her tears away quickly.
Nathan turned around to face forward, staring at the big, wrap-around, spherical view screen and the image of the Jung homeworld below them. He looked at the faces of his bridge staff. These were the men and women he had fought side by side with. They had counted on him, and he on them, and together they had done great things. And now, they were about to bring peace to the Sol sector.
Nathan took a deep breath, fighting back his emotions. “It has truly been an honor to be your captain. Thank you for all that each of you has done. Without you, I never would have made it this far. No matter what you do with the rest of your lives, because of the things you have done on this ship, you will forever be heroes.”
Nathan turned and headed for the port exit.
“Company, A-ten-SHUN!” Jessica barked. The bridge staff stiffened, coming to attention as commanded. “SA-LUTE!”
Nathan slowly turned back around to find every person on the bridge holding a perfect salute. Nathan came to attention himself, returned the salute, and then left the Aurora’s bridge for the last time.
He walked down the corridor and headed for the ramp. On either side of the corridor were the men and women of the Aurora’s crew…his crew, and they were all standing at attention, their hands at their brow to salute their departing captain. Nathan came to the head of the ramp and found Major Prechitt, the Aurora’s CAG, saluting and standing at attention at the top of the ramp. Nathan wanted to say something to the man, but the major was paying his respects in the way that best conveyed how he felt about his commanding officer. Nathan exchanged glances with the major, saying more in one look than they could with a thousand words.
Nathan headed down the empty ramp, finding the main corridor on the next level down also lined with the members of his crew.
Doctor Chen met him at the bottom of the ramp, a pneumo-ject in hand. She looked up at him, staring into his eyes. “Are you sure about this, sir?”
“I don’t have a choice,” he replied solemnly. He looked straight ahead, preparing himself for the injection.
The doctor pressed the pneumo-ject to Nathan’s neck and pressed the button, emptying its contents into his jugular vein. “I am so sorry,” she whispered.
Nathan looked back down at her. “Thank you for everything, Doctor.”
“Good luck, sir,” she replied softly, stepping back out of his way.
Nathan walked proudly down the corridor, his eyes forward as he headed for the port hangar deck. At the main hatch, he found Josh and Loki, standing on either side of the hatch, both of them assuming the same posture as the rest of the crew.
Nathan smiled. “That uniform never did look right on you, Josh. I also think this is the first time I’ve ever seen you issue a proper salute.” Nathan tipped his head. “I’m honored,” he said, as he returned Josh’s salute.
“I’m probably gonna break out in a rash any second,” Josh cracked, “but it’ll be worth it.”
Nathan smiled as he patted Josh on the shoulder. He then faced Loki, returning his salute as well. “That uniform
does
look good on you, however.”
“Thank you, sir,” Loki replied quietly. “For everything.”
“I could say the same to both of you.” Nathan took a deep breath. “Clear skies, gentlemen.”
“Same to you, Captain,” Josh replied sadly, as Nathan stepped through the hatch.
Nathan stood just inside the forward end of the port hangar bay. The Jung shuttle was already pulling out of the midship elevator airlock. General Bacca was standing a few meters ahead of him, watching the shuttle as well.
Nathan looked around. Other than the few deck hands who were directing the Jung shuttle, everyone else was standing at attention in honor of their departing captain.
“A touching sign of respect,” General Bacca said.
Nathan looked at the General, barely containing his rage. “As I’m most certainly facing execution sometime in the near future, I have
zero
to lose by snapping your fucking neck, right here, right now…General. So I suggest you keep your mouth shut until we get on board that shuttle. Is that understood?”
The four Ghatazhak guards assigned to escort General Bacca smiled at Nathan’s remarks. The sergeant then shoved the general in the direction of the waiting shuttle.
Nathan followed the Ghatazhak and the general to the shuttle. Halfway there, he stopped and looked to his right. There, standing in front of the port side hatch, was his friend, Vladimir. He was standing at perfect attention, holding a salute, also struggling to control his emotions. Nathan turned toward his chief engineer, returned his salute, and nodded at him. Nathan turned back toward the Jung shuttle. The Ghatazhak soldiers had released the general and allowed him to board the shuttle, then had taken up positions on either side of the boarding ramp to face Nathan as he approached. In unison, all four of the Ghatazhak soldiers drew their hands up in salute.
Nathan could feel his heart pounding, his temples throbbing, and his breath quickening as he returned their salute. Finally, he turned, walked up the boarding ramp, and disappeared into the Jung shuttle.
Vladimir, the Ghatazhak, and the rest of the deck hands all stood there in silence, as the Jung shuttle raised its boarding ramp, closed its hatch, and began to roll back into the elevator airlock.
“
Aurora… Departing,
” Naralena’s voice announced over the ship’s loudspeakers.
Thank you for reading this story.
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COMING SUMMER 2016
Part II
of
The Frontiers Saga
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