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Chapter 85 - What Could Go Wrong[]
27 February 3042
Joshua (Former Outworlds System)
"Emergence wave extremely close!!!" A junior sensor operator yelled on his first time taking a bridge watch. The senior operator, acting as the watch officer tonight checked the readings before picking up the ship's comms. "Captain, emergence wave, same size as the one we detected at Inner End. Range this time is roughly 112KM. It has vanished from the sensors. Radar indicates nothing there. Copy, we will continue to monitor.
"Easy Smitty, we have no clue what that is, but it has happened before. Good work on the reporting though. You will earn your bridge qualifications easily if you keep it up." The watch officer said
On the Monarch Dropship, Ship Master Sarah Campbell hung up the small phone which was interconnected to the Star Lord JumpShip. "Chief Zuniga, I swear to god, if you do not figure out this damned stray jump signature and emergence wave crap, I am going to toss you out of an airlock."
"What is the problem?" Leftenant Colonel David Mitchell asked
"We have been getting these weird sensor reads. Tiny little jump signatures and tiny emergence waves. Totally random. It barely tickles the sensors really, but it is enough to scare the hell out of someone. We cannot seem to figure it out." Ship Master Sarah Campbell said
"When did this all start?" Leftenant Colonel Mitchell asked
"Inner End. A few days after those spooks boarded, then we had no issues for months and suddenly about we got another hit, now it has happened again." Chief Zuniga answered this one
"I think we can calm down some. My theory will be confirmed if Agent Hammel delivers a message from our benevolent sponsor in the next few hours. I think those folks have a way to communicate without being inside a HPG network. How I have no clue, and no one is to even bring it up. That is an order. Lord knows it might actually save our asses one day." Leftenant Colonel Mitchell said before asking "How much longer on the loading?"
"We should be fully loaded and ready to jump in the next 12 hours or so. We have both Merchant Jumpships programmed with their jump coordinates, cores are fully charged and are rigged for remote jumps. All other ships are set and ready to go on your orders. Once the Mule Cargo Dropship docks, we are ready to leave." Chief Zuniga said
"Good. I am past ready to leave this place. We will continue to meet at least weekly if we can. Commodore Nobel, you fully up to speed and have any other comments?" Leftenant Colonel Mitchell asked
"No sir. Nice of you all to bring me up to speed on the last meeting. I already voiced my opinion on that Union CV, it is okay for defensive actions, but I would prefer the Titan for any sort of offensive actions. Not that we have the fighters or pilots to man both." Commodore Franklin Noble replied
"Very well. Let's break this up and get ready to get the hell out of here and back home." Leftenant Colonel Mitchell said
28 February 3042
A knock woke Leftenant Colonel Mitchell from his sleep. He managed to get the door open thru sleep heavy eyes and saw Agent Jessica Hammel standing there. "Jessica, there a problem?"
"No. I got my reply from Mr Allard. He agrees with you that the risk is acceptable." Agent Hammel said
"You sound disappointed." Leftenant Colonel Mitchell replied
"I guess I am. This is a side of him I never had to deal with. He was always supportive of criminal investigations, even when we might have bent the rules a little to get the evidence, we needed to bring someone to justice. I am not sure how I feel about this assignment now though." Agent Jessica Hammel said
"Get some sleep, Jessica. Maybe you will feel different in the morning." Leftenant Colonel Mitchell replied as he watched her walk to her own stateroom and close the door.
Just after breakfast, the jump warning was sounded and the SaRI mission at Joshua came to an end and the trip home began.