Read Frontiers 07 - The Expanse for Free Online Page B

he passed with Commander Taylor following behind him.
    “Captain on the bridge!” the guard announced.
    The bridge had a completely different feel now that it was fully repaired. Gone were the burnt-out consoles and blackened conduits. The entire comm-center located along the aft end of the bridge between either exit had finally been completely replaced during their layover at the Takaran shipyards. Now there were two comm stations in use, making internal communications far easier to manage during combat.
    All six of the stations that lined either side of the bridge had also undergone extensive refit. Their computer systems had been upgraded, as well as their software. In fact, there were only three things that weren’t completely replaced during their time at the shipyards: the helm and navigation console located at the front of the bridge, the command chair in the center, and the tactical station directly behind it. Although they had received some enhancements, they were relatively unchanged.
    Not only had everything been repaired, replaced or upgraded, but it had all been cleaned. For that matter, the entire ship sparkled from top to bottom, inside and out. They had even been given a few of the automated cleaning bots used by Takaran warships.
    To Nathan, the Aurora felt like a whole new ship. It was still the same design and the same layout, but it felt new, like she had never seen combat. Still, he would have done anything for working shields similar to those used by the Takaran warships. He hoped that Abby and the Takaran scientists that had agreed to travel with them back to Earth would figure out how to make the ZPEDs work without interfering with the jump drive.
    “Comms, notify the Corinairans that we are breaking orbit and heading home.”
    “Yes, sir,” Naralena said.
    “Well, that sure felt good to say,” Nathan said to Cameron. “Helm, take us up to departure altitude, and break orbit as soon as we’re on a general heading for the Sol sector.”
    “Aye, Captain,” Josh answered. “Increasing power, climbing to departure altitude.”
    “Departure point in six minutes, sir,” Loki announced after making some quick calculations on the new navigational computer installed by the Takarans.
    “Very well. Once we break orbit, bring us on course and speed for the first jump.”
    “Aye, sir,” Josh responded.
    “Naralena, you’d better send a courtesy call to Karuzara to let them know we’re departing as well.”
    “Captain,” Commander Taylor interrupted, “the Karuzari disbanded more than a week ago.”
    “What did they do with their base?”
    “They gave it back to the Corinairans. Now that FTL travel is no longer reserved for Takaran ships, the asteroid base is being hollowed out further and made into a spaceport.”
    “That’s a good idea,” Nathan said. “That will certainly help get them ready for interstellar travel more quickly. What about the Yamaro base?”
    “They are expanding that one as well, increasing the interior space so that they can begin fitting interplanetary ships with jump drives once they start production.”
    “I have a feeling this entire sector is going to see a major change over the next decade.”
    “Indeed.”
    “Sir,” Naralena said, “I have the Prime Minister of Corinair on comms. He wishes to speak with you.”
    “Put him on the main view screen,” Nathan ordered.
    A separate window appeared in the center of the main view screen that wrapped around the forward half of the bridge. In the middle was the Prime Minister.
    “ Captain Scott, ” the minister began in a heavily accented brogue, “ on behalf of the peoples of the Darvano system, as well as all peoples in the Pentaurus cluster, I wish again to thank you and your most brave crew for all that you have done. ”
    Nathan smiled at the minister’s attempt to speak Angla, knowing that he must have practiced that poorly worded phrase repeatedly in order to personally communicate his sincere