Read No Way to Start a War (TCOTU, Book 2) (This Corner of the Universe) for Free Online Page B

ships, Supply Squadron 3 (SupRon), and its own
escorts, CortRon 8.  Though the two squadrons would stay far away from combat, their
role of resupplying the task group’s combatants after each engagement made them
a critical part of the mission.
    The
console in Heskan’s chair arm blinked and he began to sort through the coded
messages received via the standata swap between his destroyer and the tunnel
point’s buoy.
    He read the Priority
One message first.
    *  *  *
    Ten
minutes later, Lieutenant Vernay entered the main briefing room cautiously. 
Every company grade officer knew that good rarely came from being called into a
private session with the ship’s captain.  She cleared her throat lightly before
opening her mouth to speak and then paused briefly before coming to rigid attention. 
After a smart salute, she stated formally, “Lieutenant Vernay reports as
ordered, Captain.”
    Heskan
quickly returned the salute and waved her off.  “Stacy, please be at ease and
sit down.  This meeting isn’t like that.”  What the hell?  Does she think
she’s in trouble?
    Vernay
breathed a sigh of relief as Heskan continued, “Stacy, I received this message
when we dove into Titan.”  He passed his datapad over to Vernay.
    He
watched her blue eyes quickly scan the message as he summarized it for her.  “Kite’s
future first officer was killed when the cruiser, Tempest, was lost with all
hands eight days ago.  Brevic Personnel Center says they won’t be able to give
me a replacement until sometime during the middle of our deployment.  I
searched the personnel available here in Titan and sent this reply to BPC.”  He
reached across the table and flicked his finger across the datapad’s screen.
    Vernay’s
expression twisted in confusion.  “Sir, why would you want another junior lieutenant
with a specialization in weapons?”
    “Because
the WEPS position is vacant now that you’re my first officer, Stacy.”
    Vernay
continued, “I mean I can always use the extra manpower but with Ensigns Miller
and Fong we might be a little top heav—”  Vernay stopped, looked up and gaped
at Heskan.  “What?”
    Heskan
laughed.  “I think you heard correctly, Stacy.  I need you helping me run
Kite.  Frankly, I told BPC three weeks ago I wanted you for the job but they
balked because you were just pinning on full lieutenant.”
    “Maybe
they’re right, sir.”  Doubt uncharacteristically filled her voice as she
continued, “I’m not ready for this… am I?”
    Heskan
placed his hand on her shoulder and met her eyes.  “Yes.  You are.  Think back
to Anelace, Stacy.  You’ve got a great tactician’s mind, you have the
unquestioning loyalty of your subordinates and your captain, and you’re cool
under pressure.  I know I can trust you to back me up and just as important, to
point out when you think I’m making a mistake.  You are the best person for
this job.”
    Vernay
stared at the tabletop in silence before uttering, “So much more responsibility…”
    “Eight
lives, one hundred twenty lives, three hundred fifty lives.  Is there really a
difference?  Do you take your duties less solemnly just because you’re responsible
for fewer lives?” Heskan countered.  “Stacy, when you received notification of
your very first assignment drop back at the academy, what did you do?”
    Vernay
smiled self-consciously and admitted, “I threw a fit.  I hated the idea of
going to a big ship and being lost in the shuffle.  I wanted something small
where I could get on a bridge immediately and make a difference.”
    “Do
you still want those things?” Heskan asked.
     “Well,
when you put it like that…”  Vernay’s eyebrows arched up in realization.  “Hey,
this means I get to move into the first officer’s quarters, doesn’t it?”  She
openly grinned.  “I get my own shower!”

Chapter 5
    Heskan
rushed down the hallway of Kite’s third deck, toward his quarters.  The
ship had been