Veil of Shadows (Book 2 of The Empire of Bones Saga) (33 page)
Read Veil of Shadows (Book 2 of The Empire of Bones Saga) Online
Authors: Terry Mixon
Tags: #Military Science Fiction, #space opera, #adventure
She narrowed her eyes at Jared. “That’s mean. I didn’t bet on you staying with Elise, and I’ve known about the two of you for months.”
“That’s only because you didn’t know about the pool,” Jared said dryly. “And we’ve only been dating for six weeks.”
“
You’ve
only been dating six weeks. Elise started a few weeks earlier than you did. She’s subtle like that. Are we going to have a problem about Russ and me?”
It took him a moment to realize she was talking about Talbot. No one called him by his first name. Jared suspected the man’s mother called him Talbot.
Jared held his hands up. “No problems from me, though you are going to need a new guard.”
She bristled. “That’s bull.”
Talbot shook his head. “No. The Captain is right. Lieutenant Reese needs to appoint a new guard. I’ll let him know.”
“Are you serious?” The look she gave the marine said that he’d be better off if he wasn’t.
The man had his work cut out for him, Jared decided. Thank God Elise was much less bossy.
Jared decided to let Talbot off the hook. “Captain’s orders. I need your guard to be thinking clearly at all times. I’m not saying you have to go public, as I apparently have, or that your relationship is inappropriate. It’s not and it’s no one’s business but yours. You’ll just have to accept this though, because the change in guards is not subject to negotiation.”
His half-sister squeezed the bridge of her nose. “I suppose I knew this would eventually come up.” She looked at Talbot. “And I don’t mean that in a negative way, Russ. I’m happy that we’re together. I just don’t want my position to be a negative for you.”
Talbot smiled. “We’re lucky we had the quiet time we did. If the Captain guessed we were a couple, I’m sure others are wondering. We should beat them to the punch and be up front about it. If you want to.”
“Of course I want to.” She lifted her chin and stared at Jared. “We have to leave for the surface in the next half hour, but I want to get one thing settled right now. What are the rules about cohabitation? Can he move to my quarters?”
Jared nodded. “There’s no rule that says marines need to stay in marine country. They don’t usually move out, but relationships with Fleet personnel do happen. He just needs to clear it with Lieutenant Reese. His CO won’t say no. How long are you going to be gone? We’re scheduled to take a few of the Pentagaran warships on a test flip to the Courageous system in a few hours to swap the crew on
Athena
and return.”
He’d made it a point to rename the system they’d found the battlecruiser in, a move the Pentagarans had heartily endorsed. If nothing else, the system would have a significant mining presence for the foreseeable future. Any name was better than the number the system had in the Imperial Stellar Catalogs.
“Don’t wait up,” Kelsey said. “We’re going to be there overnight. I’m meeting Elise for breakfast in a few hours. With the difference between planetary time in the capital and
Courageous
, it’s almost dawn down there. Don’t worry, I’ll let her know you’ve been outed.”
The planetary rotational period was somewhat shorter than Terran Standard time, so they’d drifted into an almost opposite time frame over the last few months. Which made secretly dating even more challenging.
“Thanks,” he said dryly. “She probably already knows. It’s me that didn’t notice everyone looking at us. I’m surprised it isn’t all over the news programs and gossip columns.”
“She probably has a deal with them to keep it under wraps. Well, we need to be going. The cutter won’t wait on us.” She and Talbot rose to their feet.
Bell rose with them. “I’m afraid I’m going to call it a night as well, Captain. I’m due to transfer to one of the Pentagaran vessels. They’re taking me home to oversee the last of the preparations on Erorsi’s surface. Good luck and thank you for an enjoyable evening.”
Jared saw them all out before returning to his office to go over a few more pieces of paperwork. It was a never-ending chore, though his implants made it go much faster. When he’d had enough, he took a shower and readied himself for bed.
* * * * *
He woke sometime later when a voice spoke in his head.
I’m sorry to wake you, Captain.
The ship’s artificial intelligence said through his implants.
I have a priority signal for you from
Athena.
Thanks,
Courageous
. I’ll take it at my desk.
They must’ve already flipped, because his old ship was in the Courageous system, on station near the weak flip point. Jared threw on his uniform and sat at his desk. He touched the flashing icon and the screen cleared to show
Athena’s
bridge. Ensign Danielle Cruz, one of his cutter pilots, sat in the command chair.
Sitting here in the backend of nowhere, his old ship only needed a skeleton crew. The command experience was good for her and the other junior officers he’d assigned to her for the time being.
“Good morning, Captain,” she said crisply. “I’m sorry to disturb you so early, but we received a priority signal from Fleet Command just before you flipped. A probe from home, sir. They’ve found us.”
The Empire of Bones Saga
Command Decisions
(December 2014)
Anthologies Terry Has Work In
Short Fiction
The Man Who Stole History
(Alternate History/Time Travel)
War Fish
(Military Science Fiction)
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About Terry
Terry Mixon, co-host of the Parsec Award finalist writing podcast The Dead Robots’ Society, is the author of The Empire of Bones Saga.
A former non-commissioned officer with the United States Army 101st Airborne Division, he also dedicated sixteen years to providing direct computer support to the flight controllers in the Mission Control Center at the NASA Johnson Space Center supporting the Space Shuttle program, the International Space Station and other spaceflight projects.
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