A King's Ship (Empire Rising Book 2) Read Online Free
Author: D. J. Holmes
outer edges of space.”
“Actually, I chose this assignment,” Rachael replied. “To be honest, I always wanted to serve on a navy ship. It was my father who pushed me into studying astrophysics. That’s not to say I don’t love my field of study. But I love space too. Endeavour will allow me to pursue both my loves. You maybe don’t realize it, but Endeavour is kitted out with some high tech labs and a state of the art central computer. I can continue to work on my theoretical models aboard Endeavour .”
“And they won’t get in the way of your duties?” James asked with a little concern. He had encountered enough scientists in the past to know that when they got caught up in their studies, the rest of the world seemed to fade away.
“I hope not Sir. I realize that I have duties aboard Endeavour , they come first of course. Though I’m sure you’ve been wondering what a science officer will be doing with themselves during extended cruises. Even when Endeavour is out mapping the unexplored dark matter, the majority of our sensor data will be of no interest scientifically. As I understand it, these science officer posts were designed to give young researchers field experience that will benefit them in the future while also giving them the space to pursue their scientific studies. In fact, as part of my request to join Endeavour , I had to present a proposal on what areas of astrophysics I will be researching.”
James wasn’t sure he liked this answer any better. It was sounding more and more like Rachael was just going to be a passenger he or one of his officers would have to babysit. A navy ship came with enough responsibilities for its officers without adding babysitting inexperienced officers to the list.
To her credit Rachael seemed to sense his concern. “If you don’t mind me asking Sir,” she began, “but I get the impression you don’t approve of the Admiralty’s decision to post science officers to survey ships?”
James paused before he answered, he choose his words carefully as he didn’t want to start off on the wrong foot with Rachael, “I wouldn’t say I don’t approve. It’s just; I’ve spent more than two years aboard a survey frigate. I know how monotonous the daily routine can be. There is almost never anything of significance that comes up, especially something that would interest someone of your intellect. I’m just afraid you will get bored and have wasted your time aboard my ship.”
Rachael smiled, and when she did James saw something else in her. Her initial nervousness had been genuine; he was sure of that. Yet now, behind this new smile, he saw a more confident woman, a woman who knew how to get what she wanted. “It’s funny you say that,” she began, “because I actually wanted to make a request. You already know how I wanted to join the navy and serve in a ship, but what I didn’t tell my father was that I want to command one someday.”
James almost laughed but the earnestness in her voice caused him to forcibly suppress any such notion. “Command? But you only studied a year at the academy, how do you expect the Admiralty to change you from the science track to the command track?” he asked instead.
Rachael smiled that smile again, and James knew he would have to watch her closely. He trusted her motives, but she was obviously skilled in getting what she wanted.
“Actually, that is where you come in. I know the Admiralty will never consider me for a command post without any experience. I was hoping to convince you to allow me to command the occasional watch. I could relieve you or the First Lieutenant, maybe once or twice a week. Of course, it would only be during watches when there is no potential danger. When we would be traveling through known shift passages. But over time, especially if we are assigned to a long survey mission, I could build up some command experience. In a few years, I could then request a
“Actually, I chose this assignment,” Rachael replied. “To be honest, I always wanted to serve on a navy ship. It was my father who pushed me into studying astrophysics. That’s not to say I don’t love my field of study. But I love space too. Endeavour will allow me to pursue both my loves. You maybe don’t realize it, but Endeavour is kitted out with some high tech labs and a state of the art central computer. I can continue to work on my theoretical models aboard Endeavour .”
“And they won’t get in the way of your duties?” James asked with a little concern. He had encountered enough scientists in the past to know that when they got caught up in their studies, the rest of the world seemed to fade away.
“I hope not Sir. I realize that I have duties aboard Endeavour , they come first of course. Though I’m sure you’ve been wondering what a science officer will be doing with themselves during extended cruises. Even when Endeavour is out mapping the unexplored dark matter, the majority of our sensor data will be of no interest scientifically. As I understand it, these science officer posts were designed to give young researchers field experience that will benefit them in the future while also giving them the space to pursue their scientific studies. In fact, as part of my request to join Endeavour , I had to present a proposal on what areas of astrophysics I will be researching.”
James wasn’t sure he liked this answer any better. It was sounding more and more like Rachael was just going to be a passenger he or one of his officers would have to babysit. A navy ship came with enough responsibilities for its officers without adding babysitting inexperienced officers to the list.
To her credit Rachael seemed to sense his concern. “If you don’t mind me asking Sir,” she began, “but I get the impression you don’t approve of the Admiralty’s decision to post science officers to survey ships?”
James paused before he answered, he choose his words carefully as he didn’t want to start off on the wrong foot with Rachael, “I wouldn’t say I don’t approve. It’s just; I’ve spent more than two years aboard a survey frigate. I know how monotonous the daily routine can be. There is almost never anything of significance that comes up, especially something that would interest someone of your intellect. I’m just afraid you will get bored and have wasted your time aboard my ship.”
Rachael smiled, and when she did James saw something else in her. Her initial nervousness had been genuine; he was sure of that. Yet now, behind this new smile, he saw a more confident woman, a woman who knew how to get what she wanted. “It’s funny you say that,” she began, “because I actually wanted to make a request. You already know how I wanted to join the navy and serve in a ship, but what I didn’t tell my father was that I want to command one someday.”
James almost laughed but the earnestness in her voice caused him to forcibly suppress any such notion. “Command? But you only studied a year at the academy, how do you expect the Admiralty to change you from the science track to the command track?” he asked instead.
Rachael smiled that smile again, and James knew he would have to watch her closely. He trusted her motives, but she was obviously skilled in getting what she wanted.
“Actually, that is where you come in. I know the Admiralty will never consider me for a command post without any experience. I was hoping to convince you to allow me to command the occasional watch. I could relieve you or the First Lieutenant, maybe once or twice a week. Of course, it would only be during watches when there is no potential danger. When we would be traveling through known shift passages. But over time, especially if we are assigned to a long survey mission, I could build up some command experience. In a few years, I could then request a
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