Midshipman Henry Gallant in Space (The Henry Gallant Saga) Read Online Free

meticulous in documenting our work.”
    “The unclassified monitored message traffic was also marked one-hundred percent with no defects. Can you tell me how that is possible?”
    “Even the best equipment has limitations. For unclassified monitoring of routine communication, we can keep almost perfect records.”
    “Almost, but not one-hundred percent?”
    “Well, if the signal is logged out before it has faded to the degradation level we do not have to account for it as lost information.”
    “And Neumann was able to make that standard practice for the division?”
    Howard shrugged.
    "What about that decryption equipment that those two men are working. The turnover sheet showed one-hundred percent equipment operational with no deficiencies.”
    Howard dropped his smile. “Haggman and Curtis are repairing the main long distance transmitter. That’s one of the things you should have asked Mr. Neumann, before signing the turnover.”
    “True, but I’m asking you now.”
    Howard’s face was a rampant contortion of conflict.
    “Could you give me the unofficial version, Chief?” Gallant realized he was asking for a leap of trust, he hadn’t yet earned.
    To his credit, Howard revealed, “Well, according to the captain’s standing orders, equipment malfunctions must be reported no later than noon each day. Mr. Neumann orders were that we do not report any equipment out of service until noon. Instead, he required us to drop everything and repair any faulty equipment immediately. That prevented placing it out of service on the central status report.”
    “But that means others wouldn’t know they couldn’t depend on that equipment being available.”
    Howard look troubled, but didn’t add anything.
    “What about maintenance? Is everything perfectly on schedule with no deficiencies there too?”
    “There are lots of demands throughout the ship, and equipment down for maintenance interferes with operations. Mr. Neumann found that there is a thirty day grace period for exceeding a maintenance due date, if parts have been placed on order. He believed in ordering plenty of spares, even if we have some on hand."
    “How much of the equipment is actually behind their maintenance schedule, unofficially of course?"
    “Eleven percent.”
    “Wow,” Gallant gasped in amazement.
    “It’s your division now, Mr. Gallant. What are your orders?” asked Howard, looking to take the measure of his new boss.
    Gallant reflected for a few seconds, and then said, “Any equipment out of service will to be reported to CIC, immediately. It will remain there until it is fully tested and back on-line.”
    A smile returned to Howard's lips.
    “Also, you and I will work out a maintenance plan that will get us back on schedule as soon as possible, despite the inconvenience to normal operations.”
    Chief Howard looked at Gallant with a sympathetic eye. “If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed just now, let me assure you, sir,” He wore an ear to ear grin, “it’ll get worse.” It seemed obvious that the man loved what he did.
    Gallant hoped he wouldn’t regret his decision. He put on a questioning expression, “I’d appreciate any help you could give me, Chief.”
    Howard said, “I’d be glad to help, any way I can.”
    “Thank you, Chief. I'd appreciate that.”
    “Okay. Let’s get started and I’ll show you how to keep things running without losing any action messages. That at least will keep the captain from shooting you right off the bat.”
    Gallant knew he was going to like Chief Howard.

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    By the end of the first week, Gallant was again standing in the XO’s office.
    The XO thundered, "What are you doing with the Communication Division, Gallant? In one week you’ve logged more equipment out of service for repairs and maintenance then Mr. Neumann did in the six months he was division leader. And what’s up with the garbled messages at long distance. We never had that trouble before.