Penance (RN: Book 2) Read Online Free Page A

acknowledgement with the bridge becoming a clicking murmuring center of activity as bored professionals were at last given the means to work their intellects.
    Denz sat in his chair, his balled left fist supporting his chin as he stared thoughtfully at the sun dominated view screen considering likely scenarios for the mission. It wasn’t unusual for out of the way colony people to conduct a little dishonest trade. And as long as things never got too illicit, the EDP didn’t so much turn a blind eye as momentarily stare into the Sun when paying attention to these regions. These transactions rarely got out of hand, with those that operated in the shadows knowing that if things did escalate they’d eventually have to answer to a powerful warship. Few black marketers possessed ships fast enough to outrun even the oldest gunboat, and this far out there were few places to hide. However, when things did get out of hand people usually got hurt and his intuition continued to shake its head at the possibility of finding anyone alive.
    Denz swivelled his chair to face Raulin, “Mr Raulin, send a message to Trent rim-paq informing them of our intentions. Include data as to our sweep and the coordinates. A full report is to follow shortly.”
    “Yes sir.” Raulin said and set about his task, his fingers a blur to Denz who marvelled at the man’s ability.
    “Search solution complete and ready to be initiated commander.” The pale skinned navigator said turning to face Denz. He too was a red head, though he carried none of the Cummings’s plumpness with his vampire pale body being positively waifish.
    “Show me.” Denz said.
    The main viewer changed to a three dimensional block of grid lines with a large sweeping spiral boring along the center axis, and four smaller spirals filling the blank areas between the main spiral and the long edges. It was a cruder form of search path that would require a lot of fine tuning to perfect, time they did not have to waste. However, it was serviceable in its present state and corrections could be made en route.
    “Time to initial sweep point.”
    “Thirty four minutes from our current location, sir.”
    “Time to sweep entire area?”
    “Twenty two hours, twenty seven minutes, sir.”
    “Good. Ops?”
    “Ready sir,” Cummings responded.
    “Then commence sensor sweep. Navigation, take us to the initial. Best speed.”
    “Aye, Commander.” The navigator seemed pleased, snapping his fingers as he worked his console and the bright disc of the system sun slowly drifted to the right of the view screen, only to shimmer and then blink out as the ship entered gate-way.
    Thirty four minutes, Denz mused as he stared at the three dimensional cube with his hands clasped under his nose. Thirty four minutes to cross an area it would have taken the Governors shuttle sixty hours to transit. Still, this gave him time to prepare his report and perhaps get a quick something to eat. “Cummings, I’m going to my office to prepare my report and perhaps a bite. Lieutenant-Commander, Canthouse should return momentarily, but contact me when we arrive at the initial. You have the con.”
    “Yes, sir.” Denz heard from behind him as he walked towards the small office on the right of the bridge. Only when a couple of feet away with a hand reaching to the handle did it occur to him that his bridge office was now the place of penance with the cot inside. He stared at the door mounted pewter plaque that bore the word ‘REPENT’ in large deep cut letters. He stood immobile, the hand still poised for the door handle, his eyes fixed on that word with his body weak from a certain ambiguity before straightening to a posture becoming an officer and saying over his shoulder. “In my quarters, Cummings.”
    A low “Yes, sir.” following after him.
     

Chapter 3
     
     
    RNO Bristol, deck C. 21 hours and 16 minutes later.
     
    Leading hand Esta Brula slowed her pace as the door to commander Denz’s cabin opened