Act as abeta reader for this part of a much larger story, do characters seem aurthentic, is the discrition detailed enough, potencual plot wholes ect: The afternoon of the major emergency conference, called at Freight Command in New York, to discuss the situation with the prince, was due to begin, in just a few hours. The shuttle landing area outside Freight Command for the last few hours was the busiest it has been, for some time.
Various delegates from the parties involved had arrived, and at 15:22 PM, the shuttle from Tam Stone Cylinder carrying Captain McConnell arrived.
Waiting on the pad, 23-year-old Estelle White, an airy young woman, charged with pad operations, met Captain McConnell.
The pad was a busy, noisy place. The lift engines of the arriving and departing shuttlecraft created strong winds. 'Good afternoon, Fleet Captain' Estelle said, struggling to be herded and almost getting blown over; McConnell moving quickly prevented her fall.
'White, are you alright?' You've got to be more careful, ok? said McConnell, who White could just about hear over the sound on the pad. White pointed to a quieter area, and McConnell nodded her agreement.
Stepping through a sliding automatic metal door that made a satisfying hiss in operation, White and McConnell entered the Pad Operations Center.
This was where shuttlecraft got permission to land and take off, and they executed other operational matters. Its technology was a little dated and looked like they had forgotten it in someone’s budget review. McConnell had seen worse. But everything there was very, well, manual.
'That’s better, we can talk here so we can understand one another' White said, trying to catch her breath.
'White, look at me and breathe as I do. 'You're going to be just fine,' McConnell said.
McConnell helped White slow her breath and get it back. Within a few minutes, everything was fine.
'Thank you for that. I'm Chief Pad Operations Officer White. I was told to give you these before you went up.
‘We’ve met before… A long time ago, McConnell said
‘Must be… I don’t remember that. White said. Struggling to remember.
White handed McConnell two-tablet, like devices and a COMs earpiece.
'First, you’re welcome. Second, what’s with this earpiece? Who’s going to be on the other end? McConnell said a little perplexed at what might go on.
'Sorry McConnell… No Idea to be honest and no it’s not me being evasive. I really do not know. I found them this morning on my desk with a note saying they were for you. I should have given them to you when you arrived today, that’s all I know.'
Not understanding from whom these items might be, McConnell looked up and to the right. She switched her gaze, to White, then gave a single knowing nod; White understood that Captain McConnell was wiser than she'd thought.
'Tell me, White, what’s the total, including myself today?'
'With the old man, a full count of twelve... Why?'
'Oh… "No reason," though I believe there is more to this situation than they are revealing!'
'What’s this all about, Fleet Captain?' The news says it’s about a ship called the Prince that's missing.
'Classified, but the finer operational details are not.' What’s your clearance level?'
'Same as yours, McConnell Alpha/1 Black (level 4)'
"Sorry isn't enough; I have Level 1 clearance... and I won't be discussing classified matters with you." Even if you were, which you aren't, you would be told exactly zero. Got it?'
'I'm sorry. 'I’ve met no one with Level 1,' said White.
'White, is there anything else... of an operational nature you have instructions to give me? If not, I need to be going.'
'The only thing is, the meeting will take place in Conference Room 1 rather than the main room!' White said.
'Was any reason given for the change?'
"The holographic projectors in the main room keep cutting in and out and changing brightness levels."
I see. Not the best situation for an important meeting.
With that, McConnell and White walked across the walkway near the landing pad threshold, heads down to avoid having too much wind in their eyes, and walking with their fingers in their ears.
A quarter of the way across, a young worker ran across with, two pairs of noise-cancelling ear protection headphones.
The noise on the pad was terrific. The young worker handed McConnell and White the ear protection and gestured for them to put them on, doing so, he ran back to what he'd been doing.
Three minutes after McConnell and White reached the main entrance to Fleet Command, Stepping through the soundproofed doors, McConnell and White removed their hearing protection, McConnell, handed her set to White.
'Well, McConnell, this is where we part ways... It's the usual routine here today; okay, I've got to go!
White stepped outside to put on her hearing protection and walked back across the busy landing pad that had the usual day’s traffic.
Stopping for a moment, McConnell reached up and removed some grit from her left eye; McConnell put that ear-peace in the pouch on the side of her right-boot and would figure out what it was for later.
White had just left, and McConnell stopped to tie the lace on one of her boots. Looking outside, she noticed something small, trying to hide behind the landing strut of one of the shuttlecraft. The shuttlecraft in question, call sign TAM-336, was one that was stationed aboard the ESTD and scheduled to return.
Just as the ramp on TAM-336 closed as the flight crew prepared to take off, that’s when McConnell saw it, and what she saw genuinely terrified her.
When that shuttle lifted off, a small girl, no older than six years old, dressed in a black jumpsuit similar to McConnell's, would be-incinerated. McConnell had to do something, and fast. Looking around, she saw security officer Luna White, a long-time friend.
"LUNA, get over here quick," McConnell yelled. White saw her friend and knew something was up. Taking a hold of McConnell’s head and lifting it up... She said.
'Hey, Hey… Slow down, all right, I'm here now, what's up?
"There, there’s a child.'Over there, by TAM-336, behind that landing strut, she's in danger if they lift off," McConnell gasped.
"Let's look," White said. "Oh, hell, you're right."
Pressing the communicate button on her COMS, she said
Echo, Echo I send Emergency, Code Black, and tell TAM-336 to abort take-off. I say again, tell, TAM-336 to abort take-off. A child is hiding behind her port-side landing strut.
'Message copied and understood will comply'                                        
In the Pad Command Centre, communications with TAM-336 established. "TAM-336, TAM-336 Information Abort," I say once more, "child behind port-side landing strut abort, take-off per pad emergency part 1 over."
'TAM-336, Wilco PCCC aborting take-off, please advise when pads clear'
'TAM-336, TAM-336 Rodger monitor, this channel and we will advise goodbye'
'PCCC, TAM-336 will monitor goodbye'
'PCCC to Security Chief'
'Security Chief, PCCC Go ahead'
"PCCC Security Chief Information Officer TAM-336, I repeat, TAM-336, has shut down a rescue attempt under Part 1 of the regulations."
'Wilco PCCC will attempt to advise.'
'PCCC standing by.'
'PCCC Advisory all shuttlecraft scheduled to depart shutdown till notified we have incursion on pad I send again incursion on pad, pad shutdown per part 1'
Within minutes, the busy pad at Freight Command shut down so the, young intruder could be-brought to safety.
"McConnell, are you ok?" I've never seen you shaken; pads shut down because of your quick thinking and eyes.
'The little girl, is she safe?'
'Not yet, still in the same place... My Konni 2050 Repulse Bike is over there. Go do your thing. Peace of mind and all that. Hay…!' McConnell shock off what was happening, she'd let it out back home for the here and now things to do.
The Konni 2050, going six hundred miles per hour flat out, made a satisfying electric howl on start-up. McConnell got on and went over to TAM-336.
'Is there anyone hiding back there... I think there is, a young lady I think is back there reminds me of a pair of feisty seals that came to life via the Foxton-Milton Animation Process.
Now the thing is, whoever is back there, if those seals were here, I'd send them around to get you, and it would be many feisty licks and friendly flipper bats for you.
'Sound of giggling'
McConnell climbed to the top of TAM-336 and looked down.
"Why, hello, what do we have here?" We have a young member of the Star Raptors crew, but I don't recall seeing one this young before. Identify yourself at once.'
Looking down, the young girl said, 'Zonti Campton, rank Fleet Captain'
McConnell jumped and did a half-twist in the air before landing in front of Zonti.
Getting down to her level as not frighten her.
'Hi Zonti my name is…'
Before McConnell could finish, Zonty said
'Fleet Captain, Jade McConnell, Stanner'tec Freight Lines, Ship Name: Star Raptor Call Sign CAG-224.'
'That is really impressive.' What else do you know?'
'I know you believe in the letter rather than the spirit of the regulations, so, Fleet Captain McConnell, with that in mind, you must report-me under Article 12, Title 16 Subparagraph (f) of the Spaceport Operations and Safety Act 4379."
"Zonti, may I enquire as to your age?"
"Six," Zonti said again.
'Ok answer me-this, two ships arrive on the scene of a ship in distress both the commanding officers are of equal rank, who has command authority during the rescue.'
"That's easy under title 7 of the Space Movement Act 2379: states that if two deep space vessels (as defined in Sub-Article 39(c) Third Aims and the Louis Convention on the Movement of Goods in Interstellar Space) come across a ship in need of assistance, command of the operation shall reside with the master with the most experience in SRR operations until relived by an officer of more senior rank, proving the same master having more SRRS exp."
'That’s correct, well done. Now how many conventions, regulations, standing orders, and treaties do you know?'
'As many as you, ma'am."
"I see.”Let's get you to safety, ok?"
'Okyday'
McConnell took Zonti back to Fleet Command, where Sara, her very concerned mother, was waiting.
"Zonti, where have you been?" ‘Sara said.
'Playing Zonti" said.
"Zonti, look at me, ok." On the Star Raptor, I enforce Standard Operating Procedure 2.3.1; you know what that is, don't you?
'It shall be an offence while reporting to a superior officer to give knowingly any report, information, status, or otherwise that is given for the purpose of falsification or distortion thereof, with the intention of hindering or preventing said officer from performing Their duty!' Zonti said knowing know why Fleet Captain McConnell had her reputation. Zonti Said.
With that in mind, please tell your mother what you were up to; it's all about keeping you safe, and those nice shuttlecraft over there, well, they'd like to get back to work..."Okay," McConnell said.
'I just wanted to have a look at one of those legs. I didn’t mean to cause trouble'
"Hey, don't come here again." 'Okay, that's my girl' Sara said to an apologetic Zonti.
'Security Chief, I cannot thank you enough' Sara said.
"Honestly, it’s Fleet Captain McConnell you should thank... It was Captain McConnell who first saw Zonti and alerted me to the danger. That is why she is the best of the best for behavior; play hardball with her and you're done!
Sara, who by this time could barely speak, tried, but nothing came out.
'Hey, that’s ok. No words needed. "All right," McConnell said.
A thankful Sara collected her daughter and taken home. McConnell went back into fleet command and sat down for a while, she'd have to get going soon.
‘Hey, doing’ ok there, at the very least, she's safe.
'Luna… I’ll be okay. "There are a few things you need to do before going home."
‘Like what?’
To begin, you can notify PCCC that the pad is now Code 6, and flight operations can resume as usual under Part 1. Shut down, remember.
"PCCC... damn, I forgot," Security Chief White admitted.
‘PCCC Information for You Over
"Security Chief PCCC, go ahead."
‘PCCC we are Code 6 I say again we are Code 6 Pad operations can recommence per part 3b of SOPS over ’
'PCCC under stood, code 6, recommence per Part 3b SOPS PCCC out
Within minutes, the PCCC issued take-off instructions to the waiting shuttlecraft, and the Pad once again became the busy, noisy, and dangerous place it normally was.
'Alright done… Is there anything else you can think of, Jade?
'Four things need to happen first have some of your people go out and check the perimeter fence, she must have gotten through a hole or something, also check the fence intrusion detection system to check its function, after that review security procedures to insure incursions don’t happen again and don’t forget to file your PAC 223/ 4a Safety report ok'
‘No wonder you’re considered the best; I’ll do all those, and I know you’ll check’ White said.
With that Security Chief White left to get started, for McConnell it was also time to get going
Freight Command that afternoon had a higher level of activity than normal, the murmur of all those people busily going about their business, the interior structure was very organic looking its walls blended into the high ceilings, doors were typical of architecture of the year 6050AD in that they blended seamlessly into the walls when closed.
Freight Command's high atrium was home to several Hyacinth McCaws, the scent of jasmine filled the air, and cool blue lights at the base of the walls provided pleasing accents.
The air was cool and pleasant. McConnell had always loved the look of the place. Walking up the black granite staircase, McConnell arrived at the main security station.
'Good afternoon, Fleet Captain McConnell. I am here for the meeting in Conference 1 with my credentials'
McConnell displayed her security lanyard to Sargent Averill Aims.
"Yes, good afternoon, fleet, Captain McConnell; you’re expected; your clearance is straight through!"
'No Sargent I'm not, and I could carry anything that could pose a threat, so use your hand scanner under Security Protocol 3 (b) subsection 39, as specified in Security Standing Order 12.3 (a).
"Sorry, Fleet Captain McConnell, yes, you're correct.'
McConnell walked through the main concourse and to the main desk after passing through security.
McConnell placed her security lanyard on the rectangular black scan surface, 'Interface Unlocked" appeared as a blue hologram.
McConnell motioned upward with her hand, and the holographic interface appeared. Selecting "Fleet Ships' from the directory interface, McConnell selected filter by call sign; doing so, McConnell selected her company, Stanner'tec Fright Lines, and then CAG-118, "Searching for Vessel' said the interface. "Vessel Transponder Not Found: Further Information Restricted Level 1," it said moments later.