IMP49

==Chapter 49 - Important People==
KCGS Nancy Ilmarien Hull 030708
Sampan III-Class Cutter
Tharkad System
Lyran Commonwealth
January, 3098
[Tharkad orbit...]
"Permission to come aboard?"  Amanda asked.
''
"Permission granted Lieutenant, welcome aboard,"  Lt. Commander Emanuel Cohen replied.
Irena looked at the boat deck.  She'd seen pictures of Cutters & spec-sheets but, up close really hammered it home: This was the largest open space on the boat. The whole boat's length and height and width could fit inside the fighter deck of the Frederick Steiner class Battleship.
"Is there even room here?" she asked.
"Lieutenant Van Oosten will be coming along to accompany her sister home, sir," Amanda interjected.
"Lieutenant, we'll take good care of your sister." Cohen said.  "With the Marine complement on surface duty working with the dirtyfeet, we've got more space than normal.  It's like the house is empty. They let me keep a couple fireteams aboard from the platoon, so we'll have an honor guard ready at the destination."
"Thank you." Irena said.
"Let's get you to quarters. Bare in mind it's tighter than you're probably used to, we don't get many..." he halted in his speech, realizing that every word that might fit was probably an epithet or insult.
"VIP's, Commander." Amanda smoothly injected.
"Ayeh.  We don't carry many VIP passengers.  I think the last time was...in the thirty seventies?  Early eighties? Dad said they carried a couple of foreign officers with them in '77."
"The shep's thet auld?" Irena asked.
"Older.  This is an early Mark three.  We did a retrofit last year with a reprocessed core designed by the team at Snark." he told her, clearly proud of his ship.  "Takes less time to charge, can resist fracture at ten degrees higher core temperature under load."
Amanda was impressed, "NICE!!"
"What?" Irena was a little confused.
"It's a jump-snipe thing." Amanda told her.  "It means under normal use the core should last ten times as long without needing a D-check. It can maybe handle a short-coolant jump under stress without fracture."
"Sar et's moah reliable, Lekker." Irena said, understanding.
"Exactly.  We'll get you home.  It might be a little slower than you're used to." Cohen told her.  "But not a whole LOT slower.  The new core structure and some tweaks to the solar collectors means we spend about a third as long soaking in the rays on off-spectrum stars. Which lets us cut a straighter line without needing to hot-charge."
He led them up, "Lieutenant Ngo, we are short a couple of officers...?"
Amanda grinned. "I get to play?"
"Please, um..." he turned to Irena.  "I know you're supposed to be passengers and all that, but..."
"She's not nuclear rated, Sir," Amanda said over her shoulder.
"Well, it's a month trip there. I think we can get her checked out by then." he said.
Irena looked a little surprised, "Ahm... es thet even legal?"
Amanda and Cohen exchanged looks.  He relaxed a little.  "Lieutenant, I know they short you Regular Navy types on training.  Yes, it's legal.  It'll also probably advance your promotion points to have the certifications.  Your TDY orders let me employ you in training. So you'll need it eventually if you want to shoot for a higher command in the Navy.  At least, if Archon Andrew decides to keep Duchess Ngo as Naval Secretary.  My orders from Her Grace were to make sure you're checked out on all MOS related tasks, and that includes; Thermonuclear ordnance, Basic Helm, and Damage Control."
"Welcome to 'Spacer one oh one' Irena." Amanda added with a grin.
He gestured, "Lieutenant Van Oosten, if you'll take the second seat behind Warrant Kibbe. She can walk you through the fire control board on our way out."
"Aye sir." Irena sat down.
"Departments report are all fittings and loads secured?  If they aren't, get them that way, we go under thrust in ten minutes.  ARTO, call Traffic and get us a corridor to the Tharkad L-1."
"Ayeh sir!"
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