When in Rome

Under normal circumstances Lieutenant Commander Delilah Hendricks would be outright thrilled that the UNRV Woodlawn would be this far out in the solar system, as the only professional astronomer in command of a deep space ship of the United Nations Space Fleet it was a dream that had come true since she was a little girl, always thinking of flying through space in a starship like in those “Star Trek” TV shows and not in a former Los Angles class submarine converted for space travel.

Right now she pondered if this mission was just a dream or a nightmare. Or maybe the reality of this mission was a career change. Things were strange from the start, launching two days after the Dillingham left Alpha station, the Woodlawn left Gamma station, packed with supplies for what seems like an extended mission and with a crew of 10 instead of the usual 15, plus the addition of 2 non UNSF personnel and whatever things that went with them. Flying with running lights off, radio silence, her transponder off, shadowing the Dillingham, it caught up with her in the asteroid belt, it seemed no one knew that the Woodlawn was here. And the sealed orders was a touch on the dramatic side, that’s something a scientist don’t see on a day to day basis, unless one worked for a spy organization.

From an astrophysicist to a spook, yep this would make for an interesting speech for the kid’s upcoming career day at school next month, assuming the Woodlawn came back in time from this mission, the supplies they carried seemed that they could stay out here for 5 months. Spending that much time out in space wasn’t that bad but this trip out the ship’s special optical telescope that made the Woodlawn unique to the fleet were removed to make room for the extra supplies so the scientific value of this mission was lost.

“Captain,” said Lieutenant Tim Brown “incoming optical message from Cougar 1, course change to 17 degrees down angle, in 5 minutes.”

“Acknowledged Tim” replied Delilah “Nancy, Don you heard the message you know what to do.”

“Aye” both said in unison.

“Another course change Captain?” asked Lester McPike one of the non-UNSF personnel on this trip “This makes what six course changes in the last five hours.”

“Nine course changes in the last seven hours” corrected Delilah.

“Why the changes in course?” asked Lester.

“Don’t you know?” asked Delilah

“No I don’t Captain,” replied Lester “that’s why I am asking you.”

“Really Mr. McPike you can level with me, you know the mission better than I do” admitted Delilah.

“Me?” said Lester

“Yes you.” said Delilah “Come on now, spill the beans, you are a company man, CIA right? You got ‘spy’ written all over you.”

“Really Captain,” replied Lester who rolled his eyes over this “I think you are watching too many James Bond movies, I would expect you to be a trekkie or trekker or whatever they call themselves these days.”

“Right,” said Delilah “like I am supposed to be believe that you are actually a model rocket vendor. That is the most lamest cover story I ever heard in my life. And your partner in crime Mr. Aiuppo cover story is even lamer still.”

“I assure you Captain” said Lester “I never meant Vince before this mission. Oh for sure his company is a good client of mines and we have exchanged email and faxes before but I never talked to him on the phone or saw him face to face.”

“Bridge, Engineering” said Lieutenant Lyle Shane over the ship’s intercom.

“Go ahead” said Delilah

“Captain I just found out that the backup transponder was on all the time.” said Lyle.

“Lyle turn it off after we make the turn.” ordered Delilah

“Will do.” said Lyle

“Damm” said Delilah while looking at Lester.

“It wasn’t me, I swear.” said Lester.

Posted by Helen at November 10, 2002 2:09 PM