Space Corps - Explorer (Book 1) by K. W. Matthews Page B

Ashley reached for a red lever, Reynolds put his hands up to stop her.
    “Admiral, I’m sorry, but isn’t touching any of these levers dangerous?”
    As Reynolds relaxed, Ashley smiled and pulled the lever down.
    “Yes, it is, but right now it’s more important for us to be fast than safe. Now I need you to run a few tests and make sure we can get on our way. I’ll meet you on the bridge when you’re ready.”

Chapter 14
    The Chase
     
    Reynolds entered the command bridge. With a nod to Ashley, he took his seat.
    Ashley sat in her chair at the center of the bridge. She tried to ignore it, but she could feel that all eyes in the room looked to her. She knew that everyone looked to her for a solution. While she had one, she wasn’t certain it would work.
    “Lieutenant Card?”
    “Yes, Admiral?”
    “Send a message to Central Command. Tell them we’re on the way. As soon as you send it, I want you to shut off the transceiver. You are to accept no transmissions and you are not to send any out. Do I make myself clear?”
    Card looked back toward the admiral. Her words seemed so certain, but her hands shook ever so slightly at her side.
    “Yes, sir. I’m sending the message now.”
    A moment later, Card turned back to the Admiral and nodded.
    “It’s done.”
    “Fantastic. Harris, I want you to set a course directly in line with the alien vessel’s trail. I don’t want you to move from their path at all.”
    Lieutenant Harris made his fingers dance over his console. Gonzales looked over at him and watched in awe as her training officer made the ship bend to his will.
    “Reynolds,” Ashley began, “is engineering prepared to activate the main engine?”
    “I’m requesting final confirmation, sir. Yes, it looks like we’re good to go.”
    “Have them start gearing it up. As soon as it’s ready, I want them to let us know.”
    The Explorer filled with a hushed whining sound. Soon, a slight trembling joined the noise. Most of the crew found their way to their harnesses without waiting for an order. They didn’t know what might happen, but they prepared for the worst.
    The whining erupted into a scream. All of the crew in the engineering portion of the ship couldn’t help but cover their ears.
    “Admiral?” Gonzales asked.
    “It’s fine, Ensign.”
    As quickly as it started, the screaming and whining left the vessel. Instead, the steady but comforting pulsing of the engine replaced the noise.
    Reynolds said, “Admiral, engineering is giving the go-ahead. We’re cleared to leave.”
    Ashley nodded. “Harris, lead us out. Accelerate slowly.”
    Lieutenant Harris pulled a lever at his side causing the ship to jerk forward. Once more, the sound from the engine increased in volume.
    “Admiral, we’re coming up on ten percent.”
    “Keep accelerating.”
    The more Harris pulled the lever, the more he sweated. He knew Ashley and Reynolds personally repaired the engine. No one was more qualified to do so, but he couldn’t shake his fear that something wasn’t quite right.
    “Admiral, we’re coming up on fifty percent.”
    “Keep accelerating.”
    As Harris began pouring sweat, Gonzales couldn’t help but do the same. She never saw the pilot of the Explorer look so nervous. If he had something to fear, she knew she did as well.
    “Admiral,” Harris said, his panic showing through his voice, “we’re coming up on eighty percent of maximum safe speed.”
    “Keep accelerating.”
    After drying his hands off on his uniform, Harris obeyed the order. As the ship came up to full speed, he breathed a sigh of relief.
    “Admiral,” the tension in Harris’ voice almost gone, “we’re now up to one hundred percent of maximum safe speed.”
    “Keep accelerating.”
    The pilot couldn’t believe what he heard.
    “I’m sorry, Admiral, but did I not make myself clear? We’re at one hundred percent of maximum safe speed.”
    “Harris, I heard you the first time. Now, keep accelerating.”
    As a military