Mine to Keep, page 18
“Give me a second.” Amadis rubbed her forehead and tried to order her thoughts.
Space Station Nu was in grave trouble. The flesh-eating virus had seemed contained until two months prior, raging despite aggressive quarantine protocols. When Amadis had left with a cyborg medical staff impervious to the disease, antibiotics to bring it under control, and printing machines to replace limbs amputated to keep victims from dying, it had been estimated the casualty rate would climb to fifty percent within another three months.
Even with an immediate heads-up, it would take the ITCS and Life Tech, the medical company that had sent the supplies, a few weeks to put together another emergency transport. Amadis knew the issues regarding shipping the materials intimately…she’d done the research herself. Many on Nu couldn’t afford any delay. The fatalities and mutilations would be horrific if the equipment and medicine were postponed by even a week.
“Can this ship reach Nu without a captain?” she asked the system.
“The system is programmed to pilot a set course and dock at its designated berth without human input. The captain is required only in the case of unscheduled changes and diversions in our path.”
“I have no intention of diverting course. We need to arrive at Nu as soon as possible.”
“Automatic pilot can succeed, as long as the ship encounters no anti-ITCS rebels or pirates.”
Worry tugged at Amadis. The frontier was dangerous, but Lafarge had been the only crew on the transport. The route was safeguarded. If the Golden Ray continued on its flight plan and the ITCS did its part in guarding the established route, she should be fine.
“As soon as we have the autopsy done, send the ITCS the relevant information as to Captain Lafarge’s death. Also inform them that I’ll be continuing on to Space Station Nu.”
“Affirmative.”
Amadis eyed the unfortunate captain, noting again her heft. She might be able to roll her onto the gurney…but maybe she should accept some help.
“Light my path to the bay where the cyborgs are stored. Uh, after I put on some clothes,” she amended, realizing she was still clad in only a halter bra and panties.
Other books by Tracy St. John available at Smashwords.com:
To Protect and Service: Ravenous Virtue
To Protect and Service: Righteous Fury
CLANS OF KALQUOR
Alien Embrace
Alien Rule
Alien Conquest
Alien Salvation
Alien Slave
Alien Interludes: Clans of Kalquor Short Stories
Alien Redemption
Alien Refuge
Alien Caged
Alien Indiscretions
Alien Hostage
Alien Revolt
Alien Outcast
CLAN BEGINNINGS
Clan, Honor, and Empire
Clan and Covenant
Clan and Crown
To Clan and Conquer
Clan and Commit
Clan and Conviction
Clan and Conscience
Clan and Command
FIRST MATARAS
Michaela
Maryam
Iliana
CLANS OF EUROPA
Sister Katherine
Tina
Bernadette
OTHER CLANS OF KALQUOR BOOKS
Clan Companions: Joseph
Clan Companions: Gabriel
Shalia’s Diary Omnibus
(Omnibus contains all 12 books of the Shalia’s Diary series, also available separately)
CYBERSERVED
Made to Order
Mine to Keep
Built to Last
Please visit Tracy’s website to read first chapters of all her books and sign up for her newsletter at http://www.tracystjohn.com/
Get the latest updates on upcoming books at Tracy’s blog at http://tracystjohn.blogspot.com
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Tracy St. John, Mine to Keep
