Tales of the Check Mate

Untitled Part 14

Chapter 5

Three hours later the link beside her bed called her back to wakefulness and with a slap on the unit shut it down.  She dragged herself out of the bed and meandered over to the bathroom, her clothes dropped as she went.

Bleary eyed she stepped into the shower and let the hot water hit her body, tension released from her muscles and helped to clear out her mind.  After a few minutes, Rook shut the water off and hit the dryer.  With in seconds she was dry and stepped out.  With more thought than usual Rook pulled out fresh clothes from the small closet, something more in line with where she was going. 

After she tied her hair in a single long ponytail she stomped into her military issue boots, strapped on her non-military blaster and headed up to the bridge a little more refreshed than she had been a few hours ago.

As soon as Rook stepped onto her bridge Beth stood from the command chair and moved aside letting Rook take her place.

“We are thirteen minutes out from the Sombrimant.  I have been cleared to land in the aft bay.”  Beth reported then took her normal seat at the helm.

Rook swiveled in her chair to face her communications officer.  “Report.”

Surge turned slightly then answered.  “All systems are green and I have the preliminary data you requested.”

 Beth set the ship down with a practiced ease and began to shut the systems down before leaving her station with the rest of the crew.

“Guys keep out of trouble while we are here.  Dismissed until further notice.”  Rook said rising out of her command chair and walked off her bridge.

Rook stood at the top of the lowered cargo ramp and stared down at the welcoming party, two medical techs, two security guards for each member of her crew and her brother Connor waiting for her along with his first officer.

Dusty brought the hover cot bearing her first officer down the ramp; Rook fell in step with Dusty.

At the bottom of the ramp the two medics took Lee and carted him off through the hanger and out the doors.

Rook looked at her brother and then at the security guards that were fanned out behind him doing their best to look intimidating.

Connor picked up on her mood and stepped forward a bit.  “The escorts are just standard procedures and you know it.  No guest walks about a flagship or any other ship of the line, article 21B, section A, paragraph 2.”

Rook shot Connor a deadly look.  “You don’t need to spout regs to me.  I know them all the same.”

Connor smiled some then glanced up the ramp and saw Ryan for the first time and knew he didn’t belong to the crew.  “Who’s that guy?”

“Passenger.”  Rook said flatly and walked off following the gurney.

Connor shook his head at his sister but let her go, perhaps that wasn’t the most tactful way to greet her.  He rubbed his jaw absently, well at least they would have a few days to patch things up while Lee was being taken care of.  Connor turned towards a yeoman as he came up with a purposeful stride.

“Captain I have a message from rear admiral Becklan.  It’s coded classified.”

“Very well I’ll take it here.”  Connor followed the yeoman over to one of the supply offices off the hanger deck and excused the officer.

“Yes admiral.”

“Captain Delate it has come to my attention that the Check Mate has just arrived in your hanger.”