Approaching Oblivion (Jezebel's Ladder Book 4) Read Free Page A

and speed. Snowflake has the vectors.”
    Lou had a gift for riding the
curves, as he called it. Between his own page talents, sailing skills, and the
gravity sense he gleaned from bonding with Mercy, he could steer the starship
in-system better than anyone. He knew the solar winds so well by now that his
instincts outperformed her computer plots. “No problem.”
    “If you get that course started, I’ll
talk to Auckland. Since Mercy’s not officially back from her sabbatical for the
honeymoon, we could delay her return to duty pending a fitness review.
Meanwhile, we’ll sign an order that all planners have to use elevator mode for
safety’s sake.” Lou, Auckland, and now Zeiss already had to rely on this mode
of transportation.
    “The team hasn’t approved the final
flight plan yet,” Lou noted.
    “Minutes count when hitting a launch
window this narrow. We’ll still have another day to fine-tune after the vote.”
When he seemed reluctant, she added, “I can arrange the new rule while you eat
breakfast.”
    “Deal.”
    “Just to clarify, this doesn’t mean
that you won the argument,” she said as she hopped toward the med-lab door.
    Lou held up both hands. “I admit this
isn’t about logic. Thanks for humoring me.”
    She smiled. “No, Lou. Thank you. You
take care of Mercy. That girl is becoming the sister several of us never had.”
    “The bossy, older one who always
knows best?” he said more loudly to cover the increased distance.
    “I heard that!” came Mercy’s
muffled voice from the dining hall.
    ****
    In the medical bay, Auckland dozed in a chair beside the cot where Zeiss slept. Red kissed her husband on the
forehead before prodding the doctor. “Hey, Doc. I’m almost ready for the meeting.
Sojiro said he’d help me with the visuals during the presentation.”
    “Z wanted me to warn you about
Rachael and Yuki. They can still cause trouble for you.”
    Red nodded. “I have a distraction
lined up for them that will hit two birds with one stone. I’ll arrange for Herk
to drop the bombshell so they don’t suspect a setup.”
    “Are you taking over?”
    “No, I’m just buying us some time. We’re
going to reach Oblivion to complete this test if I have to carry the whole damn
ship myself.”

Chapter 2 – Robert’s Rules of Order
     
    By e-mail, Red changed the location of the team meeting to the
large storage area in Olympus, where she could manage things easier. In
requesting the change of venue, she reasoned that everyone should be able to
attend. The control saucer had to be manned by three crew members, while the enormous
ecosphere didn’t need anyone on guard. Only Yvette declined the invitation.
With Toby in the suspended-animation chamber, the fifteen remaining astronauts
gathered to watch Red’s presentation in the storage room. Seated on the first
of three benches, Zeiss handed Red the gavel. Auckland, Mercy, and Lou helped
block access to their under-the-weather commander.
    Red paced at the front. She
couldn’t afford for Zeiss to answer questions because he still had trouble
locating words. She also couldn’t let the opposition ask how long the ecosphere
would last once they reached Oblivion.
    As sergeant at arms, Herk brought
the meeting to order and opened the log recording with the date, time, and the
list of those present. With his mussed black hair, stocky build, and all the
sun he’d been getting, he looked more Polynesian than Polish. The shorts and short
sleeves on his shirt helped add to the casual illusion; however, the Rescue
Corps tattoo on his forearm hinted that he could turn serious in an instant.
    As secretary, Mercy hit the
highlights of the previous meeting, ending with, “Point of order, due to her
medical disability, Yvette has entrusted her proxy to me. The meeting is now
open. Madam Chairwoman?”
    Red’s whole strategy revolved
around the rule limiting team meetings to one hour. She couldn’t talk that long,
but others could. If she could end