Chain Reaction Read Free

ship can be tuned to track the disruptor’s power signature. How long will it take for you to make the necessary adjustments?”
    “It’ll be ready to fly today.”
    “Lieutenant Calder is one of Engineering’s best,” the admiral said.
    As someone who never apologized for her skill as a pilot, Celene appreciated that Calder didn’t mumble something self-deprecating. He looked well aware of his abilities and confident in them. Another surprise.
    The admiral continued, “Which is why he is going to be your partner.”
    Celene stared at Admiral Gamlyn. That couldn’t be right. She had to have misheard. Her gaze drifted to Calder, hoping to see the same expression of disbelief on his face.
    He looked calm. Determined. Not surprised at all.
    “Ma’am?” She turned to the admiral.
    “As I said, Lieutenant Calder is one of Engineering’s finest. The technological requirements of the mission demand his presence.”
    “The power source’s wavelength fluctuates,” Calder explained. “I’ll have to continually adjust the ship’s sensors to trace it accurately.”
    “That doesn’t have to be done manually.” Celene stepped closer to Calder.
    He didn’t back down. “Actually,” he said, voice and eyes cool, “it does. And when we finally reach Marek he’s going to have very complex security systems in place. You don’t have the skill to disable them.”
    The admiral narrowed her eyes. “It sounds like you’re questioning my decision, Lieutenant Jur.”
    Damn, she did not want to piss off her commanding officer. “This mission is extremely important to me, ma’am.”
    “It’s important to all of 8 th Wing,” came Admiral Gamlyn’s level response. “Not just you.”
    Heat crept into her face. “I’m aware of that, ma’am. But couldn’t Commander Frayne be my partner? He’s very adept at engineering.”
    “I’ve seen him build some convoluted stuff,” Mara volunteered, then added, “ma’am.”
    “Skilled as Commander Frayne is,” the admiral said, “he doesn’t have the abilities the mission demand. Lieutenant Calder’s expertise, as well as his personal knowledge of Marek, make him the ideal candidate.”
    “I’m sensing some reluctance to partner with me,” he said drily.
    This was not a conversation Celene wanted to have in front of the admiral, nor her friends. She glanced at Admiral Gamlyn. “Permission to speak with Lieutenant Calder in private, ma’am?”
    “Briefly, Lieutenant Jur. This mission needs to commence as quickly as possible.”
    Celene nodded, then grabbed Calder’s forearm to lead him out of the chamber. He was solid and muscled beneath his uniform, and tension spread through him at the contact of her hand on his arm. Pushing these details aside, she guided him to the door and then out into the corridor. She glanced around. No one was nearby.
    Looking up at Calder, she hoped to see some of the easy humor he had displayed in the briefing chamber. Instead his expression was remote, and he crossed his arms over his chest. He wasn’t going to make this easy. Fine by her. She’d faced tougher obstacles than Lieutenant Calder—like flying through the Qing Meteor Shower with no navigational systems and almost no oxygen in the cockpit.
    “Marek’s struck at the heart of the 8 th Wing. He could cripple the entire resistance movement, letting PRAXIS take whatever they want. Enslave everyone for profit.”
    Something flared in his eyes before retreating behind cool distance. “That outcome’s already occurred to me.”
    “I want Marek. I want to make him pay for betraying the 8 th Wing.”
    “We want the same things.”
    “Then let me take someone else. Someone trained for combat.” She could name half a dozen Black Wraith pilots she trusted implicitly, and all of them knew their way around a circuit board.
    “You think I won’t be able to hold up my end of the fight.” His voice deepened, took on an edge.
    “Face it, Calder. You’re NerdWorks. The closest