The Apprentice Starship Engineer: Book One The Link Read Free Page A

Everyone makes mistakes, but at least you know you make mistakes. So do what I do. I check my work, continue learning, and with a bit of luck, I don’t make big mistakes. I bet you’ll be a good starship engineer. Let’s go one step at a time. If you aren’t any good, I’ll wash you out, okay?”
    “Ah, okay,” I said.
    I’ll never forget my freshman year of baseball. Taught at home, I still played for Comet High. I’m a good pitcher, and had made varsity my first year.
    The game had been for the title. I’d pitched poorly the week before in practice. I’d just lost steam during it. The game had been awful, and the coach pulled me out in the sixth inning.
    After the game, I’d had to go looking for Dad. He’d sat alone in the bleachers. When I’d approached, he hadn’t moved. I’d taken a seat, wondering what to say. I’ll never forget what he’d said.
    “If you had played a good game, I’d be happy.” Dad pointed at a few players, who’d left the locker room. “You let those guys down. I saw great plays performed, but not by you. You need to apologize to them.” He looked at me. “Not with words but with action. If you want to make up for your poor performance today, win district next year. Bust ass through next year and win.”
    I won district every year after that. I hate to lose, don’t mind being beaten, but I hate to lose. So while listening to Jack, I decided to be the best starship engineer ever.
    After we docked with the Armstrong , Jack told me to follow. The hallway ceiling was tall with arches, and the lighting was hidden. Active sound deadening covered our footsteps and hushed our voices. It was a grand hall, bright, large and comfortable.
    Jack led me into an elevator, muttering about the Kings Hall and placed his hand on a reader. “Main control.”
    I followed Jack into the most amazing room. The walls were screens, making it seem as if nothing were between us and space. In the center were large screens, displaying the ship’s location, velocity and other traffic in our vicinity. Three steps lower than the floor, we were on around the outer wall. More consoles and controls were mounted. Everything looked impossibly complicated. I paused. Jack talked to the businesslike woman I’d seen earlier.
    Jack waved me over. “Drake, meet Linda Tames, our shop steward. If you have any problems, just tell her and she’ll fix it. She’s a genius with trouble. Don’t ever let an exempt stooge manager give you any shit. If they try, tell Linda and she’ll put them in their place.”
    Linda smiled. She was a handsome woman. “Nice to meet you, Drake. They tried to leave without you. We refused and stopped the launch clock. Always remember you aren’t alone against management. We’re with you. Never forget that. If you need anything, let me know. I have to work now. I’m the navigator. We don’t want to get lost.” She turned to her console. I muttered a few nice-to-meet-you words to her back before Jack and I walked away.
    “Kid, it wasn’t always like this. Used to be management treated us like crap. If a fellow was late, the ship would leave without him. They changed your schedule at a whim. Guys with families finishing a yearlong trip might be sent out the next day. Management didn’t care, and if you complained, you got fired. The pay was terrible. You’re getting paid more now as an apprentice than I did ten years ago as a journeyman. The union has made the difference. It has changed everything. Now being a starship engineer is a career to be proud of,” he said.
    Mom didn’t raise and teach a dumb kid. I kept my mouth shut. Where I’m from everyone hates unions, blaming them for their problems.
    “Be in engineering at five tomorrow morning. Take the day to get settled,” Jack said.
    Jack walked away. I stopped a man. “Do you know how I can find out where I’m supposed to sleep?”
    “What? Did you miss orientation? Let’s see your assistant. I’ll show you.” I