Scent of Treachery by Smith, T.L. (free books to read txt) 📕

quickly in her environmental suit, the hidden reinforcements in the legs giving her extra support in this gravity. “Alert Dolan.”

“Capt. Dolan has been informed. Please report to the galley.”

“Tell him I’ll be there in a few minutes.” She double-checked the charge on her suit. Though good for months at a time, she wasn’t taking any chances on being left incapacitated at the worst possible moment. She tucked the laser pistols into her pockets.

When she reached the galley, Dolan stood at the table with his officers. “Get the weapons crew into position and the ship repositioned. They’ll be in scan distance in about a half hour and I want that ship looking totally abandoned.”

“The weapons team is suited up and in the airlock. Doc is dressing the security guys in the med lab.”

“The ship looks bad, as intended…” The engineer, Lewis, from their training nodded to Jayda. “The waste containers worked perfect.”

Dolan looked over his shoulder and shifted aside to make room for her. “Yes, makes us look weaker than we are.”

Lewis jerked his chin at Jayda. “How we explain the low-g?”

Breeze looked at Jayda too, but shook her head. “Better for the patients, since we can’t put them in stasis. If they were told Dr. Maldonado had anything wrong with her, this will confuse them.” She swung back to Lewis. “Did we get those two pods working?”

“Auxiliary battery power. Taylor was able to pull up medical drill data and put it into a continuous feed for the displays. Both will have masks on so it looks like severe upper body burns.”

“Good!” Dolan stood upright, shutting down the hologram. “Get everyone into position. Lewis, go to the main core. Protect it at all costs. That’s our secondary command post, in case things go wrong.”

Everyone but Breeze and Dolan left the galley. Unlike the day before, the woman separated herself, going to a portal and opening her comm-link to supervise the operation. Jayda backed away from Dolan. “Isn’t there anything you need to be doing too?”

Dolan frowned, looking about the room. “Not that I can think of.” He patted down the pocket of the civilian utility uniform he had on. “Got everything.”

“You’re leaving this all up to Capt. Breeze?”

He scrunched his eyebrows together. “She’s got her crew in order.”

His attitude confused to her. “It’s your ship and crew!”

“No, it’s not… oh, I see.” Breeze looked over her shoulder and Dolan nodded, dropping his voice. “The Dolan 4 is her vessel. The Dolan 4…” He repeated the ship’s name, raising an eyebrow at Jayda. “Geez, for such a smart chick, you’re being particularly dense. “I’m one of the Dolans. I was only aboard to familiarize myself with the business.”

“What?” Jayda took another step backwards. “You’re not a real captain? I thought… the way you acted… all military. I thought you were in charge… well, I guess you are.”

“Oh, yeah, just recently retired. Trying to figure out where I want to be.” Now Dolan smiled as she figured it out. “Just switching uniforms.” He moved to where Jayda had cornered herself against the galley counter. “For right now, drop the Dolan. They don’t need to know my real name.”

“Then how do I explain who you are?”

“Easy enough.” He pulled up his comm, turning his arm to show her. “Dolan isn’t the real family name. It was also too long and hard to pronounce.”

She looked at the ID displayed on his comm. “Nick Rygiel.”

“Nikolai Xavier Rygiel Dolukhanov, the third. If you want to be exact.”

“Okay, I can see why you shortened it.” She slipped along the counter, to the coffee dispenser. At least someone had loaded it. She pulled herself a cup. “So I call you Rygiel?”

“How about Nick?” He followed her down the counter, leaning close even though she avoided looking at him. “So, Nick Rygiel’s cover is a corporate tech sent here to evaluate the station for a new retrofit.” He nudged a little closer. “For their info, I’ve been here a while, a month, which is why we know each other so well. I’m corporate. I won’t need transport out of here.”

“But if they’re legit, Nick, what then?” She clutched the coffee cup to her chest, trying not to lean into his shoulder where he stood against her. “If they’re real…”

“Someone has to stay with the ship.” He let his fingers stroke her other shoulder. “And you can’t stay out here alone, defenseless.”

“I don’t need protection. If attacked, I get into the lab and lock myself down.” Jayda twisted out from under his hand. “The core is built to withstand the full destruction of the station and has supplies to last three months, more than enough time for the Alliance and our corporate security to respond to automated distress signals.”

“Really?” Dolan was giving her the one raised eyebrow. “You don’t trust this group. Suddenly you’re going to trust the next ship that comes along?”

“I’d trust a big-ass Interstellar Alliance ship, which is what I’d get if my disaster beacons were activated, over the standard distress signal from this accident.”

“Well!” Dolan squinted down at Jayda. “We’ll continue this discussion after we find out if these guys are legit.” He turned to where Breeze quietly monitored preparations. “You and Dr. Maldonado will have to greet the incoming ship. I’ll monitor from here for any subterfuge. What’s our status?”

Breeze dropped her hand from her ear, but Jayda could see the slight tip of her head where she continued to listen. “We’re rotating the ship on the arm. Weapons will have the GR ship covered, but on standby so not detectable. We have crew in a neighboring cabin as walking wounded. Two officers are ready for the tubes and the remaining patients armed.” She gave a slight nod of her head. “Engineer and two remaining crewmen suited up and on their way over to our ship. Lewis has secondary command post ready to be activated.”

“Then we’re ready to roll?”

“No!” Jayda inserted herself into the briefing. “If it’s just the…” She counted out who was left aboard