Starcrossed - Bianca D'Arc Page 0,44
damage that had been done would be fatal. Ginny had to trust in her people to look after Tigh and the others while she did what she could to defeat the enemy that was undoubtedly coming for them all.
Ginny made for the command chair and her lover, who was out cold. She couldn’t allow herself to be distracted, but her heart gave another pang, seeing him so helpless and pale.
“Doc, where are you?” Ginny called over the still-open com.
“Right here, Captain,” Doctor Heller said from the open hatch. “Sorry I’m late.”
The rest of her core crew joined them rapidly, and Ginny closed the bridge access, sealing them in. “Doc, can you check internal sensors for any other conscious jits? I’m assuming none of you found any of these boys awake on your trip here, right?”
Negatives answered her question as the medical officer did a quick scan of the ship. “The only normal life signs are from the bridge. All female, except for him.” She looked over at the traitor they’d found at the com console when they entered. It was the jit’suku doctor.
“Hansa was able to say the word ‘poison’ to me before he fell.” Henny’s expression was tightened with suppressed worry as she moved over to the weapons console and made herself at home.
Ginny looked from Tigh to Cat and back, ruthlessly suppressing the worry that gnawed at her for Tigh and his men. “Can you find out what’s been done to them? We can run the ship, but we need these men awake, Doc.”
“Leave it to me, Captain.” Cat was a capable doctor. Ginny knew, if anyone could figure a way to revive the warriors, she would.
“Captain,” Tiggy spoke from the com station. “The jit doctor was signaling three vessels that are now on an intercept course.” And there they were. Right on time. The enemy Ginny just knew had to be coming.
Ginny looked over at Krysta, her navigator. “Time to intercept?”
Krysta’s expression was grim. “At present speed, a little under a standard hour, Captain.”
“All right, ladies,” Ginny looked around at the bridge, calmed by seeing her crew once more at the ready, “we have work to do. There are three probable hostile ships out there, and we need to use the element of surprise to our advantage. Henny,” she turned to her master-at-arms at the gunnery station, “can you make heads or tails of the weapons systems?”
“Not a problem, Cap’n.” Henny was already settling into the much larger chair, easing the adjustable controls to her smaller body size. “I’ll be ready when you are.”
“Good. Nav, I want you to keep an eye on their formation. Plot me some intercept solutions. I’ll look them over in a quarter standard, and we’ll plan our action. We’re bringing the fight to them. It’s the only way to salvage this.”
Ginny went over to consult with Henny on just what kind of armament this ship had. She was unfamiliar with this particular ship configuration and needed to know what they could bring to bear on a superior enemy force. All the while, she said a little silent prayer that Cat would be able to find an antidote and restore the men while Ginny and her friends dealt with the bad boys in the big ships. She knew the others had grown fond of Tigh’s guys, too, but they were doing their jobs, setting aside their worry and working together to save them all. She couldn’t be prouder of her ladies, even if part of her still worried down deep where it wouldn’t interfere with the task at hand.
CHAPTER NINE
Within a half standard, they were as ready as they could be. A course had been chosen, with contingencies should the enemy ships break their current formation, and Henny was ready with the weapons. Ginny took the precaution of starting some of the recording drones broadcasting back to Earth on a secure channel, in case they were blown up. Chances were the tough little drones would survive even hard vacuum, but it might be better not to take the risk. Peace was too important.
“I’ve got it!” Cat’s voice rose above Ginny’s thoughts and the normal hum of the bridge. Cat’s expression spoke of triumph and anger.
“Doc?”
“That bastard did poison them.” She looked over to where they’d secured the jit doctor against one bulkhead. He was still unconscious. “But I’ve located an antidote. It will take a while to revive them all, but they should be fine in a few hours, without any lasting injury.