This week with Arlene and Jeff:
...Deep Space - The Alien Mother Ship
The Paladin Commander groggily came to his feet, cursing as the alarm for Battle Stations blared yet again.
"I will kill that son-of-a-bitch." (Interpreted). But griping would do little good for several reasons: (1) The First Officer was awake too, so there was no sympathy there, (2) The First Officer outranked him, and if they did manage to get back to Base, those complaints on him (the Commander) would be read, even if they were initiated by the First Officer who would soon be dead, and those charges would be investigated since the High Command always investigated. And (3), he, the Paladin Commander, couldn't get to the First Officer, anyway. The bastard still has the mutiny defenses operative. But maybe - just maybe I will get my chance…
The Commander sprinted to the lead Paladin and clambered aboard. He was third. How can they have beaten me? I fucking ran all the way. Shortly, his crew had initiated their restraints and activated their guns, but he still had to wait until all the other Paladins were ready and his board had cleared.
"Better," the First Officer's voice came over the channel, "if… you were racing my Grandfather." (Interpreted) "We have all watched the recording of these Earthlings' practice. Do you think you will be able to sleep - as you seem to be doing - while you engage them? According to our instruments, they were frequently traveling at up to one-half light speed and sometimes beyond. Their fighters have fewer guns and are smaller than our glorious Paladins, but you cannot shoot what you cannot catch up to, and probably sometimes will not even be able to see. If they attack our ship, where will our Paladins' crews be? Oh, that is right. They will be in their bunks asleep," he snarled out sarcastically.
There was a long pause before the First continued, "The next drill will be a full launch. I have instructed the computer to set a random time that none of us will be able to anticipate. Dismissed!"
The Commander didn't even bother to grumble. It didn't do any good, anyway...
Have a goodun;
Roust