“Do you hear me, Captain? You did good. Hang on—we’re coming.” I had the presence of mind to let off the transmit button, but I couldn’t manage to cradle the handheld. The image that formed of Allison bleeding out in the corridor wouldn’t subside, either.
Stratford had moved closer, expecting a whispered report. I knew he and Allison had history, but she and I did, too. She’d cut her teeth under my command – I’d watched her from the start as she learned what it was to be an officer.
“Sir?” Stratford asked after his patience elapsed.
“ETA to Ticonderoga, Mr. Slidel?” I asked finally.
“23 minutes.” The helm officer’s answer came quickly enough to make it obvious he’d anticipated the question.
“You’re at max thrust?”
“72 percent, sir.”
“Is that all you can get out of your panel?”
“Yes sir. The engines are safetied.” Slidel said.
I picked the handheld back up and pushed the toggle for engineering. The second long wait felt like an hour.
“Engineering.”
“This is Admiral West. Take the locks off of the mains.”
“That’s not recommended,” the voice I couldn’t place predictably reported.
“Neither is countermanding an admiral, son. Throw the switches, now.”
“Yes sir.” The engineer’s voice didn’t exude the confidence I was looking for as I cradled the handheld again.