The insistent buzzing of the inte woke up the terrified girl, and she was desperately relieved to escape from the nightmare, her heart racing and her chest heaving for breath. She steadied herself before answering the call, and was overjoyed when It was the receptionist again, informing her that John and Alyssa were back. Her heart lifted at the thought of seeing them, and she darted over to the door to watch out for their arrival.


    John and Alyssa left the elevator, and turned to walk towards room 347. They saw Cra’s hopeful face looking around the door to her room, and she beamed a big smile when she saw them. She stepped out into the corridor, and ushered them in to her room.This content is ? N?velDrama.Org.


    They walked into Cra’s room, and John turned her to face him. “It’s over,” he stated simply, looking into her big brown eyes as she stared up at him hopefully. “You won’t have to face any charges, and there’s not going to be a Court Martial. None of what happened was your fault.”


    Cra’s face crumpled with relief as she fell into his arms, sobbing uncontrobly. He held her in a warm embrace, being careful not to aggravate the young woman’s healing wounds. Alyssa stood at his side, and stroked the brte’s long dark hairfortingly, her face filled withpassion. They stood like that for some time, until Cra was able to regain herposure. She looked up at them both, with sincere gratitude on her face.


    “Thank you,” Cra said fervently.


    “You’re wee,” he replied, as he held her in his arms.


    John felt a lump in his throat. This poor girl had been through so much, and then that asshole Grant had made things so much worse. This was serious, he realised suddenly. He needed to report what had happened, and he couldn’t do it from here using the Port Heraclesmwork, as Grant might be monitoring outbound traffic.


    “I need to report what happened here,” John said apologetically, as the blonde and brte looked up at him. “Grant isn’t going to get away with the way he’s treated you.”


    “It’s ok, I’ll look after her,” Alyssa said kindly, as she smiled at the other young woman.


    They agreed that he woulde back to meet them after he had visited the ship, and he left Alyssa hugging Cra, murmuring to her soothingly. He made his way back to the Invictus, so that he could use its powerfulmunication ry to contact Terran Federation Command.


    ***


    A short whileter, John stood deep in thought, as he took the elevator back up to the Space port. He had made his report and recorded his detailed allegations against Commander Rupert Grant. He had lost some friends to PTSD in the past; good men, their lives taken by their own hand. He would be damned before he let anything like that happen to this young woman. The elevator door opened, and he was surprised to run into Cra and Alyssa as they walked towards him from the space port.


    “Second Lieutenant Cra Fernandez reporting for duty, Sir!” The pretty Latina said formally, before snapping a sharp salute and standing rigidly at attention.


    “What…?” John said, surprised by her actions.


    “I told Cra we had a vacancy in our ship’s roster, after my recent promotion,” Alyssa told him, her beautiful blue eyes shing mischievously. “She just agreed to join us!”


    “Now wait just a minute!” John blurted out, remembering Alyssa’s old job title.


    “Uh-uh Commander!” Alyssa admonished him yfully, waving a finger from side to side. “As your Executive Officer, I’m in charge of all recruitment.”


    John was about to speak again, but she cut off his forting objection with a piercing gaze that startled him into silence.


    “Second Lieutenant Fernandez here, graduated top of her Academy ss, specialising in naval tactics,” Alyssa said, before she turned to face Cra. “Lieutenant, summarise your career for the Commander, please.”


    “I joined the Terran Federation Navy at sixteen and spent two years at the Academy. My first posting was at Port Heracles, before I transferred to the Corvette Griffon,” Cra informed him, standing at attention, while listing off the achievements and citations of her fledgling career.


    “Besides,” Alyssa continued, once Cra had finished. “The Invictus has a lot of big guns. I don’t know anything about ship to shipbat, do you?”


    John paused, mulling this surprising turn of events over in his mind. He was a Marine at heart, specialised in ship boarding and infantry tactics. He realised he had subconsciously shied away from anything to do with the Invictus’ gun batteries, feeling a little wary of their massive firepower. A Tactical officer could actually prove to be very useful, and he came to his decision quickly.


    “Wee aboard Lieutenant!” he said to Cra, snapping her a crisp salute, and then smiling at her warmly. The pretty Latina returned his salute, and then smiled back at him happily as she rxed.


    “Yay!!” Alyssa squealed, rushing forward to embrace her friend in a hug. Cra returned the beautiful blonde’s enthusiastic embrace, wincing slightly at the sharp pain in her ribs.


    “Oh, sorry!” Alyssa apologised, before quickly releasing her.


    They walked over to the window overlooking the docking bay, which offered Cra her first view of her new home. The Assault Cruiser loomed in front of them, taking up most of the view, and Cra took in the intimidating sight of the many weapon banks bristling along the ship’s hull.


    “Oh yeah…” she said in a low voice, her head nodding appreciatively, as her mouth formed a wide grin.


    “Come on, let’s get you settled in. You’re going to be so happy here, I promise!” Alyssa said eagerly.


    The two girls strolled hand in hand towards the elevator that would take them down to the docking gantry, and John watched the departing eighteen year olds for a moment, before he moved forward to scoop up Cra’s duffel bag. He carried it easily over one shoulder, and followed behind them to the lift.


    The elevator took a couple of seconds to take them down to the docking gantry, and then the trio walked briskly towards the towering hull of the Invictus. Alyssa pressed her hand against the DNA reader, and the airlock spiralled open for them weingly. They walked inside and headed up to the officer’s quarters, while Cra recounted what had happened while John had gone back to the ship.


    “So, after Alyssa offered me the job as Tactical Officer on board the Invictus, I called Commander Grant to request the transfer. He offered me an indefinite leave of absence!” she eximed, still shocked by how eager he had been to help. “That means I can stay on the ship for as long as you guys want me here,” she added with a happy sigh.


    Alyssa grinned at John over the excited brte’s head as they walked along the corridor on Deck Two. He smiled back at her, both of them pleased to see Cra’s dramatically improved mood. They reached the end of the corridor, and Alyssa pressed the button on the door to the left of the Commander’s room.


    “Our room is just over here, so I’d like you to have this one,” Alyssa said, as the door to the officer’s room swished opened quietly. “Then we’ll be close by if you need anything,” she added considerately.


    Cra nodded her head agreeably and they walked into the room. “Wow these quarters are huge! This room must be at least three times as big as my berth on the Griffon,” she eximed excitedly, as she looked around the corner. “And my own bathroom too!”