The Templer Bank...

Segment One

Yes, this one became part of Rimworld- Diversions, but it was originally written as a short story as presented here.

The DSRV Ghost docked at Gany station segment Bravo Six, and as soon as the airlock opened, Adrion, the duty watch, called, “Captain, there is a…GalPat Lieutenant Christou here for you.”

Captain Danny Ortega, dark and lean, got out of the captain’s couch, stretched, and sighed. “What now? I’m on my way.” Turning to Gronk, his four armed, scarred, Hydra navigator, he added, “You’ve got the bridge, Gronk.” She merely grunted at him as he left the bridge.

Daniella, his wife, looked enough like Danny to be mistaken for his sister, except for the red hair. She met him in the passageway and followed him, curious as to what the LT wanted, and met Victor Krasnov as he headed for the airlock, bag in hand. Danny said, “A GalPat lieutenant wants me for something.”

Vic cocked his head. “That doesn’t sound good. You didn’t break any rules getting here, did you?”

Danny shook his head. “Not that I know of.” He stepped out of the airlock, followed by Daniella and Vic. “Lieutenant Christou. What can I do for you?”

She looked down, then back up at him. “I…ah, have been directed to escort you to Chief Justiciar O’Brien’s office down in the dome.”

“What? When? I mean, we just docked.”

She scuffed a boot on the deck. “Um, now, sir. We have a shuttle waiting.”

“What is this all about, Lieutenant?” Daniella asked. “I’m his wife. I want to know what—”

“Ma’am, I do not know. I just got this tasker about a div ago, but it’s a Priority One.”

Daniella was spinning up into a full rage, until Danny said, “Fine. Let’s go get this over with. Honey, I’ll be back as soon as I can or I’ll…call.”