"Doohan, James & Stirling, S M - Flight Engineer 02 - The Privateer 1.0" - читать интересную книгу автора (Doohan James)

"I'm not cleared to fly a Speed," Raeder said. Might as well be up front
about it.

"I'm aware of that, Commander." Scaragoglu glanced over at Captain
Sjarhir.

The captain had gone so still that Peter had almost forgotten him.

"I mentioned it to the general earlier, Commander," he now said.

Peter nodded. Glad I mentioned it then, he thought.

"However, thanks to an innovation by my second, Lieutenant Cynthia
Robbins, I now can fly. Without the slightest difficulty."

The general frowned and looked at Sjarhir, who shrugged.

"Unfortunately, we've never heard of this invention and therefore it
hasn't been approved for use by Space Command, and therefore might as well
not exist," Scaragoglu said, giving Peter a cautionary look. "Which means
you are not cleared to fly for the foreseeable future. I would describe
that as a slight difficulty."

"The patent has been submitted, sir. And since it works I'm sure it will
be approved. We're likely to lose too many highly trained pilots
otherwise." Read expensive, Peter thought. Expensively trained pilots.
Space Command is going to be screaming for something like this and soon.
"Therefore you might say it would merely be a formality to give me
permission to fly a Speed, sir."

For the first time in years Scaragoglu felt his chin loosen preparatory to
dropping. The brass of the man! Clearly it wouldn't be an easy ride having
a muntu like this under his command, but it certainly wouldn't be boring.

He leaned forward and gave Raeder a steely eye.

"A formality?" he asked coldly.

"Yes, sir. On a mission like this it's only logical that I be cleared to
fly."

"Oh, really?" The general's eyebrows were almost up to his receding
hairline. He leaned back with a sigh and stared at the ceiling for a
moment. "I see you haven't learned anything from your recent adventure
with the Dauntless," he said casually.

Raeder flinched within.

Scaragoglu flicked off the holo and, drawing his chair in to the desk,