by Frank Carey
"Engineering, this is Tayla, what's your status? Over," the young Sokuhl first officer said.
"Mac here, Ms. Hardy. Normal-space engines are hot. FTL is on standby. Shields ready. Life support is ready. Reactors one through four are online. Reactors five and six are standing by. You are go for launch, over."
"Medical? What is the status of our passengers?"
"This is Dr. Orsi. We are sealing the last cryotube. All systems read nominal. My team and I are about to strap-in. You are go for launch, over."
"Jenna, computer system status."
"My systems are five by five. I have an omnipotent view of the entire ship. Monitoring systems hot. Navigation systems are ready. I have ten thousand books to read while the rest of you sleep."
"Jenna, this is Captain Townsend. Which one are you going to start with?"
"The Bible, followed by the Torah, the Koran, and the Seven Elven Texts of Creation."
"Ah, the easy ones."
"Ma'am," Lieutenant Zarn said from the Operations Station. "My board is green."
"Copy that, Lieutenant."
"Ma'am, Helm is ready," Lieutenant Vox reported
"Thank you, Shelly. Captain, we are go.”
"Thank you, Tayla. Ensign Nogar, signal launch control what we are ready for departure."
"Aye, sir," the young lieutenant said as he contacted the station. "Sir, incoming message. It's Prince Lucien."
"Put him on. Harmon! Damn, buddy, I thought you weren't going to see us off."
"Jacob, Look out your starboard side."
The captain looked and saw a sleek black freighter hanging off the starboard quarter. Flying it was a young elf woman with glowing blue eyes. Sitting next to her was the Prince of Ventos Prime. The Prince waved at him.
"So that's the Grumpy Elfling, which means you must be Jewel Irithyl. Nice to meet you."
Jewel waved.
"Jacob, I just wanted to thank you and your crew for taking this gig. I made sure that your cover story remains intact."
"What did we do again?"
"You and your crew smuggled foodstuffs into Malthusia and Malthura for the Wombat elite. The foodstuffs were sapient."
"Eeewww," Tayla said.
"That is what we're hoping the others will say."
"Do any of our people know what's really going on?"
"Nope, which is why Alyson was chosen as a destination. Its continuous cloud cover will prevent the passengers from performing stellar fixes, at least initially."
"Did you come up with this on your own?"
"I helped a little. Well, buddy, daylight is burning. Good luck and keep in touch. And Tayla?"
"Yes, My Prince?"
"I finally got to meet your sister, Nayla. She claims she's the better pilot."
"Don't believe it, Your Highness."
Lucien chuckled at the sibling rivalry. "Keep that maniac in line."
"Yes, My Prince!"
"As for the rest of you, good luck and thank you from the bottom of my hearts. Grumpy Elfling out."
As they watched, the black ship pulled away and headed back to the barn. "Sir, why the 'Grumpy Elfling'?"
"His sister, Jewel, named it after his daughter, Shenda. She was not pleased."
"I bet."
"I think it is time to go. Ms. Hardy, on your mark."
"Yes, sir. Raul, signal the station."
"Yes, ma'am. They say fair winds and calm seas. We are free and clear to depart."
"Zarn, clear all moorings and umbilicals."
"Aye, ma'am. My board says we're ready."
Tayla nodded to Jacob. "By your command, sir."
"Shelly, take us out, half-speed, then take us into FTL when we're clear."
"Aye, aye, sir. Half-speed."
The mighty ship headed out into the unknown.
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About Frank Carey
Frank Carey was born in Detroit, Michigan, over a half century ago, but the writing bug didn't bite him until two years ago. By day, he works as a Research Engineer at a small firm located in the Desert Southwest region of the United States. By night, he writes stories about other worlds and the beings who call them home. He feels blessed to be able to share his stories with the rest of humanity through the miracle of electronic self-publishing, something that was the stuff of science fiction only a few short years ago.
“I write for the sheer joy of writing. I publish because I can.”
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Frank’s Blog: http://elvenindustriespress.com
Further Reading
Smuggler’s Return is set in the League of Planetary Systems, a universe created by Frank and Jo Carey as the setting for many of their books.
Other books in the Smuggler Elf Chronicles by Frank Carey:
Smuggler Elf
Smuggler’s Daughter
Smuggler’s Wife
Smuggler’s Legacy
Other books set in the League of Planetary Systems:
The League Foundation Trilogy 1 by Frank Carey
The League Foundation Trilogy 2 by Frank Carey
Progression by Jo Carey
Bug Hunters in Space Series by Jo Carey
Book 1: Bunta Juice
Book 2: Aquapillar
Book 2: Feenix Bug
Snapdragon Ladies Series by Jo Carey
Book 1: Ciara
Book 2: Nebulon
Galactic Cruise Lines by Jo Carey
Book 1: Ballroom
Book 2: Acapella
Book 3: Bake
Other books by Frank Carey:
Pulse: A Collection of Short and Flash Fiction
