An Adventurous Journey

[Toaster]

After a moment of typing a few commands into his console, the sous-lieutenant said, "Capitaine, connection established."
"Merci," Laurent responded. He then walked over to the captain's seat in the center of the bridge, sat down and signaled the junior officer to open the channel.
"Bonjour, this is Capitaine Pierre Laurent of the RNS Ile de Re to Shuttle... Un-Trois-Quatre," he spoke with measured calm and authority.
After a second of a silence, the shuttle pilot replied, "Bonjour, Capitaine. How can I be of assistance?"
"I would like to know why my second-in-command just left my ship without notifying me," Laurent immediately answered, not falling for the pilot's politeness. He leaned back and waited for an answer.
"Pardon, Capitaine, but the last transmission was garbled. Could you repeat?"
Laurent's blushed with anger.
"Of course. Why has Captain Cabbard left my ship?" He said, pronouncing every word slowly and clearly.
Another pause.
Then, "I have my orders, Capitaine."
The connection was cut.
The Ile de Re's bridge was silent as the junior officers stared at the captain. Laurent looked ahead as his mind tried to comprehend what the pilot had just said. Finally, a lieutenant at the sensor-controls cleared and quietly said, "Monsieur. The shuttle has taken the trade lane to Nevers."
Laurent kept staring ahead.
"Capitaine?"
"Oui?" The captain shook his head as if awakening from a daydream and looked at the sensor officer. "Ah, oui, oui. Euh, contact Dijon Control and inquire what the hell is going on here."
The sous-lieutenant who had managed the communications got to work.
With renewed vigor, Laurent barked, "And hurry up!"

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Olivia Sable