A Day in the Life of Marine Captain Cross before the Zoastra Affair Part Thirty Eight
She batted her eyes at him and whispered, “What are you talking about?”
The alien woman looked skinny, like his ex-wife. He wasn’t a fool. He pulled her toward the door. “I’m ordering you to be placed in isolation until we make the deal with your emperor.”
Captain Cross walked out the door, locking it behind him. Dr Thomas shook his head in protest. “I’ll put her in the office for ten minutes. But doctor, she’s in isolation. Do not open this door unless you plan to face a court marshal, doctor.”
“This is my medical wing. And I outrank you, captain.”
Facing the doctor, Cross raised his voice now. “I have my orders. Call the general if you need to.”
Cross waited until he left the medical wing before informing the general of the alien’s actions with the doctor.
“Get on flight deck,” General Aurelius commanded. “We’re about to square off, and I want you on weapons.”
“Aye, sir.”
Captain Cross itched for a fight. In the corridor, he ordered the female officers to escort the woman to the flight deck on his command.
Cross noticed immediately on his return that Second Lieutenant Mortlock and Major Grace Newman were not at their stations. Major Herara sat uncomfortably at communications. The major was the XO and in charge of logistics. No one sat at science task force. Cross kept his questions, assuming the major saw the need to keep the women off the flight deck.
He took his station and nodded that the weapons were ready. Major Nelson turned on communications.
General Aurelius addressed the screen. “We seem to have something of yours.”
The gray-faced alien woman nodded. “We will not stop until I have my daughter back.”
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Frequently Asked Questions
How does Captain Cross handle the alien woman aboard the ship in the Zoastra Affair?
Captain Cross orders the alien woman placed in isolation until a deal is made with her emperor. When the ship’s doctor protests, citing his outranking authority over the medical wing, Cross holds firm and directs him to call the general if needed. Cross then reports the alien’s behavior to General Aurelius before heading to the flight deck for weapons duty.
What is the conflict between Captain Cross and Dr. Thomas in this scene?
Dr. Thomas resists Cross’s order to keep the alien woman in isolation, arguing that he outranks the captain and that the medical wing falls under his authority. Cross counters by invoking his direct orders and threatens the doctor with a court martial if he opens the isolation door, telling him to escalate to the general if he disagrees.
Is Captain Cross or General Aurelius in command during the standoff with the alien vessel?
General Aurelius holds overall command during the standoff. He directly orders Captain Cross to report to the flight deck and man the weapons station. Cross acts as an executor of the general’s commands, while Aurelius leads communications with the alien vessel, whose representative demands the return of her daughter held aboard the ship.
