A Day in the Life of Marine Captain Cross before the Zoastra Part Seven
Colonel Hunter was a drunken fool. Why Aurelius put up with him at all was a mystery. The general’s girlfriend, Rosemarie Mortlock ―the best friend of everyone on the ship―had gone missing. And Colonel Hunter still wasn’t on the flight deck.
How did the man even become a colonel? Captain Cross never expected to understand the ways of his superiors. He didn’t have the patience. If he tried, anger grew in his heart.
Walking down the hall, Cross realized that they’d need more guns and ammo if they were going to take the shuttle. He told Major Newman, “I’m going to the weapons locker. Secure a pilot on standby.”
Peter Newman blushed bright red. Then his color returned to normal somehow on the short walk. “I’ll see who’s on duty, captain. Meet you there, and thanks.”
Cross pulled up short. “For what?”
“For the first time in a long while, I was struck dumb on what to do. You gave my confidence back to me.” Peter had everything backwards right now. The man must be distraught.
“Don’t mention it, sir.” Major Newman held a higher rank, and pushed himself hard at work every day. Cross might not like all of his decisions, but he respected him for his work ethic. “You’re wife is one of the few good women out there. We’ll get her back.”
“She is. She’s the best. Let’s go.”
Cross walked on to the weapons locker, refusing to think about women. The man with the best gun and best shot lived to fight another day. The other survived on luck.
He’d never trusted luck, and practiced at being the best shot. Why anyone willingly explored or talked to alien races struck him as dumb. How did the women get kidnapped? With technology? And if they did, how does one fight better technology?
[youtube_sc url=”http://youtu.be/Buah-LGT4tA” width=”400″]
Available at:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HGYVLTW/ref=cm_sw_r_tw_dp_6WbUsb050CRCJ
http://www.soulmatepublishing.com/the-zoastra-affair/
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Captain Cross respond when someone goes missing on the ship in the Zoastra Affair?
When the general’s girlfriend Rosemarie Mortlock goes missing, Captain Cross takes immediate tactical action. He heads to the weapons locker, secures extra guns and ammunition, and orders Major Newman to put a pilot on standby to take a shuttle. Cross focuses on practical problem-solving rather than emotion, reflecting his belief that preparation and skill matter more than luck.
What is Captain Cross’s attitude toward luck and combat in the Zoastra Affair?
Captain Cross distrusts luck entirely. He believes the soldier with the best gun and the best shot survives, while others rely on luck alone. Because of this philosophy, he dedicates himself to being the best marksman possible through consistent practice, rather than leaving his survival to chance in dangerous situations.
Is Colonel Hunter or Captain Cross the more capable officer in the Zoastra Affair?
Captain Cross is portrayed as the more capable and decisive officer. He views Colonel Hunter as a drunken fool who fails to appear on the flight deck even during a crisis. Cross, by contrast, immediately takes charge — securing weapons and coordinating personnel — while Hunter’s absence raises questions about how he ever achieved his rank.
